Oh how savagely I would make love to this book if it was a woman because it would be a very beutiful...

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	• Crime and Punishment Fyodor Dostoevsky Vintage, 1993 - 592 pages average customer review:based on 37 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Wonderfuly readable

Too often English translations of Dosteofsky don't deliver the richness of Russian expression---this one does, and the result is a joy to read.

Oh how savagely I would make love to this book if it was a woman because it would be a very beutiful nymph...yes

Crime and Punishment is, without a shadow of a doubt, the greatest novel ever written. I first read this masterpiece of fiction and philosophy at the beginning of my senior year in high school (August 22) and finally got to its end with tears falling from my eyes on the night of December 23, 2005.

Not since finishing On the Road can I say that I have read a better novel.

It was like a pathetic escape from life when I followed all of these facinating characters around Dostoevsky's St. Petersburg.

Without a doubt, my favorite part of the book was at the beginning when Raskolnikov wandered into a bar and met Marmeladov, the hopeless, yet loveble drunk who is kind of the Micawber of the story if we may compare this monumental work of fiction with an obviously inferior one. Marmeladov just gives Raskolnikov his life story and talkes about his alcohol addiction and how it harms his wife and children. What really struck me the first time I read that part was Marmeladov's eloquence in saying how much he was ashamed of himself and sorry for putting his family through such pain. Then he says that meek ones like him on the last day shall be redeemed.

What we have at that part is the most beautiful part in world literature. It hit a bullseye with me and this simple scene of the drunkard's dignity is just the welcome Dostoevsky gives the reader. I love the friendship between Marmeladov and Raskolnikov and the depth of the character of Raskolnikov is simply astounding. It is just the epoch of psychological characterization.

The philosophy Marmeladov lays down to Raskolnikov at the beginning, salvation, redemption through suffering is very powerful (and true). We all have a cross to bear, especially Dostoevsky when he was writing this incredible work of fiction. It makes one romantically picture the great prophet slaving over this masterpiece with only a candle to light his writing in that beautiful language of Russian and finally finishing it and probably using the first pay to gamble.

I love you friend Fyodor Mikhailovich
and I love your novel.

I hath spoken to my friend...ECCE HOMO.

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ahh, the devil with you!

The protagonist (Raskolnikov) is a highly intelligent, young man of 23 (although broke). He has a philosophy that there are two types of people in the world: the ordinary, and the exceptional. The exceptional consisting of those with high intelligence or outstanding abilities, and when necessary, to better help humanity, these people are above the law. To test his theory he murders a mean, selfish, and rich old lady.

The reader should expect more than the above summary. The story is intricate, and there is meaning behind each character. Otherwise, the reader, may find the book boring and confusing.

A book you'll either love or hate.

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Never can be escaped

Crime and Punishment has been part of my since I was a pre-teen, so I've had a range of emotions about the work since that time. One thing for sure, it taught me that although I was about to go through a very confusing period in my life, I was positively sane and sheltered compared to the actions of the characters in this novel.

My message to those who are in school, and who are being "forced" to read this book, "consider yourselves very fortunate indeed!" Also, I heartily recommend this translation; it brings the work alive in its use of imagery and in the numerous referenced explanations; thought at times the translators tend to give old Fyodor too much credit.

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An absolute pleasure to read

I absolutely loved reading this book. Unfortunately, most people are forced to read it in college, skim it because it is so long (550 pages of text), and, therefore, never get a chance to appreciate Dostoevsky's genius, which lies in his description of characters and what drives them. Dostoevsky's reputation for writing depressing books just isn't relevant here. Suspense and reveling in his insight into his characters dominates. Despite the book being over 150 years old, you feel like the book could have been written yesterday.

Just a note of interest, Woody Allen's excellent movie Match Point (2006) takes a huge amount of thematic material and action from Crime and Punishment, and some particularly memorable sections are taken down to the smallest details. The main character in the movie is pictured several times reading this book, so Allen definitely wanted us to know something was up, and as I started reading, I just smiled and smiled, knowing that Woody Allen was rewarding me for following his not so subtle hint. When the movie came out I had just discovered Dostoevsky and was reading The Brothers Karamazov. Talk about chance!

I would also highly recommend the Pevear and Volokhonsky translation, because it definitely does make a difference.

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reviews: 1, page 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

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