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Summary: The Classic of Nihilism and Pathos
Review: This book is for "rebellious intellectuals" what the Dhammapada is for Mahayana Buddhists... just read it! And when you're done, grab a copy of Notes from the Underground for another dose of Dostoyevsky's faustian genius...
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Summary: First rate psychological drama
Review: I read this right after Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone;the two are quite different, as you can imagine. Crime and Punishment is a very good study of human psychology, as well as a wonderful peek into the social castes of 19th century Russia. I did not study this book in a literature class, and enjoyed it as a straight work of fiction that was very compelling in its own right, without the attendant analyses, etc. Each character is brought vividly to life, almost none are perfect, but all have stories and histories worth reading about.In addition, the underlying "new" theory suggested in the book cannot be more provocative: Are some people so "extraordinary" (enlightened) that it is alright for them to kill if this brings more general benefit to society? The answer was obvious to me, but it is an interesting question nevertheless.
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Summary: A Mind Warped
Review: There's no need to go into detailing this classic pshycological study on a warped individual. It covers the full spectrum of emotions, from inner strenghts to utter indifference. Throw in an intelligent detective that uses these same feelings to trap the murderer, a good hearted friend, two loving women, and of course the dreary setting of mid nineteenth century Russia and you have a well written and thought provoking novel. The long critisized ending also provides for a somewhat positive ending. A sequel would have been quite interesting. Dostoevsky uses somewhat similar characters and emotions in his other classic, "The Brothers Karamazov" If you enjoy a study into the inner mind with some interesting outcomes you would do well to read both of these important works.
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Summary: By Far, Dostoevsky's Best Novel
Review: Fyodor Dostoevsky overall writes a superb novel -- a great plot, spectacular characters, and an insight into the human mind. The dilemma inside the mind of Rodion Romanich Raskolnikov highlights the talent of Dostoevsky. An exceptional job on the part of Dostoevsky for analyzing and dissecting every detail throughout the story. This book is truly one that mankind can relate to for ages: should homocide, in all predicaments, remain a crime? Should I confess, or should I end it all right here, right now? I recommend this book to anyone who wishes to practice psychology law.
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Summary: Boring? You're an Idiot
Review: Crime and Punishment is one of my top 5 books. It is an amazing combination of politics, philosophy, and religion--an all encompassing grand show of humanity. The psychological depth of some of the scenes in this book will have you on the edge of your seat if you read them carefully. Dostoyevsky also has the brilliant ability to make hardcore philosophy emotionally RELEVANT, a feat many great philosophers fail at. Few books you will ever encounter will take your soul through such an emotionally disturbing dark tour of events. I sometimes am greatly moved just on reflecting on the novel, especially in regards to the dismal future of Russia Dostoyevsky warned the revolutionary ideas of his times would bring. His prescience was simply astounding. Even though Crime and Punishment is a dreary Russian novel (the quintessential one, in fact) be assured of an uplifting and enlightening ending. Although critics often trash the epilogue, keep in mind it is the only thing that prevents the novel from being overbearing in sadness; it was not meant to be depressing, but rather, inspirational, as it certainly was to me. Also, I think everyone can identify a little with the Raskolnikovian split between compassion and brutal efficiency. You will understand when you pick this book up and begin reading the first chapter. C&P changed my life, and I've never understood the meaning of Christianity as much as in my deep meditations on the masterpiece. This edition is a good one, as is the Norton Critical edition, which is unfortunately not available on Amazon. This is one of those books you must read once in your lifetime--do it now.
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Summary: Raskolnikov does not let down.....
Review: This book is one of the best existential pieces that I have read. Dostoevsky enhances the reader's understanding of the human psyche at the edge of it wits. But as you read you start to indeed wonder if this is a time of abnormality for young Raskolnikov or is it a possibility that all of us have the capability of thinking and acting in a like-minded fashion? As time breathes an air of consistency, Raskolnikov is dependent on his wits, but as externalities seize his attention he begins to meander into the abyss of social ingratitude.
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Summary: Badly written. Isn't that critque enough?
Review: Virtually every other review says that this book is "the greatest of all time." I'd like to be respectful, but I can't imagine anyone saying this. Please don't take offense. This book is very badly written. The author was an incredible genius, but that didn't make him a good writer. The main problem is that the book loses whatever momentum it gained by the murder with page after page of needless digression. Dostoevsky is a great philosopher, and that shines through here--he anticipated a lot of Nietzsche (though he would have strongly disagreed with him) and existentialism. This book, like his others, has some great philosophical dialoges, but that does not make a great novel (or even a good one). Karl Gauss, Bobby Fisher, Beethoven, Wittgenstein, Thomas Edison, and Hegel were all geniuses. Would you want to read a novel written by one of these guys? Yet any of them would probably have crafted a better piece of coherent fiction than C & P. Some think that this is great novel. How can that be if it isn't even marked by decent writing? For example, this book has a completely tacked-on "hollywood" ending. Every professional critic has pointed out that this a major flaw. So that leaves us with a good, angst-filled beginning, a brilliant but ever-so-boring Nietzscheian middle, and a ridiculous "hollywood" ending that sprouts abruptly from mid-air. That doesn't sound like "the greatest novel" to me.
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Summary: Great book, no doubt about it
Review: First of all, this is one kind of book that reader can feel sad finishing it. Second of all, it's not really fair for me to review this book since others were much more concise than i, but i will give it a shot and tell you what i feel about the book (after all, that's what a review is for). Ok, the subject of this book is: how a intelligent man plot a crime, execute a crime and how he will pay. It's actually a brilliant study of a crime, it's so intriguing and heart pumping. The mood is so dark and sad, i felt traped by the acts of the protagonist, a claustrophobic sensation. The characters were so belivable that i couldn't question their acts and thougts as real. The evolving relations between the characters, their psicological description, the constant tension and, above all, the mental changes that went through the protagonist mind kept me reading this book non-stop. All in all, this is a masterfull piece of work, worth the time reading (and re-reading) and worth the space in the bookshelf. My only advice: buy it ! PS: i percieved some sort of religious message behind all the plot (not that big a deal), but of course i might be quite mad...
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Summary: hemingway's hero
Review: Dostoevsky was one of hemingway's favorite authors. That's interesting. One russian and another american. And i think some psychological perspectives of these two writers complement each other. This is a story about a man tormented with guilt. Hemingway himself expressed these same problems (even in his real life). So why does one reviewer refer to «crime and punishment» in the terms of «blah, blah, boring, written in napkins», and then sends a book by John Steinbeck into the stratosphere?) I think that if you read «Crime and Punishment» you'll see why many americans think they are a little above everyone else. Our conscience doesn't always lead us where we want to go. Just like the hero in Dostoevsky's book. A good book seems to be always alive. But... what more can I say?... I recommend it to anyone who apreciates a masterpiece. Be it american or russian. By the way, i'm not either one.
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Summary: The Greatest - no contest.....
Review: The greatest novel of all time was written over a hundred years ago in Russia, by a man few would probably want to spend more than five minutes in the local with. The novel is very, very long, often goes round in circles seemingly nowhere and is infused with a deep religious code that betrays our current vogue for post christian, post socialst malaise. The basic jist of the story is familiar to anybody with a penchant for the t.v series 'Cracker' or the odd Sherlock Holmes novel. So why I hear you cry is it consistently lauded as the greatest story ever told? Simple really, when (and it really is only a matter of when) you read this book to the final page you will never the see the world again through the same eyes. For anybody wishing to foist another piece of literature on us the unsuspecting public, read this book first and then think..... Could you really explain the world we live in any better? Would you not just be repeating something that has already been written? Something with a far greater understanding, deeper compassion? Writing that not only tells us about man's eternal conflict with himself and his brothers, but through beautifully honest prose teaches us that this conflict is actually what makes man seperate from other beings. And then think again, my friend for we have enough books gathering dust on our libary shelves, but we only have one 'Crime And Punishment'
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