A review by stellamcvey
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I wish I could have encountered this book in some kind of academic setting because I know there's so many layers I'm not understanding on a first reading. What surprised me most about this was how easy and engaging it was, I was genuinely shocked by how engrossed I became. I really loved how much Dostoevsky makes you sympathise with Rodya. He's completely pathetic in a lot of ways, but because the community that rallies around him genuinely cares for him you find yourself becoming part of that group, hoping along with Razumikhin, Sonya, and Dunya that this boy will get himself together.