Reviews with content warning for Chronic illness - Crime and Punishment

Installment number ten on my attempt to read the great classics of western literary canon, Crime and Punishment was my intro to the world of Russian literature. I recall saying as I began this one "wow, the first chapter in and I'm already depressed."

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.

Content Warnings

madinhoa's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

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

Content Warnings

alexandra_skl's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This is the best book I’ve ever read. Truly a wonderful and insightful exploration of humanity and morality. While the premise is tragic the book leaves you with a feeling of hope and warmth.

Content Warnings

vikiotermin's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

Primera vez leyendo literatura rusa, y podría decir que odie cada segundo q gaste leyendo el libro. Es muy lento y no de una buena manera (Jane Austen me parece una escritora que logra esto de una manera espectacular). Le di dos estrellas porque encontré partes que fueron atrapantes, aunque fueron pocas. La edición que compre era muy mala y creo q eso sumo a que no me guste el libro, compre el libro por internet sin saber que era tan chiquito y las letras estaban tan comprimidas, capaz en otras circunstancias el libro me hubiera gustado mas. Igualmente entiendo porque llego a ser un clásico tan importante de la literatura rusa.

Content Warnings