Christopher’s Comments (group member since Oct 19, 2011)

Christopher’s comments from the Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die group.

This is the second time I have read this book, the first time being as a senior in high school. I didn't fully appreciate it then, but now that I am a little wiser, I found it a little more fascinating then I did before.

For me, the most interesting aspect of this book is the Raskolnikov's internal suffering throughout. He tries to pass off the murders as being justified because of his superiority over others, but deep down his actions unsettled him and you can see it ultimately breaking him down. And when he comes into contact with the very embodiment of his idea of the great man unbounded by conventional morality, Svidrigailov, he is disgusted with him. I think his interactions with him, combined with his interactions with the sweet and innocent prostitute, Sofya, is what forces his confession at the end. (Side note: what is it with the archetypal innocent prostitute in 19th century literature? They crop up all over the place, including in Les Miserables.) His suffering and ultimate conversion(?) in the epilogue have a stamp of Christian theology to it that may not be unrecognizable to some. Personally, I think this is a marvelous book and well worth the read.

I just started reading by Harriet Beecher Stowe. I'm already 66 pages into it and I've run into my biggest pet peeve in all of literature: an author's attempt to imitate accents in dialogue. It's infuriating! I can't understand half of what anyone is saying.

I just finished reading by Ernest Hemingway and loved it! I have never taken to a classic piece of literature as I have this book. I suspect that I shall now have to read more Hemingway novels. The fire has been lit.

I am about to start reading by Ernest Hemingway. This is my first book written by Hemingway and I am very excited. Any tips on how I should approach Hemingway in general and this book in particular?