Crime and Punishment
Ratings647
Average rating4.3
Read Dostoevsky in order:
1 Crime and Punishment
2 Notes from the underground
3 Demons
4 The Idiot
5 The brothers Karamazov
I regard this book as perhaps the greatest of all time. The characters are incredibly richly developed (to an extent that most real humans cannot hope to match the depth of Raskolnikov, Raz, Sonya, and Porfiry). The story is engaging and a thrill to follow. If anyone asked me, what book would you recommend? I'd recommend Crime and Punishment, no matter who asks. It is a must-read!
DNF'd a long time ago. I tried to read it as an 18 year old. It was the summer holidays, I read this while baking in the sun between nights spent going out with friends. I was off to uni in September and this book just fell out of my life. It's ten years later and I still haven't come round to finishing it (or university). Also, I was reading a Hungarian translation - not usually an issue, but I was never a fan of Russian literature Hungarian translations.
Update for new attempt: I picked this out as my commute read a few moons ago in an effort to finish at least one Russian classic. It surprised me. Life has evidently given me a lot to ruminate over since I was 18. I found myself reflected in Raskolnikov's character. This time I saw depth and complexity where before I fell asleep in boredom. Maybe some books just require maturity.
Just finished this Russian classic today and I am wondering why I didn't read it sooner. It was a mysterious and dark novel written in a classic Russian style during the time period it was written in. Masterful writing that reels you in with unlikable characters with strong character development.
I know this is a classic and hailed as a great literary achievement... but I just wasn't feeling it.
Raskolnikov murders two women, hailing himself a hero. He believes the world will be a better place, even though things hadn't gone according to plan. As time goes on, deep-seated guilt slowly takes him over, especially as suspicion arises.
For a book nearly 700 pages long, there isn't a lot of action or much of anything interesting in general. Maybe it was profound for its time, but I found it painfully boring compared to other books with similar themes. Part one was promising enough but then the rest of the book droned on. It just wasn't for me.
প্রথমেই বলি কী কী ভালো লাগেনি। ধর্মীয় ব্যাপারস্যাপার সুবিধার মনে হয় নি। তবে এটার জন্য দস্তয়ভস্কির প্রতি বিরূপ হওয়ার কোনো কারন নেই। লেখকরা সমাজের প্রগতিশীল মানুষের কাতারেও থাকলেও সমাজের স্বাভাবিক গতিজড়তায় কখনোই পড়বেন না এমনটা আশা করা যায় না। তাছাড়া, ধর্মের ব্যাপারটা অতিরিক্ত হয়নি।
চরিত্রগুলো গল্পের সাথে সাথে আস্তে আস্তে স্পষ্ট ও স্বকীয় হয়ে উঠেছে। প্রত্যেক সাধারণ মানুষ তাদের অসাধারণত্ব নিয়ে ধরা দিয়েছে দস্তয়ভস্কির কলমে।
এক অদ্ভুতধরনের অহংকারে আক্রান্ত কিন্তু সবমিলে একজন ভালোমানুষ রাস্কলনিকভ, আমাদের কেন্দ্রীয় চরিত্র, তার অন্তর্দ্বন্দ্ব, দুর্ভোগ, শয়তানি এবং শেষমেশ সরলজীবনের মর্মোপলব্ধি এই আখ্যানের উপজীব্য বিষয়। এর বাইরের অন্য চরিত্রগুলো কিন্তু এরজন্য ম্লান হয়নি যেমনটা সাধারণত দেখা যায়। স্ভিদগ্রেলভ (উচ্চারণত্রুটি মার্জনীয়। আমার ব্রাত্য জিহ্বা বড় নীরস।) চরিত্রটি আমায় বিশেষভাবে টেনেছে। সোনিয়ার সৎমা এবং বাবাও চমৎকার চরিত্র। পোরফিরি একটা চমৎকার অয়েলপেইন্টিং। রোডিয়ার মা এবং বোন এবং বন্ধু-কাম-দাদাবাবু রামুজিহিন এরা মোটামুটি সরল চরিত্র। সরল কিন্তু অনন্য। সোনিয়া... স্বর্গীয় পরিত্রাতা। এই চরিত্রটিও সরল তবে আমার খুব ভালোলাগে কেননা আমার পরিত্রাত্রীও এরকমই আরকি! :P
আমার সবচেয়ে ভালোলেগেছে যে বিষয়টা তাহলো, কেন্দ্রীয় চরিত্র প্রোটাগনিস্ট না, মানুষ।
I must not spoil the fun by retelling the novel. Read it, feel it by yourself.
There was crime and then there was punishment.
600 page rebuttal of utilitarianism.
Fever dream.
This is a tentative five because there were some parts that I quite frankly wanted to rip out of the book. If I have to read another monologue, so help me... But the characters and the intensity of the emotion alone got this a five. Well done, Dostoevsky.
Read this in high school. Remember very little other than being proud of myself for pronouncing Fyodor Dostoyevsky correctly.
This was a good (but long) read. I liked Dostoevsky's Brother's Karamazov better, but this one had its own twists and turns that made for a fun adventure. You don't really know until the very end what's going to happen, so it keeps you reading. I don't want to ruin any of it, but if you're up for a bit of a read in Dostoevsky's style, go for it.
The only things that really bother me about this style are the names, and the lack of place names throughout the text (X. prospect? V. Prospect? Come on!). Everyone has 2 names that are used interchangeably - for instance, the main character is Rodion Romanovich and Raskolnikov. All the names are similar too - there's an Ilya Petrovich and a Pyotr Petrovich in the book. This is just how Russia was, though, so it's OK. Just make sure to pay attention to who is who.
I enjoyed the pre-communist political discourse that's sprinkled throughout the book - particularly the first interview with Porfiry. I'll have to find a non-fiction source that elaborates the different political factions of the time and place someday.
I've just finished reading “Crime and Punishment” by Fyodor Dostoevsky, and what a journey it's been. This book is a real rollercoaster of emotions and experiences. Dostoevsky's skill in getting into characters' heads is truly impressive. The way he portrays the psychological turmoil of the main character after committing murder is intense and believably human. His descriptive powers are off the charts too - you can practically see the gritty, poverty-stricken streets of St. Petersburg and feel the weight of the characters' emotions.
The book starts off a bit slow, but the second half really picks up, diving deep into psychological thriller territory. However, it's not always an easy read. The Russian names are a real challenge to remember and pronounce, which made keeping track of characters a bit of a headache for me. There's also a lot of what feels like unnecessary detail and “waffling” in parts of the book, which can test your patience.
One thing that stood out was Dostoevsky's unique conversation style. Characters often speak in long, unbroken monologues that can be both fascinating and frustrating. It's like the author doesn't want to give you a chance to catch your breath!
Despite these challenges, the book has a way of suddenly grabbing your interest just when you think it's getting boring. It keeps you engaged, even if it's not always comfortable. The ending, in my opinion, was perfect - wrapping up the story in a satisfying way.
Overall, while “Crime and Punishment” met many of my expectations, especially in terms of psychological depth and descriptive power, it was also a bit underwhelming in some aspects. The pacing issues and sometimes excessive detail can be challenging for modern readers.
I'd give it 3.5 out of 5 stars. It's a classic for a reason, but it's not without its quirks. Would I recommend it? Absolutely, especially if you're into deep psychological exploration and don't mind a challenging read. Just be prepared for a bit of a mental workout!
Dreary, cold January commutes are perhaps not the ideal time to listen to Crime and Punishment. But even with that disclaimer, boy did I dislike this novel–far more than I expected to. Scenes of gratuitous brutality, a thoroughly unsympathetic protagonist (and not bc he is a murderer but bc he is so very annoying in his self absorption), and women who are either totally hysterical or self-abnegating saints. Ewww. I understand it's 19th-century Russia; but that doesn't mean I have to like it.
“What do you think, would not one tiny crime be wiped out by thousands of good deeds?”
Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoyevsky, you fuckin' genius! I'm rendered totally speechless by this masterpiece of yours. This is one of those books that you must not miss out on. It is an universal compendium of various ideas and aphorisms which are brilliantly knitted into a great tale about a man who commits a murder, blinded by his vanity while thinking he's intellectually superior others. Dostoyevsky is the master when it comes to understanding human nature and knows how to penetrate through your soul with his words. This book is an unforgettable classic. It is bound to make you introspect after you've finished reading it. Having said that, every time I read any of Dostoyevsky's works, at the end of the book, I come out as a completely different person. His books always leave an imprint on your mindset. Such is the literary flair of Dostoyevsky! Will now end my year wallowing in the reverie of this beautiful book.
Do not miss out on this timeless classic. I repeat. Do not miss out on this timeless classic!
My first Fyodor Dostoevsky, i didn't regret it weirdly enough. That novel had a very interesting, mysterious flavour, one that i really liked. I found myself connecting with the characters and living inside the book. 10 outta 10