A review by lamplightlibrary
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky

dark tense slow-paced

• 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

4.25

I’m not even going to try putting together a coherent review of this story of Russian moral philosophy. BUT I did love it. I just probably won’t read it this in depth ever again. Why is there so much needless dialogue!? The characters at incredible. Raskolnikov’s moral struggles gave me whiplash but I was still deeply invested every time! I did not expect the most slimy and disgusting character (Svidrigailov) to have one of the most redemptive endings!? And Sonya! The highlight of the book for me was when the murder came and confess and cried at her feet, even though in society’s eyes—as a prostitute—she is morally reprehensible, he knows that she is the the purest form of good ness and self sacrifice. Well done Dostoyevsky. That beautiful complexity made this classic worth it.