A gripping read (Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky)

Member Name: coppit

Product:	Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Date:	27/02/01 (48 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A thrilling read

Disadvantages: I can't put it down.

This book investigating mankinds weaknesses is well written, in the same gripping and informative style as much eastern European literature. It provides a unique and deep insight into the life of a young murderer, Raskolnikoff, looking at issues such as sanity, greed, guilt and redemption.

Set in 19th century St. Petersburg, this novel captures the soul of the city through its use of flowing passages and interesting writing style.

Raskolnikoff a hard up student struggling to finish his degree becomes morbidly self-obsessed and appears to loose the will to live. Upon receiving a letter from his mother in which he learns his sister is to marry, not out of love but to further his own position he sets out to commit murder. His planning of the murder is meticulous and the act mechanical, he looses the ability to rationalise his actions and is given many chances to turn back.

Rashkolnikoff from this point on is consumed with guilt and becomes suspicious of everything – realising that to commit a crime is easy but to escape from its consequences is impossible. For a while afterwards he appears near madness as is shown by his abrupt thought and incoherency, where he often hints to others about his crime. At times, Rashkolnikoff will try to atone for his crimes by giving to others money that he has acquired. On many occasions he also tries to take his own life but concludes that ones desire to live out weighs the advantages of dying.

Dostoyevsky writes in a way that makes you sympathise with Raskolnikoff and shows his emotional and mental suffering through soliloquies which although sometimes abrupt, wander in a well-constructed manner.

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