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Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky #inbetweeny

Written in 1866 and set in St Petersburgh Crime and Punishment (billed as the psychological account of a crime) follows the path of Raskolnikov, a near penniless student who commits a heinous crime and the mental torture he goes through afterwards.

It was different to read a book based in Russia that wasn't about the revolution or Stalin which has been the theme of nearly all Russian books I have read previously. Poverty of course featured quite heavily as did all round general hardship. Whereas the book was about a murder, it wasn't a murder mystery, a crime story or even a thriller. Although some cat and mouse chasing took place between Raskolnikov and the policeman. You knew who the murderer was from the get go what you didn't know was whether he would confess to it or not. 

I struggled at times with how the characters interacted with each other and couldn't always work out whether Raskolnikov was actually speaking or merely expressing the thoughts in his head. I do confess I resorted to my 40 page a day rule to keep the chapters ticking along and question if it wasn't such a classic whether I would have continued to read. 

Raskolnikov was a difficult character. On the one hand he was cold, antisocial, and committed a pre-planned murder yet on the other hand he was capable of acts of true kindness such as his actions towards Sonya and her family. I didn't like him which does tend to taint my enjoyment of a book. Did you know Raskolnikov means to split or to crack? I found this fact interesting as in many ways he did have a split character and the policeman spent most of the novel trying to "crack" him. 

I did notice the colour yellow kept cropping up in the book - the yellow ticket signalling prostitution, the yellow colour of the wall paper that was referenced a few times. The Russian term for lunatic asylum "zholti dom" apparently literally translates as "yellow house." Interesting then that Raskolnikov was living in a small cell like room with yellow wallpaper.

The above two paragraphs illustrate how Crime and Punishment is perhaps one to read in the classroom as so much more can be taken from a study of the book as opposed to a cursory read for enjoyment. I'm pleased I've read it, but it isn't one I can imagine myself ever re-reading.

If you like books based in Russia try One Night in Winter which includes a murder, Stalin and surprisingly, love.

















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