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 lovelynxpardinus's review against another edition
3.5
Graphic: Death of parent, Medical content, Mental illness, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Pedophilia, Misogyny, Confinement, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
Moderate: Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Addiction, Alcohol, Antisemitism, Gun violence, Classism, and Infidelity
Minor: War
poubelleboi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Classism, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Body horror, Confinement, Grief, Gun violence, Religious bigotry, and Suicide
Minor: Antisemitism, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, and Police brutality
sunlandic's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Drug abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Pedophilia, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Antisemitism, Blood, Body horror, Car accident, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Religious bigotry, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexism, Sexual harassment, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Classism, and Confinement
Moderate: Ableism, Body shaming, Bullying, Cultural appropriation, Excrement, Fire/Fire injury, and Xenophobia
eewetter's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Murder, Suicidal thoughts, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Blood, Self harm, Death, Mental illness, Death of parent, Violence, Pedophilia, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Cursing, Antisemitism, Sexism, Alcohol, Child abuse, Gun violence, Sexual violence, Confinement, and Misogyny
asen123's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Addiction, Alcoholism, Confinement, and Mental illness
Minor: Animal cruelty, Sexual harassment, and Suicide
mme_carton's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Sexism, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Antisemitism, Child abuse, Murder, Suicide attempt, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Religious bigotry, Physical abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic relationship, Gore, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Body shaming, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Infidelity
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Vomit, Racism, and Slavery
aconfundityofcrows's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Confinement
Moderate: Death, Grief, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Minor: Antisemitism, Grief, and Terminal illness
b_caligari's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Chronic illness, Death, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Murder, Suicide, Terminal illness, and Violence
Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Confinement, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Suicide attempt
Minor: Abandonment, Antisemitism, Fire/Fire injury, and Infidelity