Crime and Punishment (Abridged)

Rating:
Summary: Second only to The Brothers Karamazov...
Review: This novel is a psychological profile of a normal youth who becomes a murderer through convincing himself that he is above morality and social standards that apply to everyone else. He manages this by creating his own morality-the morality of a mentally disturbed individual.And the enviroment of a large city is most conducive to such a dark transformation;in fact, Dostoevsky recognizes the pernicious and assidious dangers that lurk in vast cities where individuals become faceless and are only noticed when they snap.I got the impression that Raskolnikov was merely searching for attention in a city that disregarded the poor and downtrodden, thereby intensifying his rage against those whom he despised already. The concept of this novel is not too original, but the way that concept is handled certainly proves that Dostoevsky was able to look into the human mind, as it underwent a transformation from normal to demented. He intelligently and artistically captures the smallest biological changes that accopanied his anti-heroes metamorphises.The side characters, I think, are left intentionally underdeveloped so as to allow maximum space for Raskolnikov's change. The profound observastion and artistic incompareability of this novel prove that Dostoevsky truly does deserve his place as the greatest writer of all time. The theme is not uncommon, but the masterful handling of it is. Anyone who likes whodunnits written by a true literary genius should read this book.

Rating:
Summary: Man's Self Illusions Disected and Served on Silver Platter!
Review: An outstanding example of Russian Literature. Dostoevsky's ability to analyze and describe the workings of the human psyche is unequaled. He gives readers an understanding of how the mind of a criminal can rationalize and justify mans most base acts.

Rating:
Summary: A Disappointment, AGAIN..
Review: All through school and university I had effectively avoided Dostoevsky. Reading it again now has confirmed my disappointment five years ago; as much as I dislike stereotypes I am now utterly convinced that D. did suffer earlier in his life from insanity and was pitifully riddled with self-doubt. The moral dilemmas Raskalnikov faces are thrown at the reader like so much leg in a tawdry burlesque show. Introspection guidelines for Idiots.

Rating:
Summary: Good ideas, but badly presented
Review: While the question which the book raises is an interesting one, it is not handled very effectively. The book has a lot of characters who are very boring and don't really add anything except length. Relatively little of the book is about the actual guilt...I found that I could not become interested in the lives of any of the secondary characters. The ending (that is, the end of the epilouge, not the ending of the plot itself) was very dissapointing to me. To raise such complex issues and then dump a cover of religion as a cure-all seemed very weak, but perhaps Christian readers liked it more.

Rating:
Summary: For years to come, I shall remember this novel. BRILLIANT
Review: For a Christian to read a Christian novel such as this... I don't believe I have ever been compelled to read such a novel. As a Year 12 student in Australia, studying this book has been the most illustrious novel ever read in all of my seventeen years. When destitution, immorailty, loss of value and the complete disbelief in God are constructed in one enormous mound of flesh, here you will find Dostoyevsky's infamous prime character, Rodion Romanovitch Raskolnikov. (Here we call him Raz.) After committing the faithless act of murder, Raz is stricken with a fever so severe in depth numerously confesses to his sin to the many people that accompany him throughout his time of illness. Razumikin, perhaps the most stupid of all characters, falls helplessly in love with Raz's sister Dunya, although she too loves Razumikin they do not let it show beyond the confined walls of their hearts. The climax of the novel does exceed itself with the crippling reality of Siberia, the realisation of love and the heartbreak of an ending never forgotten. Sincerely and thoughtfully, thankyou Dostoyevsky for changing the way an adolescent feels and thinks when completing such a moving novel.

Rating:
Summary: One of the greatest classics of all time
Review: With the inspiration from Edgar Allen Poe, Dostoyevski has written a novel that applies to today's turbulant times. Not only can you share the struggle with Rodya, but also with the supporting characters as they struggle through 18th century Russia. I would love to see a modernized American version hit the theatres sometime in my lifetime. I would even love to play any of the characters. This is one novel that should be taught in high school and college.

Rating:
Summary: Hats off Gentlemen. . . A genius.
Review: The above words were once applied to another revolutionary artist, Chopin, but apply equally to here. Both men have a searing intensity & unflinching honesty that will leave you gasping. Dostoyevsky's greatness comes from the fact that he gives philosophical ideas a human face that we can empathise with (or rocoil in horror from). The question here is: can there be redemption from unspeakable acts. Roskolnikov murders for no reason, trying to rationalize his action saying it is for the common good & later insisting he is beyond morality (shades of Nietsche). To the possibilty of redemption, Dostoyevsky answers yes, via Christianity. I say no. Read the book. Make up you own mind.

Rating:
Summary: crimes are affected by societies..
Review: It is about the crimes which are affected by societies.If you have some problems or some disagreements in your life ,it can't prevent your hearth from love...

Rating:
Summary: Beauty in the wretched
Review: I read this book for the first and only time when I was sixteen-I have since bought a new translation and I am waiting for the perfect time to reread it. This is one of the first major novels that I have ever read and Dostoyevsky has never let me down since. The book is a painting, and F.D. is a master-that is not disputed- but he is an uncommon master. This book is personal and intense, so early on there is a long letter from Raskolnikov's family-this man lives outside of himself, and within others, what a strange man. The book is like a piece by Mozart- not too long, not too short, with just the right amount of notes/words, and if just one piece is taken away, it is lost.

Rating:
Summary: Demented,Demented, Demented
Review: Okay, Okay, anyone who has read this book knows I have to admitt it is excellently written. So that I won't even try to deny. I mean, after he killed the two ladies I felt guilty!! As well written as this book is, it is demented, and the things that he says and feels(especially the things that are true)should tourcher any sane person down to their very soul. There are people like this man in the world, of that I have no doubt, but through their pains, sufferings, and guilty consience, things will not be alright, and this is something that should not even be suggested to the weak and fickle minds of today. (Post Scriptum, sorry for any spelling mistakes, I can read well, but spelling, that's a different subject.)