toffishay's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Raskolnikov's descent is described in such a gripping way and although it is certainly commentary on the times that Dostoyevsky was writing in, I saw a lot of parallels to today. Raskolnikov is an angry young man who thinks he's so much better than everyone else and so much smarter. He thinks that he has a right to his crime and to the purpose that he thinks it will give him. He is living in a world of desolation and personal despair and lashes out at everyone around him. I couldn't help but think that with Raskolnikov's disdain for human life and desire to be better than those around him, that he would have been a mass shooter if he lived today. Seeking that notoriety and committing horrible acts in the process.
There is also very well-written commentary about relationships between men and women. There are women trapped in horrible relationships with men who continue to treat them badly and bring them low. (Katerina) Women are pushed into making difficult choices, that honestly aren't even choices, as a result of their poverty and their love of their families (Sofya). Women do everything they can to support the men in their lives and are given little to nothing in return (Dunya and Pulkheria). And all of the women in the novel are at the whim and will of men, but the novel is extremely sympathetic to them and is, primarily, on their side.
Vanity and pride are themes that are shown through many of the characters. Vanity is a driver of Raskolnikov's crime. It drives Katerina to embarrass herself publicly, putting herself in a worse physical and financial situation at every turn. Porfriy, the inspector, is driven by pride, at least in part, to find the perpetrator of the titular crime.
I was surprised by how much love and hope were themes of the book. It definitely addressed crime and punishment, depravity and isolation. But there are instances where people are saved by the love of those around them. Like, I closed the book and felt a little like there is hope even when you are at your lowest. That it is never too late to look yourself honestly in the face and commit to change.
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Death, Sexism, Misogyny, Murder, Classism, Alcoholism, Violence, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Confinement, Chronic illness, Terminal illness, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Mental illness, Grief, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, and Death of parent
Minor: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Xenophobia, Gore, War, Adult/minor relationship, Physical abuse, Antisemitism, Pedophilia, Pandemic/Epidemic, Vomit, and Infidelity
nakednames's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Addiction, Physical abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Confinement, Panic attacks/disorders, Chronic illness, Classism, Grief, Mental illness, Murder, Cursing, Death of parent, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Stalking, Antisemitism, Child abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Misogyny, and Infidelity
Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic, Fire/Fire injury, and Forced institutionalization
the grief is never ending but so is the lovelucekl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Chronic illness and Murder
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Rape, Abandonment, Suicide, Death, Child death, Violence, Sexism, Pedophilia, and Animal cruelty
mlewis's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Murder, Sexism, and Violence
Moderate: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Terminal illness, Grief, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, and Xenophobia
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
arxchiell's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Suicide, Death, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Misogyny, Stalking, Violence, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Terminal illness, Pedophilia, Classism, Infidelity, Mental illness, Antisemitism, Death of parent, and Chronic illness
clevermird's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Joking aside, Crime and Punishment tells the story of college dropout Raskolnikov, teetering on the edge of destitution and consumed by a strange mix of depression and lofty philosophical musings. In his half-starved despair, he convinces himself that some murders are morally justified and sets out to prove that theory on his pawnbroker. What follows is a series of intertwined events that will change the lives of everyone involved - and end several of them.
This was a hard one for me to review because even after spending a month reading it, I'm not sure how I feel about it. I didn't feel like I enjoyed it while I was reading it. The prose is dense, the language complex, and many characters spend a long time monologuing. The subject matter is bleak and gritty. But then, every time I set it down, I found myself wondering what happened next and musing on the characters and motivations. It's a book that makes you feel accomplished when you finish it, one that takes you deep into the interior lives of its characters. It also feels as thought the characters, Raskolnikov in particular, are deeply personal to the author, which adds a layer of richness to the story that I feel like is hard to replicate.
Overall, not an easy or fun book to read, but one that is a classic for a reason, with a lot to chew on philosophically and some in-depth character study.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Violence, Murder, Alcoholism, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide, Terminal illness, Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Blood, Chronic illness, Mental illness, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Antisemitism and Stalking
madinhoa's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Death of parent, Body horror, Bullying, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual harassment, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Murder, Suicide attempt, Violence, Suicide, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Chronic illness, Sexual assault, Cultural appropriation, Death, Pedophilia, Rape, and Religious bigotry
alexandra_skl's review
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Violence, Animal death, Blood, Classism, Death, Death of parent, Infidelity, Murder, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Child abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicide
vikiotermin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Blood, Chronic illness, Police brutality, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Mental illness, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Death of parent, and Violence
kasskafziel's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Death of parent, Murder, and Pedophilia