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I have had Crime and Punishment for maybe a year now just sitting around my bookshelf. I've decided to read it now because I finished recently Dostoyevsky's The Idiot and I really loved it! I hope I feel the same way about this one :)

If you loved The Idiot, you definitely will love this. Raskolnikov (the protagonist) is one of the best characters I've ever read. If I had already not read this, I would totally read it.

I had to read this story in high school. I despised it but mainly because I couldn't understand it (bad reason, I know).

Abhishek - I've only read The Gambler and The Idiot from Dostoevsky but I loved them both so I'm sure I'll enjoy this one aswell. I'm planing to read The Brothers Karamazov too. In my edition of The Idiot there were plenty of notes concerning Raskolnikov which also sparked my curiosity!

Jessica - You should give it another try! Or at least another novel by Dostoevsky, it's really great. Though I can relate to you, there were some authors I had to read in high school (hello Saramago, José!) that only enjoyed after reading different books.

Well, I never get into Russian literature before, but I will join you in this. (I'm brazilian too and I didn't like the translations, but I find a good one for Crime and Punishment), I've heard a lot about this book and I'm so exciting to star this.

The book I have is actually translated in english by Constance Garnett. I've been stressing a lot about translations lately, I wish I woke up knowing how to read russian and handful of other languages!

I'm glad you're joining me on this one, can't wait to discuss it with you (I'm portuguese by the way :))!

Adriana, I've earmarked The Brothers Karamzov for my "Book that you've started and never completed" week. Even though Ivan Karamzov figures pretty high in my list of favourite characters ever, I haven't ever finished that monster of a book.

I can't wait to see how you guys like this book!

Definitely on my list! I have a seemingly random translation- Oliver Ready? I liked the cover and it wasn't Constance Garnett so I went with it!

When I bought it I didn't pay the slightest attention to who did the translation. Translations were something I only worried about once in awhile but I became more conscious about it after reading about new Anna Karenina translations. Do you happen to have a favorite russian-to-english translator? I'll take every advice regarding it ahaha

Currently reading Anna Karenina translation by Peaver and Volokhonaky, which seems to be considered "better" by a lot of people. I like it! But, it's the only Russian translation I've ever read, so I don't know how useful my opinion is!

As old books go compared to new ones, it can be a little dragging, but it's still really likeable. I finished this book earlier this year as a requirement. It's an interesting look on bad decisions and its psychological effect on you.

Ana - I think I can say that a big part of the books I've read were written in the 19th century and in the first half of the 20th century, so it won't be a problem! What I do find fascinating about those books is exactly how things written in that time can still apply nowadays.

This is probably just an odd stereotype I came up with in my head, but Russian literature has always seemed very heavy and bleak to me. Maybe that is why I've never felt compelled to read any. Fortunately for me, I was never assigned to any in high school or college, because I'm not sure I would have had the maturity to appreciate it back then. I am finding that many of the assigned books I disliked in high school and college have really grown on me since I've re-read them in my adult years. This might also be the case of Russian literature. I ought to give it a fair shake and see if my pesky preconceptions are out of line.

Elizabeth - You're welcome! I found it very interesting as well and worth sharing!

Michelle - Well, my mom and some teachers I had in high school, knowing how much I love reading, always pushed me to heavy literature since a young age (I remember some other teachers being "shocked" because I was reading Kafka at 14), so getting into russian literature was not hard for me. I would recommend starting with smaller books instead of jumping into +500 pages novels. Maybe start off with The Gambler (I think it was the first piece of Russian literature I read) by Dostoyevsky or The Kreutzer Sonata (one of my favorites books!) by Tolstoi.
Regarding high school books, the ones that I had to read for classes were almost always related to history. Over the years, I've discovered so many great Portuguese authors that would have made classes much more interesting!

I think it was just the idea of being told what to read that really turned me off. I've always enjoyed reading but I would groan in disappointment whenever assigned readings were doled out. I preferred the book reports we were allowed to do on a book of our choosing.

Not Russian literature, but I remember reading Lord of the Flies in my freshman (high school) English class and being completely shocked that my teacher had liked my report so much. I really hated the book - it has gone down in history as the least liked of any assigned reading I've had. My report of it was very purposely glib. I even titled the portion about Jack, "Jack: Spawn of Satan" and I remember my teacher being delighted by that bit in particular. So much for my plan to encourage her not to force future classes to read it. ;)

I really should give it a re-read, I would probably like it much better. I would probably even like heavy, bleak Russian literature too if I stopped being such a baby about it and gave it a chance. I'll look into The Gambler, Adriana. It seems interesting and a like good place to start.

I read this book last year. I'm a bit of a lightweight reader, with minimal other reading of similar literature. But I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. It is undoubtedly dark but I was intrigued with its exploration on the psychological effect of crime on the culprit.

I really hope you enjoy reading it over the next week or so!

Michelle - Ohhh I loved Lord of The Flies! Ahahah but I get what you mean about being told what to read. From 7th to 9th grade we had to do book reports on a book of our choosing but, unfortunately, that stopped in high school. Expressing our opinion on how much we disliked the books we were told to read was useless because they were all part of the national reading plan, so our teachers couldn't do much about it!

Shirley - I've already cracked it open and read a couple pages. It will probably take me over a week to finish it. Since my exams start this week and only finish around February this two first months will be very slow paced! But I'll catch up after that.

On a little side note, I got say that it's great being on this group (it's my first book club). I was already very excited to read this book but hearing everyone's opinions about it makes me even eager to read it! That goes the same for other books and authors, of course!

I'm reading this one too this week. I actually started it last summer but stopped due to lack of time, which I regret because I was loving it :) So I've done a quick re-read of what I had read and can't wait to keep going. It's my first Dostoyevsky, wish me luck!

That's great Cristina! I'm only about 20 pages into the book. Looking forward to discuss it with you!

I'm 65% done and I'm enjoying pretty much so far. The things really starts to happen near of the middle of the book, becaming a brilliant book. I was having problems with the names and all the nicknames but I think I finally get used to it.

Rodka is the most complex character I've ever got into in all my readings. I'm amazed with him and all the psycho stuff about the human behavior that Dostoyesvky get into in this book.

Sorry for any probably mistakes on my typing, I'm Brazilian.

Already?! Wow! I'm only about 10%, I still have so much to go.

My edition has a list of the characters in the beginning! It's really helpful. And, in some of the names, it has its origin. For example, for Raskólnikov, after he's full name you got "from raskol (schism, break asunder)". It's really nice.

Are there any translations that you recommend as I do want to read this one this year,. Thanks

The edition I'm reading was translated by Constance Garnett. I cannot recommend any translation in particular: the other Dostoevsky books I've read were either in Portuguese or also translated by Constance so I don't have something to compare. I guess the best advice would be from someone who knows Russian and English and has read both the original and the translations.

Well, I've read about 150 pages so far and I'm really enjoying the book! I've reached the point where I really don't want to put it down.

(view spoiler)[After Raskólnikov killed the pawnbroker and her sister until he woke up in the bed, the story reminded very much of The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe. I've also been enjoying everyone coming up with theories about who did it and who didn't it and why it was the first time the killer had murdered, and so on. Even though we know who the killer was, it really amuses me to read all the theories constructed by others characters. (hide spoiler)]

On one of my book's notes it reads "[Alexander Pushkin's] short story The Queen of Spades is often cited as a source for Crime and Punishment." Has any of you read it? I think I might pick it up while/after reading the book.

I'm at 80% right now and the plan is to finish it today, because if it goes like it's been for the rest of the book, I'm not going to want to put it down until I'm done.

(view spoiler)[I agree about the theories, I think it is testament to how well-written the book is that, even when when know who the killer is, we actually invest in all the characters' theories and opinions. It could have easily be boring or seem a waste of time from the reader's point of view, but on the contrary, it's very compelling. (hide spoiler)]

I'm very curious to see how it will end.

Hi to all of you, Crime and Punishment readers!
Yesterday I decided to join the challenge. As I am also doing a "30 books you should read before you turn 30 years old" challenge, I'm trying to match the books as much as possible. Crime and punishment was on the "30 years old list" so here I am. I've read other Russian literature but always in a French translation (I'm a french Canadian). So this time, I'm trying to read an English one.
I've read 15% yesterday and I hope to be able to finish it in the next week but it's a little bit longer for me as I'm building my English vocab at the same time.
I really enjoy reading your comments! I remember how much I struggle with the names when I read War and peace a couple years ago. This time, I'm really careful with all the names and nicknames, and I don't have problems (the list of the characters really helps as well).

And I'm done! :D I absolutely loved it. What a great way to start the challenge. I'm looking forward to hearing the thoughts of everyone who's reading this.

@Audrey, it does take a bit to get used to the names/nicknames, but the more you read the easier it gets. I hope you enjoy the book!

Audrey - Books really helped me (and still do!) to improve my English vocab! It was movies and music to help me pronounce the words correctly and books to help me spell them correctly. I hope you like it!

Cristina - So glad you enjoyed it and so jealous that you already finished it! I have an exam Friday so I'll probably ended it over the weekend. I feel like throwing away my college books and just get back to my reading! It's being very hard ahaha

I finished it yesterday. I haven't read more than a hundred books in my life, but this one is one of the best so far. What a deep and well-constructed character is Rodka.

One of the best books I've read too, a real page-turner and worthy to be re-read in the future.

You should pick up The Idiot next Bikas!

Adriana wrote: "You should pick up The Idiot next Bikas!"

I will give a shot, Adriana. Thanks for the recommendation

I found about "the woman question" in Crime and Punishment.

Thanks, Adriana, that was an interesting read :)

I starterd read yesterday, I´m surprised, is more easy to read than I thought, I´m at 50th page!!!

Thanks for recommendation!!!

I'm glad you are enjoying it Roseli!

I finish it yesterday, I'm going to write a review now and I'll post it here as soon as it's done. It's such a great book, I don't even know where to start!

Well, I finally wrote my review, you can find it link: right here.. There's a lot of things I didn't talk about so it might be a little incomplete. Don't read it if you haven't finished the book!

I have to say that I really love this book. It was the perfect way to start the year. And I have decided to read EVERYTHING that Dostoevsky wrote. He's such an amazing author! I am truly in love.

Well... a little bit late, but I'm done! I loved the book and finally, I can read your review Adriana!

Now I understand why a good friend of mine started to read all Dostoyevsky, because it's great! But as well why she took a break after 4 books, because of his darkness.

Good way to start the year!

Audrey - Yes, his books, at least the ones I've read so far, are a bit dark but they have their funny/witty moments. I'm going to read a few more books from him in this challenge but with other weeks in between. No matter how much you love an author, it can be tiresome to read it all at once without taking a break!

Crime and Punishment swept me off my feet and whisked me straight into an affair with Russian Lit. I read the Constance Garnett one and loved it. I recently heard from my coworker/Russian Lit BA that her's is the worst translation. Hence, it's always the free one in EBooks.

Pevear and Volokhonsky is a mixed couple of Russian and English background.

They also do Leo Tolsky. But Maude was friends with him and I actually prefer hers to P & V for Anna Karenina. I am reading the P&V for War and Peace. (Anna Karenina is on the backburner 'cause it needs 100% devotion 'cause it's so great)

My @*** Russians can write some great books! i blame it on their gloriously cold winters.

I'm also reading Notes from the Underground (P&V) translation. I think it's a great intro to the mentally sexy Fyodor. As a person to have lunch with, he'd be quite cynical and realistic. But for a debate or at a protest, maybe he would be energetic?

There's not many authors who I wonder what their personality or life was like. But outspoken Fyodor is definitely one of them.

Thank you so, so much for the translation tips Biblio!
I've heard about Pevear and Volokhonsky but I haven't yet read anything translated by them. The next one I'll be reading is a compilation of short stories by Dostoevsky translated to Portuguese by Nina Guerra and Filipe Guerra. She's Russian and he's Portuguese and I think they've won a few translation prizes in Portugal.

I don't know much about translation but having two translators, one whose native language is being translated from and the other whose native language is being translated to and both knowing both languages, seems like the "perfect match".

Hmmm yes, I can see Dostoevsky being very energetic during a debate. He definitely put a lot of his opinions regarding religion, politics, social questions, etc, in his books through his characters. It's something I really like in his books, "listening" to what his characters (and himself) think about certain subjects.

Hi all,

I finished the book yesterday. I have a few points about it such as:-
(view spoiler)[
why did Svidrigailov top himself (committed suicide)?

How come Rodya and Sonia fell in love after about two meetings? Seemed a bit far fetched that she travelled to Siberia with him? Plus he was horrible to her...
(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)]

I thought it was a good book though and have ranked it with 4 stars! (hide spoiler)]

Chicken - (view spoiler)[I think Svidrigailov committed suicide because of Dounia. I feel that he kept thinking that he could manage to be with Dounia somehow and he loved her madly. It's possible to see a drastic change in his character when he realises that it's all an illusion and Dounia will never love him or be with him.

I don't think that Rodya and Sonia fell in love after two meetings. I dare say that they only truly fell in love (at least, Rodya for Sonia) by the end of the book. Sonia shows compassion for Rodya right from the beginning, which might have been born by Rodya's actions towards her family and herself. On the other hand, Rodya creates a bond with Sonia because he feels she's the only one, from his circle of acquaintances, that he can relate to regarding the state of their lives - 'the harlot and the murderer'. He's terrible to her as he's terrible to himself. In some way, he hates what he has become and also hates Sonia for what she is and what might become of her («All that infamy had obviously only touched her mechanically, not one drop of real depravity had penetrated to her heart, he saw that.», «'There are three ways before her,' he thought, 'the canal, the madhouse, or...at last to sink into depravity which obscures the mind and turns the heart to stone.'» p.275). With those terrible discourses he managed to make her promised that she'll never leave him and she also plays an important part in getting him to confess. Also, she didn't have anything to lose by leaving to Siberia (Rodya showed her or convinced her of that). Her parents were dead and the siblings were taken care of. Moving to Siberia was a new start for Sonia and I think it's safe to say that her life there was better than what it was before. (hide spoiler)]

I hope I was clear on my thoughts. Of course, it's only my interpretation of the book! I would like to hear what you think about it as well as the other readers :)

I'm reading this book and I rather boring. It's okay, but I just can't understand why it's this plot is as so long. Does it ever pick up?

This is an incredibly philosophical book. It has its very exciting portions as well as wrist slitting, boring moments.

Thanks Narma, I will keep pushing through with this book then.