Rating: 
Summary: Great Novel -- Fantastic Translation
Review: This novel is probably Dostoevsky's most readable. It deals with the same heavy subjects as Brothers Karamozov and Devils but somehow makes them more accessible.The story line is rather simple: a young student, bored with his existence and questioning the nature (indeed the very existence) of good and evil, decides to engage in the ultimate test -- he'll commit the perfect murder and won't get caught. If he doesn't get caught, he won't get punished. If he doesn't get punished, then he will prove there is no good or evil. Many of the scenes in this book are harrowing. The murder scene is beyond intense. Contrary to one of the other reviewers, I read the chapter to some friends when the movie we rented while on a ski vacation turned out to be a dud. They were all riveted, and stopped making fun of me for reading it. My own preference would be to skip the Epilogue. Its religious, sappy-sweet wrap-up is unnecessary and demeans the book. Make sure to read the Pevear/Volkhonsy translation. They really know what they are doing, and the footnotes provide needed context and information. In short, if O.J. read this book he'd probably be driven to confess.
Rating:
Summary: A Literary Masterpiece
Review: What a great book! I wasn't expecting to like this book because I had to read it for a class but I really, really liked it. It's properly depressing as all great Russian novels are and is filled with deep symbolism and philosophy. This book got me hooked onto Dostoyevsky and I haven't been able to stop reading him. It's an intelligent, refreshing classic.
Also recommeded: The House of the Dead by Dostoyevsky
| 
