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Crime and Punishment

by Fyodor M. Dostoevsky, David McDuff (Translator, Introduction & Notes)

4.09 · rating details · 89,965 ratings · 4,835 reviews

'Crime? What crime?...My killing a loathsome, harmful louse, a filthy old moneylender woman...and you call that a crime?'

Raskolnikov, a destitute and desperate former student, wanders through the slums of St Petersburg and commits a random murder without remorse or regret. He imagines himself to be a great man, a Napoleon: acting for a higher purpose beyond con...more

Paperback, 671 pages

Published December 31st 2002 by Penguin Books (first published 1866)

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May 13, 2011

Stephen rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: easton-press, audiobook, 6-star-books, all-time-favorites, 1800s, literature, classics, classics-asian

6.0 Stars. One of my All Time Favorite novels. In addition to being one of the first works of Classic Literature that I suggest when asked for recommendations from others, this story holds a special place in my heart as it was the story, along with Moby Dick, that began my love of the “classics” for which I will always be grateful. So often we are forced to read the great works of literature for school or at times not of our choosing and I think it tends to lead to a lifelong aversio...more

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Sep 26, 2010

tim rated it

· review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Where to possibly begin? I feel both intimidated and compelled to write something, anything about this 144 year-old pinnacle of literature. What more could I add that hasn’t already been said, probably nothing. And still I feel I must write down my immediate thoughts if for no other reason than to show respect.

So far C&P is my first and only foray into Dostoevsky. It will certainly not be my last. His writing seems to contain everything. Every perspective, every thought, every emotion,...moreWhere to possibly begin? I feel both intimidated and compelled to write something, anything about this 144 year-old pinnacle of literature. What more could I add that hasn’t already been said, probably nothing. And still I feel I must write down my immediate thoughts if for no other reason than to show respect.

So far C&P is my first and only foray into Dostoevsky. It will certainly not be my last. His writing seems to contain everything. Every perspective, every thought, every emotion, at least those belonging to the characters contained within this book. Layer upon layer of meaning overflow on every page. An entire city comes to life, a foreign yet strangley relatable city that transcends time and is as relevant today as the year it was written.

And the humor, I had no idea there would be such humor among so much anticipated suffering. One scene early on in the book that comes to mind: Raskolnikov in the police station, summoned there because of an accumulated failure to pay rent. Next to him in the room is a German whorehouse madame summoned there for repeated noise disturbances. Her behavior in front of the police chief is nothing short of slapstick comedy. The way she curtsies all over the room while speaking to the chief (conveyed in a phonetic German accent) had me doing my own curtsy to keep from peeing myself.

A somewhat less comedic, yet vastly more complex scene (and one of my favorites) occurs at the Marmeladov memorial meal. How the conniving Luzhin is called out on his attempt to set-up and accuse Sonya of theft. The masterfully crafted tension and public humiliation is so satisfying, I still feel drunk from its grip.

Unrelated to anything above, I would like to mention something about Svidrigailov, one of the book's most conflicted and complicated characters (besides Raskolnikov). Upon their first meeting, Svidrigailov attempts to convince Raskolnikov how similar they. More importantly, Svidrigailov confesses to him that he sees the ghosts of those he killed:

Ghosts are, so to speak, bits and pieces of other worlds, their beginnings. The healthy man, naturally, has no call to see them, because the healthy man is the most earthly of men, and therefore he ought to live according to life here, for the sake of completeness and order. Well, but as soon as a man gets sick, as soon as the normal earthly order of his organism is disrupted, the possibility of another world at once begins to make itself known, and the sicker one is, the greater the contact with this other world, so that when a man dies altogether, he goes to the other world directly.

However, Raskolnikov never sees the ghosts of those he has killed, no matter how deliriously sick and delusional he becomes. Which highlights the primary difference between him and Svidrigailov. Raskolnikov is still a man of this world. While Svidrigailov’s fate suggests he had one foot in the next world all along.

The only part of the book I struggle with has to do with Sonya. I have a hard time believing anyone would give up everything and follow Raskolnikov to Siberia. Especially since he murdered her friend Lizaveta. True, he was supposedly a rather good looking fellow. Also true, he never planned to kill Lizaveta, but he did. And without much hesitation. And yes, it’s true Raskolnikov showed random acts of charity towards Sonya's family, but still. She barely knew him and yet had no problem instantly forgiving him and moving to the same Siberian town where he was to spend eight years of hard labor. Maybe I’ve just never met anyone like that before. It was a difficult sell.

Otherwise, that is my only beef. In rereading the first handful of pages, I see this book unfolding deeper and more completely with future readings. In the end, all I can really say is that I am humbly grateful to have finally had my Dostoevsky cherry popped.
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Jul 30, 2009

Bonnie rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: classics, reviewed-books, to-reread

There was a time in my life when I couldn’t get enough of reading Dostoevsky. Maybe because his books made me think so deeply about being human and how we choose to live our lives. I began with Crime and Punishment, probably the work he is best known for.

What I remember is being fascinated by Dostoevsky’s brilliant understanding of human nature. I remember thinking what a deep study this book was; an incredible examination of a man who commits murder and how he is “punished” for it....more

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Dec 28, 2007

Vanja Antonijevic rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: Those that love psychologically driven books, with a deeper underlying philosophy

Dostoevsky’s "Crime and Punishment" and "Notes from Underground" are his most popular and famous works. And deservedly so. Dostoevsky’s "Brothers Karamazov", on the other hand, is his most critically acclaimed work- regarded by many as the best novel ever written. And deservedly so.

While "Brothers Karamazov" is Dostoevsky’s longest, but also best, most subtle, and complex work, Crime and Punishment and "Notes from Underground" are sh...moreDostoevsky’s "Crime and Punishment" and "Notes from Underground" are his most popular and famous works. And deservedly so. Dostoevsky’s "Brothers Karamazov", on the other hand, is his most critically acclaimed work- regarded by many as the best novel ever written. And deservedly so.

While "Brothers Karamazov" is Dostoevsky’s longest, but also best, most subtle, and complex work, Crime and Punishment and "Notes from Underground" are shorter, easier to read, and more entertaining. This is not to put down the other two books. I place "Brothers Karamazov" above the other two only because it is arguably the best book ever written, and only the best of many of Dostoevsky’s masterpieces. Crime and Punishment is another masterpiece and a great book.

As mentioned, Crime and Punishment may be Dostoevsky's most readable and entertaining longer novel. It is by far the best psychological study I have read, and owes much of its entertainment value to the psychological insight it presents.

Then the question may be: psychological insight into what? Well, nothing less than that of an intellectual murderer. The fun of the novel is in the psychological collapse of the protagonist’s mind, as he slowly becomes more and more obsessed and paranoid. Some of the thrill is also in the cat-and-mouse game that the inspector plays with the protagonist. Finally, some additional delight comes from the plot itself, and the actions involved.

That being said, this book is not primarily cheap entertainment (although it does well in this department), nor a psychological study (even Freud admired Dostoevsky), but rather it focuses on the philosophical, moral, and religious implications of the actions, the mental states, and the (internal and external) punishments that the protagonist must endure. As most of Dostoevsky’s books, this one is essentially about faith, doubt, and rationalism.

To conclude, if I would recommend an introduction to my favorite author (Dostoevsky), it would probably be "Crime and Punishment" (or "Notes from Underground"). This is especially recommended to those who love psychological thrills.

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Mar 02, 2007

erock rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: those teetering on the edge

I believe Cypress Hill said it best when they said "Here is one thing you can't understand...how I could just kill a man."
So true, so true.
That is, until reading this book.
I'm not a communist, nor do I think very highly of Russia, what with their tundras, meltdowns, and backwards R's. Not to mention their furry hats. I get it, it's cold, but really, you just look goofy in that hat. Did you ever see that episode of Cops-In Moscow? Exactly.

I also...more

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Jul 12, 2008

Shannon rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: classics, 2008, not-worth-it

My star rating is purely subjective and means only what GR says it means: I didn't like it. It didn't mean anything to me, sadly, and I didn't even find it to be an interesting story. I'm not saying it's a terrible book; in fact, I'd be very interested to hear what others think (reviews are a bit light for this book here I see).

First, I have a confession to make: I got two thirds of the way through and skimmed the rest. Well, worse than that: I flipped through and got the gist, but ...moreMy star rating is purely subjective and means only what GR says it means: I didn't like it. It didn't mean anything to me, sadly, and I didn't even find it to be an interesting story. I'm not saying it's a terrible book; in fact, I'd be very interested to hear what others think (reviews are a bit light for this book here I see).

First, I have a confession to make: I got two thirds of the way through and skimmed the rest. Well, worse than that: I flipped through and got the gist, but such is the way it's written you can't even skim. I just really had to put the book to rest, and it made me feel miserable thinking about making myself keep reading it. Reading should never make you miserable, so I did something I rarely ever do, and it nags at me but, well, there you have it.

The premise sounds interesting, and I had high hopes it would be one that would suck me in and captivate me. It's not that I had particularly high expectations - I didn't really have any expectations, though I thought it might be heavy on the intellectual side of things - but it was apparent from fairly early on that it wasn't going to be my kind of book.

It's Petersburg and a young student, Raskolnikov, is pawning his only valuables to an old crone, Alyona Ivanovna, who lives in a small apartment with her sister Lizaveta. He hasn't been able to afford to go to uni in several months, and his dress and manner makes him seem even lower class than he is. In desperation he hatches a plan to murder Alyona and rob her. He carries this out, killing not just her but her simple-minded sister who returns home unexpectedly, and in his fear and haste flees the scene with only some pawned trinkets and a small pouch.

His guilt manifests itself in fever and delirium, and he behaves very strangely thereafter. His friend and fellow student, Razumikhin, puts up with an awful lot and generously gives his time and efforts to help Raskolnikov; his mother, Pulcheria Alexandrovna and his sister, Dunechka, come to town to prepare for Dunya's marriage to an odious man; and Raskolnikov becomes somewhat obsessed with the family of a poor alcoholic who dies early on, in particular his eldest daughter Sonya, who had to become a prostitute in order to make some money for her family.

There's a lot of twoing and froing, a lot of agonising on Raskolnikov's part, and a lot of exclaiming. I wouldn't even have minded but Raskolnikov became such a bore, I didn't even want to slap, I just wanted to ignore him. It comes down mostly to the way it was written, which I didn't care for and which made the book a real slog.

I know this is some kind of work of genius, but if that's true, then I just felt stupid. It all seemed pretty obvious to me. No doubt if I made the effort I could see something special here, but it's like The Red and the Black - other people find the psychological melodrama truly fascinating, but to me, it's just melodrama, which I loathe. There's also no mystery, and not much suspense. There's a somewhat clever police inspector investigating the murder, but the game of cat-and-mouse the blurb enticed me with fell flat pretty quickly, and there was nothing left to hold me.

The blurb describes the book as "a preternaturally acute investigation of the forces that impel a man toward sin, suffering and grace." Uh huh. You can tell I'm really impressed can't you? It reads more like an account of a man going mad and being really self-centred, but after my sorry lack of appreciation for the equally masterful The Red and the Black, is it any surprise that I didn't like this book at all? If you're looking for a good story, this isn't it.

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Sep 28, 2007

Crystal T rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: russian lovers

Shelves: zrussians

The writing is a bit pedantic at times, and a paragraph can span two pages in places. The best thing about the book is that the tediousness of reading the book is much like a reflection of the tedious state of mind of the criminal, on a smaller scale.

In the act of reading the novel, you begin to tire of the constant nervous state of wondering, thinking, over analyzing, that Raskolnikov is doing; this makes the act of reading a bit heavy, but is actually clever if intended by the aut...moreThe writing is a bit pedantic at times, and a paragraph can span two pages in places. The best thing about the book is that the tediousness of reading the book is much like a reflection of the tedious state of mind of the criminal, on a smaller scale.

In the act of reading the novel, you begin to tire of the constant nervous state of wondering, thinking, over analyzing, that Raskolnikov is doing; this makes the act of reading a bit heavy, but is actually clever if intended by the author.

The frame of mind that the criminal seemingly feels is projected into the reader's mind through the act of reading itself. For two reasons- the first (and obvious) being that the events told cause you to think about them from the pov of the criminal. More interestingly though, is that the way it is written (certain syntax, sentence placement, questions, hurried and/or deluded passages) actually produces an agitated state of mind, similar to that of the criminal. You're not only thinking about the philosophy of the novel, which is agitating enough-- the sentences you're reading are shaping the way you think as well.

The character is asking himself a question, and answering it. And asking and answering, over and over, so you, as the reader, are reading his conclusions, making your own as well, and seeing it all in the larger scope of the other characters... however, while you're thinking about all that, you hardly notice when the sentences have picked up and become almost frenzied at times... when you put the book down, it really feels like you've gone through something.

It's fascinating to me that the manner in which a novel is written can agitate me just as much as the contents of that same novel. (Fury, by Salman Rushdie, is the same way.)

The ending really killed it for me though; the book was not past redemption, because though it was heavy, I enjoy the elements of Russian novel writing, including the detailed passages about feelings and psychological workings of each of the characters.

To end a 600 page philosophical novel about all of the varying concepts and points of view behind crime and the criminal mind with a few pages with Raskolnikov's sudden realization that pure love will set him free... this I just can't abide. Deus ex machina, badly done. (less)

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Mar 14, 2009

Laurel rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: bookclub

Damn damn damn
I don't really mind reading this at all! Seriously! So why, once I put it aside to read several other books, can I not muster the energy to finish this dreary masterpiece? I love Russian novels. They make me want to curl up by a fireplace or sit in a coffee shop for several thousand hours. They make me want to tromp around in slushy snow with three pairs of socks on. Reading this was all out of whack for me. It's still 70 degrees here, it never snows, I don't have a fireplace...more

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Jul 31, 2008

Cormac rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: all who can take it

Shelves: classics

John Henry Newman looked on conscience as the most immediate and personal proof of the existence of God. Dostoevsky, in Crime & Punishment, shows it as the biggest obstacle to holding on to genuine atheism. Like any logical atheist, Raskolnikov thinks there is no higher power which determines good and evil, right and wrong, his own mind being the ultimate arbiter of all such matters. He kills an old pawnbroking woman, not so much for her money as to prove that he is a sort of superman to whom ev...moreJohn Henry Newman looked on conscience as the most immediate and personal proof of the existence of God. Dostoevsky, in Crime & Punishment, shows it as the biggest obstacle to holding on to genuine atheism. Like any logical atheist, Raskolnikov thinks there is no higher power which determines good and evil, right and wrong, his own mind being the ultimate arbiter of all such matters. He kills an old pawnbroking woman, not so much for her money as to prove that he is a sort of superman to whom everything is permitted, that he stands above all conventional morality, has the right to do so, and that these convictions will suffice to put down any possible remorse. They don’t.
His attempts at self justification slowly succumb to his conscience. In the end Raskolnikov is 'saved' because he lets his conscience win in the battle with his own bad ‘alter ego’ (also mirrored in Svidrigailov, whose motto is, "the best time is had by those who are best able to deceive themselves"). The argument goes back and forth. His better self insists that there is such a thing as right and wrong, and that wrong is very present in man; man’s trouble being that he "can get used to anything, the villain!" And then his worse self pipes back: "and what if I'm mistaken? What if man - the whole human race in general - isn't really a villain at all? If that's true, it means that all the rest [religion, morality, etc.] is just a load of superstition, just a lot of fears that have been put into people's head, and there are no limits, and that's how it's meant to be”. It’s a long argument and a long process, but in the end his better self wins out. The awareness of his crime almost drives him to despair but he overcomes that temptation too. He tells his sister (who now knows the whole story) that he had thought of suicide but could not bring himself to do it. She says, "That means you still believe in life; God be praised".
Dostoevsky can’t refrain from a dig at the psychological experts of his (and our?) age. When Raskolnikov confesses and is sent for trial, quite a few ‘intellectuals’ see him as exemplifying "the latest fashionable theory of temporary insanity". And they are completely disconcerted when he, in his trial, gives a perfectly rational explanation of the greed and self-centered pride motivating his crime; as for "what had prompted him to turn himself in, he replied bluntly that it had been genuine remorse. All this was almost indecent"...
Crime & Punishment ends not just with the 'conversion' of Raskolnikov, but also with the clear comment by Dostoevsky that the new life his conversion opens up to him will have to be won, and that this will not be easy. Did he have in mind another story - a sequel that was never written? Or was he hinting that this is the story each one of us has to set about writing once we sincerely face our conscience, and keep at the job of throttling our bad alter ego?(less)

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Jul 18, 2008

Mike rated it

· review of another edition

I have read Crime and Punishment twice now. It has many messages and symbols that I think I recognized this second time around. The main character distances himself from others thinking himself to be a superman of sorts, and thinking himself such kills a pawnbroker who he terms a "louse" and who cheats the poor out of their money. He is alienated even more from society and his family by his guilt and self-loathing. He is a walking contradiction, doing good and evil, craving company and...more

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Apr 23, 2008

Tyler rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: Anyone

Shelves: 19th-century, superb

My next-favorite book, after Notes From Underground. The storytelling is captivating. The characterization of life in St. Petersburg is superb, and the final two dream sequences color the narrative with an ethereal passion unlike anything else I've read.

If you read this book, you'll see why Dostoyevsky is among the greatest writers. Besides the narration, the dialog, too, is engrossing. Most of the action unfolds over four days, so the timing is compressed. Adding to the tension,...moreMy next-favorite book, after Notes From Underground. The storytelling is captivating. The characterization of life in St. Petersburg is superb, and the final two dream sequences color the narrative with an ethereal passion unlike anything else I've read.

If you read this book, you'll see why Dostoyevsky is among the greatest writers. Besides the narration, the dialog, too, is engrossing. Most of the action unfolds over four days, so the timing is compressed. Adding to the tension, the action is compressed further into a single city.

This technique of the storytelling accentuates the sense of life in the Russian capital during the 1860's. One's sympathy is engaged, as the plot unfolds, by the dawning realization that the urban, anonymous life we take for granted now was an unprecedented, frightening and disturbing phenomenon to the people who lived at that time.

While all the sub-plots are jewels in themselves, for me one especially affecting story arc concerns the woman with tuberculosis, which the author depicts with amazing talent.

Another striking aspect of the book, for those who live in the vacuous scream that passes for discourse in our modern media, is the author's ability to represent all his characters' opposing lifestyles and opinions in a way that would be fair, even sympathetic, to each person. Dostoyevsky demonstrates this unusual grasp of differing points of view in all his works I've read, and this singular talent of his makes the difference between a good book and a superb one in every case.

I thought the ending was a bit overdone and a tad out of key with the rest of the story, although many readers will disagree with me on that score. Even so ...

For those who have read it: My favorite character -- Svidrigailov.

The book exudes an unusual power to draw the sympathies of modern readers onto the special problems of 19th-century lives. No, I shouldn't say "special." Rather, it causes you to feel for the people on a highly personal level. Yes, that's it; that's what gives the book its exceptional power. (less)

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Dec 06, 2007

Danny rated it

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A lot of people don't seem like Russian Literature. I guess it probably takes some getting used to. 19th Century Russian writers don't seem to write the novels that we're used to reading. They're often quite long, and sometimes difficult to keep reading; but like many novels that have endured the passing decades, I've found this one to reward the effort.

In Crime and Punishment Dostoevsky stabs you at the beginning, sticks his finger in the wound and twists it slowly for the rest ...more

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Jan 23, 2011

Milo rated it

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Shelves: 10-stars, horror, philosophy, cometothedarksidewehavecookies, thats-deep-man

This has got to be one of the darkest books I have every read. It's scary and disturbing but don't let that dissuade you from reading it. Dostoyevsky is one of those authors who flawlessly captures the characters thoughts and mental state on paper. Dostoyevsky easily ranks among the titan's of Russian literature for the simple way the suspense is allowed to build up and how Raskolnikov changes throughout the story. Raskolnikov's moral state is akin to ethical nihilism; the effect of his over-rea...more

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Apr 18, 2010

Δx Δp ≥ ½ ħ htgkvkkviholmvobsvzighxofyyzmw rated it

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Shelves: a-day-in-the-life, i-me-mine, strawberry-fields-forever, glass-onion

buku ke-9000

Apalagi yang kita harapkan dari sebuah novel?

PS :

"Dostoevsky gives me more than any scientist, more than Gauss." - Albert Einstein

"Russia's evil genius" - Maxim Gorky (1905)

"...the only psychologist from whom I have anything to learn." - Nietzsche (1887)

1. Novel yg bab terakhirnya saia baca di malam ulang tahun saia--di gunung sambil menggigil kedinginan, hik...more

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Jan 27, 2012

nik rated it

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Shelves: xeroed

The intense psychological pressure from the Raskolnikov(Main Protagonist) is something I can empathize. I feel like I'm Raskolnikov. hahahaha. I projected myself as him. His hysteric symptoms, hypochondrias, thought processes, suffering and disgust. The fucking trance. Identification really played a big part here. To emphatize a murderer, and to find yourself to having that kind of capacity to do the same. At some very clear point, our minds meet. And I am not surprised. Every single time I watc...more

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May 10, 2010

V i r t u e .. rated it

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تصف الآلام النفسية لـ ( قاتل ) ما كاد يُتم جريمته حتى يبدأ عقابه الباطني و تأنيب الضمير , فيقوده التفكير المستمر في جريمته إلى الاعتراف آخر الأمر بها لينال العقوبة التي يستحق ..

سير الأحداث فيها بطيء ومشاهدها محدودة تكاد تكون خالية من العقدة فيكفي أن 38 فصلاً منها ـ من أصل 40 ـ كانت تصف دقائق 12 يوماً فقط ! ..
وبالرغم من ذلك فهي مذهلة في تصويرها العميق للنفس البشرية ودوافعها من خلال التحليل النفسي لكل موقف .. فيكاد التعبير فيها عن الانفعالات يطغى على ما مسواه ..

تمتا...more

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Jan 03, 2011

Matt rated it

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The problem with being a high school student with average intelligence is that you can get fairly good grades with fairly minimal effort. It is an invitation to cut corners and utilize only one half your ass. This happened to me in English class. I'd sit back, take good notes, and bluff my way through various tests (this was back in the day before Google, when my family only had an AOL dial-up connection and all the answers, right and wrong, were on the internet). For these sins, I am now fated ...more

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May 12, 2009

Lizzie rated it

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Shelves: 2009, fang-s-book-club, heard-of-it

So, I am just reading this. Is that legal? It kind of doesn't seem legal. Like I need to submit my resume first. But I'm just going to read it and that's what I'm doing.

Also, 320 editions on GoodReads and not the one I'm reading? Unfair. JUSTICE! It's a theme. I think.

---

Oh my god book! You're over! I thought we might die together.

You earned a 3.5 really, book, because this was a good thing to read. I learned to put aside the prejudices ...moreSo, I am just reading this. Is that legal? It kind of doesn't seem legal. Like I need to submit my resume first. But I'm just going to read it and that's what I'm doing.

Also, 320 editions on GoodReads and not the one I'm reading? Unfair. JUSTICE! It's a theme. I think.

---

Oh my god book! You're over! I thought we might die together.

You earned a 3.5 really, book, because this was a good thing to read. I learned to put aside the prejudices that kept me from reading it for 12 years. For example, it is actually quite easy to read, with almost no crazy prosaic dreamscapes where the symbolism claws your eyes out. (I like my symbolism a little gentler.) Several of the philosophical conclusions and personal attitudes hit home. I liked that there are a couple of important women in it, because I thought that it would pretty much be a man book. His sister Dounia is the smartest character, though, and Sonia has some of the best scenes although she is also more the type of idolized woman who does show up in man books.

It is a city book, which makes you imagine visiting its city (St. Petersburg), but through a time machine. It is the best history lesson I've had on 19th-century Russia (meaning, I've had none), and it interested me to learn a bit on the side. Particularly about the 1861 emancipation of the serfs, which I'd never heard of in my life but is an enormous fact. It is only mentioned two or three times in the book, but I think there are clues that this and related social changes -- specific immigrant groups, and economic shifts -- were a critical piece of Dostoevsky's writing in 1866. He saw his country as a real place, where real consequences included real Siberia, and real people could wind up unfathomably rudderless, and he meant it all for a novel.

I am rounding the stars down, though, because sometimes there was too much muddle. The clarification of Rodion's motives weaved in and out, and sometimes I just forgot, or I wondered if the book forgot that it was about this guy and his crime, remember, from the title? And though often the symptoms of his bleak rock-bottom are extremely relatable, other times I could not help but think, Cheer up, emo Raskolnikov! I also really did think I would be reading it forever. I was pretty ready for it to be finished well before it was, and the last 50 pages were Sisyphean. I am going to read about 10 really really short books after this so I feel productive again.

Let's have a sidebar on this Bantam Classic edition that I got at the first regional Barnes & Noble near Milwaukee in high school. I'll start with the cover, which I have looked at for the last decade and concluded that this serious book with its severe title was about an old man with a receding hairline and weathered face. Fact: Raskolnikov is 23, and he hasn't even managed to finish a college degree yet. That is a world of difference, in outlook. Also, the back copy promises "a terrifying murder mystery" and "a fascinating detective thriller". And I understand where you are coming from, Bantam Classic, that you shouldn't say, for example, "ponderous novel with a murder, and a detective," but maybe do. The binding broke while I read the first half, and actually I always kind of like it when a book falls apart as I finish it. It usually only happens to the books that earn it, and it did open itself onto the most memorable scene, so thank you.(less)

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Jan 14, 2008

Rob rated it

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I think this book gets tragically overlooked by a lot of readers because they think it will be a very difficult read. I don't agree at all! I found this book to be very accessible and a real page turner. It is such an awesome pyschological thriller and of course (it is russian after-all) deals with some super interesting and very deep moral and ethical issues. Principally something along the lines of "Is it morally acceptable for someone to commit murder if the murderer [protagonist] is...more

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Oct 23, 2008

Renee rated it

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I enjoyed this book much more than I thought I would. A very detailed, and thoughtful piece of work that goes into the great depths of madness, paranoia and guilt. I loved that it was written over 150 years, fascinating. I did get some of the secondary characters confused at times as the Russian surnames began to blur about half way through the book. However, it just took some going back for quick references and I was right on track again.

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Jul 27, 2011

Tatiana rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: classics

I just got the new Pevear and Volokhonsky translation of Crime and Punishment and I'm in the middle of reading it and I definitely think it's an improvement on the other translations I've read. It seems a whole lot more Russian, if that's possible. It also seems a lot more like Fyodor Mikailovich himself wrote it, in some odd way which I'm not able to define, but I guess that means it's a really good translation.

I've read this book several times before but it feels stronger this time...moreI just got the new Pevear and Volokhonsky translation of Crime and Punishment and I'm in the middle of reading it and I definitely think it's an improvement on the other translations I've read. It seems a whole lot more Russian, if that's possible. It also seems a lot more like Fyodor Mikailovich himself wrote it, in some odd way which I'm not able to define, but I guess that means it's a really good translation.

I've read this book several times before but it feels stronger this time around. Next I've got their translations of The Idiot and The Brothers Karamazov to reread. I'm looking forward to it.

Picked this up again not long ago, and I just read the scene in which Rodya greets his mother and sister in his garret in St. Petersburg for the second time. It's amazing the way Dostoyevsky can describe people so well with just a few words, give us a sense of their feelings and make us feel acutely what they're going through. He's really the best novelist who's ever written. I can't even imagine how much better it must be in the original Russian, too.

I feel Sonechka's timidity and self-effacement, Dunia's intelligence and integrity, Razumakhin's good nature and kindness, Pulcheria Alexandrovna's mother's worry, Rodya's agonizing feeling of complete alienation from these dear people who love him, because he's committed the unthinkable and murdered Lizaveta and the old Pawnbroker woman. I can feel exactly how all that feels to every one of those people. There is definitely genius at work. I wonder if I should dissect it word by word and try to learn how it is that Fyodor Mikailovich manages to do that? Would that spoil the magic?

I've just read the most extraordinary scene, a masterful scene in which we're met with the most powerful of emotions and several rapid reverses. Sonia's accused of stealing a hundred ruble note from Dunia's creepy fiance Luzhin, that Dunia just ditched. Sonia's about to perish from timidity and fear, and of course did no such thing. Luzhin is then outed by his roommate, who saw him plant the note on her earlier, and thought he was being secretly philanthropic, but now is completely confused as to why he would do such a thing. Rodia is there and explains his motive, that he's hoping to disgrace Rodia and cause him to quarrel with his sister and mother, thereby allowing Luzhin a way back into their good graces. Meanwhile Katharina Ivanovna is in hysterics demanding justice for her family. The now vindicated Sonia bolts in terror. And Luzhin blusters his way out of the house amid much uproar from the other tenants. One Polish fellow hurls a glass of vodka at Luzhin only to miss and hit the Landlady smack in the face. Somehow Dostoyevsky describes it all in a way that has us following the action on the edge of our seats, at a fever pitch of concern for Sonia, Katherina Ivanovna, and Rodia. Such a satisfying debacle! Dang, I love Fyodor Mikailovich!(less)

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Oct 18, 2009

Bruce rated it

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Crime and Punishment is a didactic novel which superbly dramatizes Doestoevsky's view of sin, guilt and punishment. I decided to reread it because I was intrigued by a quote read recently of a statement by one of the characters I'd forgotten about (I read it over 25 years ago), Svidrigailov. He's speaking of the wages of sin, noting that, " . . . and one is always sad all the time!" This struck me as very insightful and ultimately hopeful. The temptation to do wrong always makes sin...more

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Jul 09, 2010

Julia Boechat Machado rated it

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Shelves: russian-literature, books-i-own, constantly-re-reading, tingle-of-the-spine, punch-in-the-stomach, 1860s

Dostoiévski afirmava que estudava o mistério do homem porque queria ser humano. Foi por esse mesmo motivo que fiquei fascinada por ele. É isso que o torna inesgotável.
Crime e Castigo não é bem escrito, no sentido em que as pessoas geralmente dizem isso. Não foi feito para ser bonito, foi feito pra ter arestas. Dostoiévski já foi considerado um péssimo escritor por ser coloquial, piegas, repetitivo, por escrever às pressas e jamais revisar os textos. Exceto que Dostoiévski revisava os texto...more

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Dec 21, 2009

Frankie rated it

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Shelves: russian

The remarkable thing about Dostoevsky's characters is his foresight in portraying their reactions to their fate. He somehow always knows how a certain personality will end up, how he'll be forced to come to terms with his ideal. In Crime and Punishment, Raskolnikov may appear to be mad, but his fantasy is almost reasonable in light of his suffering, which comes to the fore gradually throughout the plot. Though he's an inwardly charitable and (compared to other loathsome characters, like Luzhin a...moreThe remarkable thing about Dostoevsky's characters is his foresight in portraying their reactions to their fate. He somehow always knows how a certain personality will end up, how he'll be forced to come to terms with his ideal. In Crime and Punishment, Raskolnikov may appear to be mad, but his fantasy is almost reasonable in light of his suffering, which comes to the fore gradually throughout the plot. Though he's an inwardly charitable and (compared to other loathsome characters, like Luzhin and Svidrigailov) even compassionate gentleman, his crime is clearly vile and egoistic. We're reminded constantly throughout the plot that this crime is clearly wrong, that this man has done wrong and for the wrong reasons.

Dostoevsky has every confidence that his readers are intelligent enough to know that he doesn't condone murder. In fact, Raskolnikov's path of delirium causes more anguish for himself and those around him than any punishment in Siberia. Nothing is resolved concerning his Napoleonic ideal, he only concludes himself unworthy of it – this is my only issue with the text. If anything is redeemed in the course of events, it's always the inevitability of poverty and death that resolves the situation. The drunkeness of Marmelodov, the madness of Katerina Ivanovna, the dangerous stalking of Svidrigailov – these intrigues are all relieved by untimely deaths.

The only characters that seem to be fantastic are ironically the only comforting and recognizably fabled in the cast - Lebezyatnikov and Luzhin. In the funeral feast scene, Luzhin is called out and humiliated by his "partner in crime" Lebezyatnikov for framing Sonya. It's cathartic but seems awkwardly placed or rushed in. Aside from this the plot and characters are genius, of course, and still so perfectly dark and ominous scene by scene, that I feel absurd critiquing it at all.

I regret that I hadn't read this properly and in-depth before, and after reading this PV translation I think of it as nearly as good as The Idiot and The Brothers Karamozov. If you're having a difficult time with it, watch the 1970 USSR adaptation (of like title) by Lev Kulidzhanov. It's accurate and the English dubbing can easily be set.(less)

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Aug 09, 2008

Corrie rated it

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Recommends it for: Jeffery, Vin

Rodion Romanovitch Raskolnikov is a young man with dreams of being great with a capital G however he is living in poverty and cannot be comforted by little things such as being young, handsome, intelligent, healthy and having friends and family who would do anything for him. His inconsolable ego drives the story about apathetic and disaffected youth written well over a hundred years ago that remains disturbingly relevant.

The story clips along quickly and it is not a difficult read ...moreRodion Romanovitch Raskolnikov is a young man with dreams of being great with a capital G however he is living in poverty and cannot be comforted by little things such as being young, handsome, intelligent, healthy and having friends and family who would do anything for him. His inconsolable ego drives the story about apathetic and disaffected youth written well over a hundred years ago that remains disturbingly relevant.

The story clips along quickly and it is not a difficult read but you cannot skim. Every line is significant, no characters are superfluous, and the Russian names are not easy to keep straight. Print a list off the internet to help you remember Avdotya is the formal name of Dounia, etc.

Rather than attempt to summarize the story I will include two passages that do all that work for me. Rodion Romanovitch Raskolnikov is summed up nicely as he observes a young woman who has become a prositute to support her alcoholic father.

*"There are three ways before her," he thought,"the canal, the madhouse, or... at last to sink into depravity which obscures the mind and turns the heart to stone."

The last idea was the most revolting, but he was a sceptic, he was young, abstract, and therefore cruel, and so he could not help believing that the last end was the most likely.*

The novel itself is also nicely summarized by the author.

*This is a fantastic gloomy business, a modern case, an incident of to-day when the heart of man is troubled, when the phrase is quoted that blood 'renews', when comfort is preached as the aim of life. Here we have bookish dreams, a heart unhinged by theories. Here we see resolution in the first stage, but resoulution of a special kind: he resolved to do it like jumping off a precipice or from a bell-tower and his legs shook as he went to the crime. He forgot to shut the door after him, and murdered two people for a theory... he is a murderer, but looks upon himself as an honest man, despises others, poses as injured innocence.*

I can't recomend it highly enough. It's beautifully written, challenging and inspiring. Patrick Bateman has nothing on our Russian psycho, Rodion Romanovitch Raskolnikov.

(less)

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Jun 19, 2007

Ancient rated it

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Recommends it for: hmm... don't know if I really can (see review)

Shelves: classics

Rated 3 stars for being good in parts but uneven on the whole.

Crime and Punishment was on my personal to-read list for a long time since Dostoevksy's Notes from the Underground is one of my all-time favorite books. On top of that, several people had personally recommended C&P to me, and it's considered to be among the greatest classics of all time.

So, I got around to reading it, and honestly, I was disappointed.

A case of having too high of expectations? Prob...more

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Jun 28, 2011

Nazish Tahir rated it

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Shelves: favourites

Whattay deep profound study of human psychology. The protagonist(Roskolnikov)'s views and his inclination towards crime seem to me to be ironic towards unnatural structure of society and not stemming from his own moral views. He protests against all the sufferings and pain in the world by prostrating his own views of right and wrong. His article on the right of exceptional people to transgress laws and to even shed blood is very much parallel to Napoleon's view of he being 'above all others'. Th...more

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Apr 04, 2009

Huyen rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: literature, philosophy-psychology

I confess my crime that I never actually finished this book. For some odd reason, I got fascinated by Nietzsche in my first year, and that led to Dostoevsky. Basically, I just found the book terribly boring and deleterious (Dostoevsky loves this word doesn't he?) and I couldn't care any less about the main character. And I knew exactly how the book was going to end, so I couldn't bring myself to finish it.
I don't find his reasoning justifiable and the conclusion concerning atheism and rat...more

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Jan 23, 2009

John rated it

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Shelves: 2009, russians

Intense, engrossing and, in many ways, far more strange than a lot of contemporary fiction that tries really hard to be strange, after the first hundred pages I found it impossible to put this book down, but also difficult to pick up again in the morning, like I was rehashing unpleasant memories. I loved the dialogue, particularly the long, psychologically manipulative, bizarre, sometimes grotesque conversations between Raskolnikov and Porfiry, the examining magistrate. Many parts of this book...more

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Mar 25, 2009

Lady Danielle "The Book Huntress" rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: Readers who want a story that has a good message but isn't preachy

Shelves: classic, required-reading, redemption, antihero, russian-literature

With such beginning marred by a horrifying act of violence, this book could have easily been a depressing tragedy. But it is a book about redemption, forgiveness, and hope. I feel that this book gives the message that a person can always choose to turn their life around. They hold their fate in their hands by the choice to do the right thing. I started reading this book, not very happy that it was required reading. Before I knew it, I was eager to turn each page to see this man's journey from ...more

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