Crime and Punishment, by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Raskolnikov is a poor student that struggles to make it by in Saint Petersburg. Too proud to ask for help, he is drawn to committing a murder fueled by the notion that he is doing the world a favor by getting rid of the old pawnbroker lady he frequently visits to pawn his things for money. The book- appropriately named Crime and Punishment- details the build up to the crime itself and the subsequent punishment and the seeking of redemption. I have picked up Crime and Punishment, by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, many times, starting from the beginning and then losing interest after the murder where Raskolnikov is stuck in a feverish state of mind that can be confusing and frankly, boring. I definitely recommend this book. However, it is extremely helpful if you have a secondary resource (Sparknotes, Shmoop, et cetera...) to keep track of the characters (similar names are used for many different characters and each character will be addressed in a different name at least once). I definitely recommend to any high schooners who are willing to engage with this book- even re-reading chapters to catch what they missed- it is very rewarding to read and get swept up in the characters and their contribution to the story. This is not for the quick reader. You will not appreciate it if you're a quick reader or generally not willing to put in some time into understanding the novel. I disliked the novel until I utilized character lists and re read the chapters. Not for the faint of heart and easily distracted. Reviewed by J.L., Grade 12