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Summary: Crime and Punishment
Review: Crime and Punishment was a wonderful novel. The story line is so complex, and the book is do descriptivly written, I couldn't put it down. Although the Russian names were hard to keep up with, it was a great book!
Rating: 
Summary: An over-rated classic
Review: I expected a lot more from this book than I got out of it. I liked Brothers Karamazov very much but I found Crime and Punishment to be pretty annoying, without any payoff. We have to follow the convoluted mind of a moron. The police detective just assumes that he will confess sooner or later because he's a gentleman, not a poverty-stricken crook. What's that about? Why the hell would you assume that a murderer would confess? Must we suspend our disbelief and our common sense before opening the book? Raskolnikov is an annoying person to read about, and I don't find him terribly realistic either. If he is such an idealist, why doesn't he regret, most of all, killing the shy lady? Why does he forget her as soon as he dispatches her? And that ending - I'm not going to spoil it for you but I'll just say I don't believe it. After reading this thoroughly mediocre book I was really amazed at how good Brothers Karamazov is.
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Summary: SUPER
Review: I am a high school senior reading this book for my English class. Naturally, I was intimidated before approaching this world-renowned novel. It was fascinating to read about how Raskolnikov's double dilemma is worked out in terms of inwardness. The interior battle is essentially between reason as an instrument of the go's desire for power and glory, and the heart's sorrow for others. The revelation that comes to Raskolnikov through love and humility "in prison, in freedom," is inevitable becase it is the obverse side, the pro, of the will-to-suffering, the contra, that has been throughout the entire novel his primary motivation. I would really like to thank Mr. Maurice Beebe and Mr. Ralph Harper in helping me to grasp as much of this outsanding novel as possible.
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Summary: Buying it was my Crime, Reading it was my Punishment
Review: By the end of the book the voices that Raskilnov heard in his head had migrated to my own bucket...The voices were saying, "you must destroy this book, throw it into the fire, hurt, maim, annihliate...do not read another page, the writing is so bad that it is killing you." Unfortunately I didn't listen to those voices and continued to read. The result was that I finished reading the worst book written in the history of mankind.
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Summary: Dostoevsky is able to convey a powerful theme.
Review: Here is the conclusion of a paper I wrote, entitled "Theme and Symbolism in Crime and Punishment". It conveys how I feel about this amazing book. Symbolism and imagery in Crime and Punishment are used to a well-executed and imaginitive extent. Dostoevksy is able to do with words what Picasso did with a brush. Through a couple of different means Dostoevsky is able to convey a powerful theme, and draw the reader into the story. Dostoevsky's means of communicating the theme of "Crime and Punishment" add depth to the story,a nd help make his point against rationalists stronger. As Gibian states, "Dostoevsky did not rely solely on the weapons of his opponenet, but used the whole gamut of his artistic resources, among which oblique reference and symbolic devices played an important part" (543). Dostoevsky's masterful use of language and symbolism add potency and effectiveness to this timeless tale." In short, this book is one of the best books I have ever read (and I've read a LOT of books in my day!)
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Summary: the verdict---amazing
Review: I am a high school junior, and was slightly intimidated to receive such a novel to read over this past summer. And, although I got caught up in the fascinating action involving the murder, I did not understand the significance of this kind of existential novel--well I didn't even know what existentialism is, never mind understand the theories of people like Kierkegaard or Nietzsche. But now, after fully analyzing this novel over a period of several months, I have come to realize that this book is one of the landmarks in world literature. Not only did it change my life and expand my thinking, but it also gave me insight on the historical perspective of 19th Century Russia. This particular translation (Richard Pevear) was absolutely FANTASTIC, and compares to no other. It is definitely my top recommendation for translations. This is truly a novel of epic proportions--not exactly bedside table reading. I would say to read at your own risk, but if you do, be sure to relish it as best you can, for once you finish, you will realize that you have read something truly great.
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Summary: Art at its highest form.
Review: My father was/is fond of repeating something he once read, namely that in all the world, there will be three novelists who will be forever rememberd: Cervantes, Dickes, and Dostoyevsky. I am pretty sure he has probably mangled the quotation over the years, but I think of it as a great guide for reading... Crime and Punishment is perhaps the greatest novel written. At a minimum, it is possible to make a case that it is the greatest. All the same, it is a must read. At age 17, an AP English/forced reading of what I then thought was a "really long book" single-handedly opened my eyes to the possibility that literature and analysis could be richly rewarding. I've worn out two paperback copies in the years since. Buy this book and read it. It is simply amazing.
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Summary: I am happy that I can read - all the stars of the Universe
Review: This book is an absolutely magnificent creation of human mind. It is above any criticism. It is incredible that a person (F. Dostoevskiy) could have such a gift. I think that nobody will match such writing for another hundred years.
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Summary: Dosteyevsky's perfection
Review: 'Crime and Punishment' has it all...murder, betrayal, perversion, a tortured protagonist, love, rebirth, and passion. It tells the tale of a man who commits spiritual suicide through a heinous act, and his agonizing journey towards redemption. It is masterfully crafted, every seemingly insignificant detail has untold repercussions on the story and its characters. For example, the contrast between Raskolnikov and his love interest, the beautiful Sonya. While he is an arrogant yet respected student, she is a spiritual woman forced into prostitution by circumstance. The world shuns her for her outward sin, while it is Raskolnikov they should cast out...while he is seemingly respectable, his soul is as vile as Sonya's sheets. The greatest difficulty I had reading this book was keeping track of the names. Each character has at least three different names, and they're all used randomly and without warning. Once you get the hang of it, however, it is not an obstacle. While 'Crime and Punishment' is an incredibly difficult read, it is the most satisfying book I have ever experienced. Its brilliant look into the interplay of humans and their failings combined with its subtle and often disturbing message of hope makes this a thorougly remarkable work, one not to be passed up. This has become my favorite book, I hope it becomes yours as well.
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Summary: Crime Novel? Not quite
Review: This is the first Dostoevsky book I have read, and I liked it immensely. I decided to read it because of the intriguing plot, as well as Dostoevsky's reputation. Something interesting about this novel is that Dostoevsky used a very "backwards" sort of character development. He had Raskolnikov commit a murder- with no apparent motive- and then spent the rest of the book exploring the character, rather than the other way around. So first we watch this character commit a horrible, terrible crime, one that we should denounce him for, and then we begin to get to know him, and he is revealed to have an astoundingly good character after all. I found myself liking Raskolnikov greatly, and I was able to identify with him as well. However, this book does not seem to fall under the guidelines of a "crime novel" nor a "psychological thriller". Yes, there is a crime, as well as a study of the protoganist's psyche, but it is not exactly thrilling. This is not the sort of story where you have to keep reading and reading to find out who committed the crime. You already know. Therefore, there is no mystery to keep you interested. Despite all these obstacles, Dostoevsky does what might be impossible for most writers. He makes you care about what happens to Raskolnikov. I was not thrilled, but engrossed. What kept me reading here was the desire to see if Raskolnikov would defeat his inner demons and turn himself in, or be arrested. I'd rather not reveal the ending but I would like to say that I found it extremely satisfying. The subplot, that of Luzhin trying to gain control over Dounia, might have only gotten in the way of another writer, but Dostoevsky was able to inspire such hate in me for Luzhin that I wanted to keep reading just to see him get what he deserved in the end. After reading this, I have decided to read Dostoevky's other works as well, and hopefully they will all be of the same high quality.
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