"In spite of his recent momentary wish for contact, of whatever kind, with other people, no sooner was a word actually spoken to him than he experienced the old unpleasant feeling of exasperated dislike for any person who violated, or even seemed desirous of disturbing, his privacy."
So all of that was kind of a bit pointless, then. Ahem.
I think I had all these ideas about Crime and Punishment before I read Crime and Punishment, as one is wont to do with Works of Great Literature, and I believe that about 90% of them were wrong. I didn't exactly expect that the vast majority of the book was going to happen solely in Raskolnikov's mind, in a narrative style that seemed way way way ahead of its time, and I didn't know how... Uncomfortable it would be being in there for long stretches of time. Seriously- the dude has a lot of issues, most of which could probably be solved with regular meals and a purpose to his life, and I feel like he sees himself both as nothing AND everything, which seems like a very perplexing state to be in.
And if this sounds bad, then I think I'm explaining it wrong, because it's sort of... different to anything I've read before, and it feels like a lot of authors have tried to imitate it but haven't really come close to anything like the sensation of being inside Raskolnikov's head. And it's not just that- there are moments where things are getting so intense and you're sort of freaking out inside your head and then something funny happens and it's so unexpected and jarring that you laugh out loud and it is genuinely funny. And then there were just moments where I completely and utterly agreed with this Russian dude who's been dead for 30 years, and I realised that I was reading one of those novels that really do relate to the human condition, not just at one specific point in time, but for all times.
"I know you don't believe this- but don't philosophise too subtly; plunge straight into life, without deliberation; don't be uneasy- it will carry you straight to shore and land you on your feet."The thing is, even though I say I prefer Anna Karenina (although, really, they're not at all comparable and it's really unfair to do so just because they're both Russian) I feel like Crime and Punishment is a book that I might like more and more as the years go by. As I said, there's quite a lot of anticipation upon reading a classic that it seems like you've always known existed, and so that's in the back of your mind the first time you read it, and this post has definitely made me think that yeah- when I go back to it, I really think I am going to get a lot more from it. Even more than I have already, which isn't nothing. And I think about Anna Karenina and wonder if I can really say the same about it, and I'm not so sure.
So basically what I'm saying is, ask me in about 20 years which out of the two I prefer, and maybe things will have changed.
I know you're all dying to read Crime and Punishment now, so here's a teeny little tip- since this is Russian literature we're talking about, each character has about 5 different names, so even though you think there are about 50 characters in this, really there are about 10. If that. Alarmingly, whilst there were SO many characters in Anna Karenina, I managed to keep them straight a lot more than the characters in Crime and Punishment, probably because Tolstoy wasn't a prick and didn't call basically his two main characters Raskolnikov and Razumikhin, which may not seem that similar but it totally is when you're reading at a certain pace and have to stop to figure out which one he's talking about. That prick.
But don't let that put you off, because really? I totally understand why this is a classic, I kind of firmly believe that everyone should read it, and it's done nothing to dampen my love of Russian literature. Nice work Dostoevsky. You prick.
ZOMG I love this post. You should knock off these things in 40 minutes more often! Totally get what you mean about Expectations of Grand Literature - in fact, I started a draft post on this very topic aaaaaages ago which I should probably get back to at some point. Sometimes it's kinda nice when your expectations are all wrong, especially when you realise it early on and you can just Go With The Flow.
ReplyDeleteI should probably read Crime and Punishment now. I've wanted to for yeaaaars (have you seen Me Without You? Michelle Williams and That Guy Whose Name I Can't Remember totally get it on after he reads Crime and Punishment to her in bed with whiskey. Worryingly, it's the axe bit) but still haven't quite made it.
Also, kudos on the excessive use of 'prick' at the end there. Really not used often enough these days. I myself called a doctor one this very morning, though not to his face, because he was crap to my sister who has PAIN and he wasn't interested. So... well done. :)
Hahaha, I should riiight?! It might always end with me calling totally awesome writers pricks though... Hmmm. I do LOVE the thing where you're like 'oh this is nothing like I expected... cool!' and you just read and frolic, and I definitely think I'm going to be able to do that the next time I read this. Which is awesome.
DeleteI have not seen this film of which you speak. But already I am disturbed by it. Anyway, YAY C&P read it read it read it! NOW ELLIE.
Prick is the best. Prick and twat are my go to insults at the moment. The gender of the insultee isn't important. (Your poor sister, is she ok?)
Lovely post. It almost makes me want to take my third, maybe fourth, crack at the book. We'll see.
ReplyDeleteOne more try! One more. It is sort of awesome, AND I left it roughly in the middle for about 4 months and felt fine picking it up where I left off. So maybe do that?
DeleteLove this post, added it to my reading for next year. Even though its the most intimidating book I can think of.
ReplyDeleteYaaaaaaay! Dude, it was totally intimidating for me too, but now that I've done it I'm like 'that wasn't so hard!' PLUS I feel super smart. And filled with Russian love. :)
DeleteI've been totally immersed in Anna K the past couple of weeks and can't get out of my head the very same comparisons you're mentioning here. Tolstoy vs Dostoyevsky . . . They're both kick-ass Russian authors who bring a whole new meaning to the experience of reading - the feeling of being inside someone's head. I read C & R last year and was blown away and just now I'm rattling around in Anna K's head, and Levin's, and Kitty's, and Alexei's, and Vronsky's - it's just so cool to have that perspective! And these Russian authors do it so seamlessly that I hardly feel I'm *reading* at all - I'm just simply . . . there.
ReplyDeleteBut, yeah, the names. A cheat-sheet printout works wonders, especially for C & R. I didn't need it so much for AK, however. I think I like Tolstoy better for that reason.
Have you read War and Peace? I haven't . . . yet. Now THAT book scares the bejeasus out of me. It's so huge and storied and grand it feels like it would eat readers alive. But now that I'm warming to Tolstoy, how could I not at least give it a try?
Great post.
"And these Russian authors do it so seamlessly that I hardly feel I'm *reading* at all - I'm just simply . . . there."
DeleteYES THIS IS WHAT IT IS! Nice work Trish. I really feel like they're SO different though, although sort of equally as good? But right now I prefer Anna K? I don't know man, I just love these Russians.
I haven't read War and Peace, although I do own it but I need to get a new copy for I asked for advice on which translation to read on twitter a while ago and I plan to take it! So that will be step one. Step two is figuring out how to hold it... I can't imagine that it will be anything other than excellent though, because Tolstoyyyyy!
Great review, madam. And good on you for reading that. I haven't read any of Tolstoy or Dostoyevsky - their books are so Large and Important that I never feel like I have enough brain to invest in them. But just starting is the thing, I think. You definitely made me want to read this!
ReplyDeleteDude, seriously, I owned Anna Karenina for YEARS before I read it, and the same with C&P- I think the thing really is just to start, and suddenly you're on page 100 and you're like 'Oh! That wasn't so hard!' Which is awesome and makes you feel really smart! After I read Anna K last year I was so like in love with it that I was like 'I'm going to read a Russian classic every year!' aaand, well, I've done it this year anyway! Next year War and Peace? Perhaps perhaps...
ReplyDelete(C&P is pretty awesome, you SHOULD read it! :) )
I loved this book when we read it in high school. The whole redemption part was wonderful. I should read it again. I've tried to read other Dostoevsky works but for some reason I just never seem to get far. I feel like I need a rich discussion group for it to work for me.
ReplyDeleteI've never read Anna Karenina before. I should, perhaps when the horror of Keira Knightley playing her and Jude Law playing her lover is out of my mind ;-)
Yesssss, isn't the end SO good?! I loved that especially. Hey, I like a readalong- if you want to read The Idiot in sections, I am THERE! (I say The Idiot because I actually own it. But, you know, I can always *buy* another book haha)
DeleteAnna Karenina is sooooo good. It's dreamy good. That movie is not allowed to exist for me because thinking about it makes me stabby. But, then again, I don't actually really like Anna the character anyway, so... Maybe it's good casting! (it's all about Levin and Kitty. Just so you know before you read it :) )
I read this book about a year ago and I loved it! Although, as you said, the names made it easy to mix up the characters... Anyway, my favourite character was Raskolnikov's sister!
ReplyDeleteAw, I liked the whole his-sister-and-Razumikhin thing, because they were adorable. Glad you liked it too!
DeleteI've made exactly the same resolution as you after reading Anna Karenina. Every year I'm going to read a big Russian book because AK was amazing and you get such a great sense of satisfaction from having read one of these giant tomes. So next year it's either Crime and Punishment or War and Peace or maybe The Master and Margarita (or is that too recent to count). Or perhaps The Brothers Karamazov, or The Idiot? Oh, I don't know - help me choooooose!!
ReplyDeleteBy the way, which translation of W&P did the Twitter folk recommend?
Duuuude, the only one of those I've read it C&P, so I can't help with, like, recommendationing! Other than to say read C&P, obviously! But I do have The Idiot and War and Peace to read. So maybe one of those?
DeleteOR just read all the Russians! Simple.
The twitter people (or, well, person actually!) said to get the Pevear/Volokhonsky translation, which I'm inclined to go with because 1) I know nothing about various translations of anything, and 2) my copy is the cheapest possible one (£1.99!) which is possibly not the best translation.
Although I secretly am not sure how much of a difference it makes, but dammit, when I ask for advice I'm going to take it!
Butting in here, if you have the Wordsworth Classic Ed (which would be the cheapest one) read that translation as it was the one Tolstoy approved (if you care about such a thing). Also, in my opinion, the flow of the plot is significantly better than the Pevear/Volokhonsky version - but it's a matter of taste. If you have access to both, try reading a few passages in each to compare, that's what I did.
DeleteAnd Sophia, you don't know me but since I'm already butting in I'll be so bold as to continue: it all depends on what type of genre you want to get into. The Brothers Karamazow has a lot of philosophy (like C&P), War and Peace has a lot of rambling and history (but a few nice love stories), The Master and Margarita is hilarious, weird fantasy and some serious religion, I read The Idiot a few months back and loved it (again with Dostoevsky you get a lot of philosophy.
Ah yes, the review is here and I love the honesty of it. You had already mentioned your "doubts" about it (thanks for the linkage) and I think it's great that you finished it - so many people just abandon it. Roskolnikov's head (and life) is a mess and a half, but that's the beauty of it all. I'm restraining myself from going into full essay-mode here, but you got the source of his problems; the dichotomy between thinking himself one of the 'superior' people and then realising that he's a mere 'ordinary' man.
ReplyDeleteI'll leave it at that, but also mention that names were always important to Dostoevsky and a part of his "thing" was to name the characters after their problem/virtue. Roskolnikov derives from "schimastic" because he's deviated from his original faith and Razumikhin means reason. But I agree with all the nicknames and patronyms and what-have-youse.
Oh, and I'm Team Dostoevsky all the way - Tolstoy rambles way too much and could have used a good editor. And Lennon, McCartney and the Beatles are all overrated.
*runs for cover*
I read The Idiot this year and found it a fairly dense and difficult read. I read Anna K years ago and was surprised at how easy it was. I think I may find more to appreciate in Dostoyevsky as years go by as well... and maybe in Anna K too, maybe I did a shallow read or something.
ReplyDeleteI am a Lennon and Dostoevsky girl. Though I do love Russian writers in general. (Nabokov is too creepy, strange for my taste though).
ReplyDeleteI really like that this novel is so psychological. And though parts are funny, what I really love is that Raskolnikov builds so much of it up in his own head.
Interestingly, Woody Allen made a film that was very loosely (and yet alarmingly apparent) basis of Crime and Punishment. It was called Match Point. I loved it, but then I have a thing for Jonathan Rhys Myers. Worth checking out.
I think I really like her outfit. It's too young for me at this point, but super cute. Who cares if the purse is empty? love and marriage
ReplyDelete