Sign in with Facebook
Emily May's Reviews > Crime and Punishment
Crime and Punishment
by
by
I've come to the conclusion that Russian door-stoppers might just be where it's at. "It" here meaning general awesomeness that combines history, philosophy and readability to make books that are both thought-provoking and enjoyable.
Up until this point, Tolstoy had basically taught me everything I knew about nineteenth century Russian society and its people. By that, I mean that everything I knew was about the drama and scandals of the Russian aristocracy. The difference here is that Dostoyevsky took me on an educational - but also gripping - journey around the backstreets and drinking dens of St Petersburg. He showed me the nitty gritty details of life in Russia for those less fortunate - drunks, prostitutes, the poor - and he painted a very vivid portrait of this time and culture.
Raskolnikov is a great protagonist; he really is. His head is one messed-up place and he constantly struggles with what he believes in, his conscience, and his desire to get what he wants. The reader is pulled so deep inside the dark depths of his mind that it's hard to avoid becoming completely absorbed in the story. He is at times nasty, at others funny, and at others pitiful. Dostoyevsky has created one extremely well-rounded and complex character. Crime and Punishment shows the human capacity for evil, but also for shame and remorse. And this latter is the real "punishment" for Raskolnikov when he is driven near to insanity by his guilt.
I don't really know how best to fully articulate my feelings for Crime and Punishment. I don't give many five star ratings and I rarely feel this strongly about what I've read. I actually had a dream about it!
Speaking of dreams, I want to use this one example of Dostoyevsky's ability to engage the reader so thoroughly: I read one particular scene in the book that made me seriously distressed. I was furious, on the verge of tears, and like a child who wants to jump inside the TV to make everything better... and then Raskolnikov awakes to discover it was just a dream. I swear that my sigh of relief fully eclipsed his! But that's how far I was drawn into this world, how much I really cared about it. That doesn't happen often.
| | | |
Up until this point, Tolstoy had basically taught me everything I knew about nineteenth century Russian society and its people. By that, I mean that everything I knew was about the drama and scandals of the Russian aristocracy. The difference here is that Dostoyevsky took me on an educational - but also gripping - journey around the backstreets and drinking dens of St Petersburg. He showed me the nitty gritty details of life in Russia for those less fortunate - drunks, prostitutes, the poor - and he painted a very vivid portrait of this time and culture.
Raskolnikov is a great protagonist; he really is. His head is one messed-up place and he constantly struggles with what he believes in, his conscience, and his desire to get what he wants. The reader is pulled so deep inside the dark depths of his mind that it's hard to avoid becoming completely absorbed in the story. He is at times nasty, at others funny, and at others pitiful. Dostoyevsky has created one extremely well-rounded and complex character. Crime and Punishment shows the human capacity for evil, but also for shame and remorse. And this latter is the real "punishment" for Raskolnikov when he is driven near to insanity by his guilt.
I don't really know how best to fully articulate my feelings for Crime and Punishment. I don't give many five star ratings and I rarely feel this strongly about what I've read. I actually had a dream about it!
Speaking of dreams, I want to use this one example of Dostoyevsky's ability to engage the reader so thoroughly: I read one particular scene in the book that made me seriously distressed. I was furious, on the verge of tears, and like a child who wants to jump inside the TV to make everything better... and then Raskolnikov awakes to discover it was just a dream. I swear that my sigh of relief fully eclipsed his! But that's how far I was drawn into this world, how much I really cared about it. That doesn't happen often.
| | | |
Sign into Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ to see if any of your friends have read
Crime and Punishment.
Sign In »
Reading Progress
March 9, 2011
– Shelved
August 20, 2012
–
Started Reading
August 23, 2012
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-48 of 48 (48 new)
date
newest »
newest »
message 1:
by
Clouds
(new)
Jun 24, 2012 05:18AM
Good luck :-)
reply
|
flag
Oh my, really?? This is one of the largest book I have on my Kindle. It's quite intimidating. :)
I know, but I've never met anyone who has read this who doesn't love it :D I'm also hoping that taking a chance on something bigger might pay off!
True, it does seem to be one of the well-liked ones. Just time consuming. :)I started Lolita today so I'm hoping it goes well.
Ooh, I think Lolita's brilliant. But prepare to be disturbed :)
Yeah, I figured as much. haha!
Great review. I hadn't considered picking this one up but may have to give it a shot.
Awesome review! I can't wait to read some Dostoyevsky!
How have you managed to get through all of those doorstoppers?????? I...I can't...I can't even imagine I'd get through War and Peace without needing a few days off from the story!
Honestly, Alyssa, they're lengthy but enjoyable. I'd much rather read a huge book that I'm going to be glad I read at the end than some of the shorter ones I've been reading recently. War and Peace is basically just a Russian soap opera, it's surprisingly easy to read :)
Wonderful review! This is my favorite book of all-time.Stephen M, you HAVE to read this, you will love it. Or join me on Karamazov this winter?
Thanks! It's now one of my favourites too.
That was an amazing review. This is not really a book I would have picked up myself but after that glowing recommendation how could I not add that to my to-read list?!
Thanks Tricia :)
Wow, you breezed right through this one!
I couldn't put it down, Bonnie. I want to read more Dostoyevsky right now!
Well, he has plenty of books on the 1001 list. :)
Gautam wrote: "how about The Idiot...i enjoyed it."I have it on my bookshelf and I plan to get to it soon!
s.penkevich wrote: "Wonderful review! This is my favorite book of all-time.Stephen M, you HAVE to read this, you will love it. Or join me on Karamazov this winter?"
Yes yes yes yes please.
Stephen M wrote: "s.penkevich wrote: "Wonderful review! This is my favorite book of all-time.Stephen M, you HAVE to read this, you will love it. Or join me on Karamazov this winter?"
Yes yes yes yes please."
Excellent (said in evil voice while tapping fingers together). Dostoevsky is so good I had to get him tattooed on me, it that's saying anything.
Emily wrote: "Thanks! It's now one of my favourites too."Good to hear! And please do read The Idiot, that one is quite good as well. I highly recommend Notes From Underground, it's a close second to C&P for me.
I'll try to read Notes, The Idiot and hopefully Crime and Punishment in preparation. We'll see how much ground I can cover over the semester. I've been meaning to read Dostoevsky for so long now. I get the feeling he could be one of my favorite authors.I absolutely love your tattoo. And even though I'm kind of anti-tattoo, I feel like that one actually means something profound and is worthy enough to become one ha.
Actually I take that back about Idiot. Goddamn russians and their massive books.
s.penkevich wrote: "Dostoevsky is so good I had to get him tattooed on me, it that's saying anything. "OMG seriously? That would be so cool.
Stephen M wrote: "Actually I take that back about Idiot. Goddamn russians and their massive books."
Oh you NEED to read the Idiot, it's amazing. Notes is really short!
I've tried several times, but I cannot read that book. Can't get past the beginning in which the narrator seems so whiny to me. *sigh* My sister says it's the second half that's great, but I don't know that I'll ever be able to get past the beginning to get there. I am a fan of Gogol, and would recommend his work if you like Russian writers.
In my opinion, if you don't like the beginning you probably won't like the rest. Luckily for me, I was hooked from page one :)Thanks for the Gogol rec, I've added Dead Souls.
Emily wrote: "In my opinion, if you don't like the beginning you probably won't like the rest. Luckily for me, I was hooked from page one :)"Good to know. Thanks! :)
Moira wrote: "s.penkevich wrote: "Dostoevsky is so good I had to get him tattooed on me, it that's saying anything. "OMG seriously? That would be so cool."
http://www.goodreads.com/photo/user/6...
Stephen M wrote: "I'll try to read Notes, The Idiot and hopefully Crime and Punishment in preparation. We'll see how much ground I can cover over the semester. I've been meaning to read Dostoevsky for so long now. I..."I think he will jump high into your author list, he is the top of mine. That's a good way to go, he is one to build towards since his minor books all explore themes in a more blunt way that his greater works touch on subtly. It's like taking a course in Dostoyevsky and the final exam being all applied knowledge from chapters long ago.
Really enjoyed Crime and Punishment, even though it did take forever >.> by the end of the book i felt like i've known the characters my whole life, like as if they were like family xD
I suppose you didn't like what was happening to that horse and how the guy kept screaming "it's my property!" Sorry, I don't mean to give you flashbacks.
My fav book of all time, after the crime happened couldn't put it down. Read the rest of it in one night. Granted after each chapter I would close the book and think about the whole chapter for 5-10 mins. Can't recommend it enough
Really helpful review; thank you, Emily.
Had absolutely no intention on reading this but this review absolutely sold me. Just bought my copy.
Catherine wrote: "Had absolutely no intention on reading this but this review absolutely sold me. Just bought my copy."Hope you love it too!!
Your review convinced me! Only the second time reading a Russian author, I hope it holds up to Bulgakov's Master and Margarita! Thanks Em!
I love this, and I love the idiot! haven't read Tolstoy other than the death of Ivan Ilyich. is he similar to Dostoevsky?
i just finished the book. Your review complements the beauty of this book! i love your style of writing! cheers!
Oh I think I know which distressing bit you are referring to. I had to keep putting the book down as I was reading it because I found the imagery so visceral and disturbing. After that portion was over, I closed the book and vowed never to touch it again but then I found myself curiously draw to pick it up again moments later.
Completely agree about the dream. It was crazy; I had no opinion, or thought rather, of mine on it while reading and was glad like you when it turned out to be a just what it was. Although I do think he was hinting towards the inevitability of humanity falling into such holes and their abrupt ending like with bad dreams - nightmares - to a new world "hitherto unknown".
I am reading this book currently Emily & that dream brought me close to tears and I’m so dead inside that I didn’t even cry during Titanic 🥲
In the last paragraph were you talking about the horse scene? If so, same.
@jolien that's so accurate; Emily May has read pretty much every book I've been interested in. You should follow her; I've been following her foryears now and her reviews really help me out
Okay sold. I’ll go back and get it :-)
The horse flogging was horrific. I wondered though if it was really necessary. It does illustrate the brutality of men and influence of power to those who are helpless. It was piwerful.
