Crime and Punishment

This is the greatest novel I've ever read. Have you ever looked at a painting or listened to a piece of classical music and had strong emotions about it? That's sort of how I feel about the book. Like, you just can't help but look at it and go, “wow that's a great piece of art. Normally I like shitty action movies, but I can tell this is great, even though I don't completely know why”

It may be fairly ridiculous to give this book “only” four stars, but, despite the great stirring of ideas that I have had while reading it, some of the structure of the book left me wanting. The ideas are myriad, the imagery is fascinating, and I'm sure all of that will continue to impress itself on me for...well, forever. That said, I really think this book could have used an editor, especially the last half or so. Blasphemy, by somebody who just doesn't really “get it”? Maybe.

I'm sure I'll read this again someday, just like I did over 20 years ago, and get a different set of ideas about it–which is, of course, part of what makes it a great book.