Never too Late to Read Classics discussion

It was first published in the literary journal The Russian Messenger in twelve monthly installments during 1866.
The moral dilemmas of Rodion Raskolnikov, an impoverished ex-student in St. Petersburg who formulates and executes a plan to kill an unscrupulous pawnbroker for her cash.

I read it last summer and didn't find it painful. The translator also makes a big difference. I had read it once before with a different translator and noticed the difference. I enjoyed it much more the second time.

I read this back in January but it was painful. I believe that if I picked a better translation it would have been much easier.
I read some reviews on the book that suggested a better translation by an American couple if I'm not mistaken but I forgot the names.
Rosemarie, please tell us which translation yours was.

Mine was an old penguin by David Magarshack(?). There are probably newer ones out there, that was from the 70's.

Today, start !!!! :D

I love this book but haven't read it since HS (errr...16yrs ago) what is a good translation to read.

If you have access to a library with different translations, the best thing to do is to read a page or so from each one and see which one you like the best. My Penguin copy of the book was from the 70's.

I started the book and I already love the main character. I like how the author introduces his the thoughts of his main character. The character is not so endearing. I notice he criticizes others. However, he noticed some particular things. That's what I like most about him

The main character is an interesting young man. Plus, there are a lot of other interesting characters that appear in the course of the novel.

I started this book today, and I'm struggling with it a bit. It's a slow read for me. My rule of thumb is to give a book about 50 pages before deciding I'm not enjoying it, I'm not there yet so I'm going to continue to plug away.

Gem, this book takes a while to get into, so maybe give it 65 pages. Have you read any other Dostovsky novels?

Rosemarie wrote: "Gem, this book takes a while to get into, so maybe give it 65 pages. Have you read any other Dostovsky novels?"
No, I haven't, this is the first. Right now I'm at the scene in the pub where Marmeladov is rambling on and on and on and on... or so it seems.

Dostoevsky takes a bit of getting used to, but he is my favourite Russian author. The first novel which I read was The Idiot, way back in university, and have enjoyed his work ever since. In fact, I like all the Russian authors.

Rosemarie wrote: "Dostoevsky takes a bit of getting used to, but he is my favourite Russian author. The first novel which I read was The Idiot, way back in university, and have enjoyed his work ever since. In fact, ..."

I just re-read One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. I read it in high school and it was a re-read for a challenge. I enjoyed that one then and again recently. This one seems slower although I'm not sure why considering that One Day is just that... the entire book is one day in a prisoner's life.

I just got through the "two page" letter Raskolnikov received from his mother that was actually ten pages in the books. I'm going to get through the next few chapters and hope it gets better for me, I was really excited to read this one but I'm admit, I am struggling.

Thank you for the encouragement!

There was a movie made of Ivan D. in the 70's that really captured the mood of the time. Did you know that Dostoevsky spent some time in Siberia because of his political opinions?

Rosemarie wrote: "There was a movie made of Ivan D. in the 70's that really captured the mood of the time. Did you know that Dostoevsky spent some time in Siberia because of his political opinions?"

Nope, did not know either of those things. I'll have to see if I can find the movie. Thanks!

Yes! Michael Sheen performs the audiobook. And now I know how the names are pronounced.

Yes I remembered watching a movie version on Masterpiece Theatre few years ago.

I'm still reading the book. This is a real favorite! It is true that you have long passage where a character speaks, speaks, speak for 5 or 6 pages and I find it special, but the rest I really like! I absolutely love the scene of the murders! It was thrilling! Afterwards, I like writing! I do not know if it is the fault of the French translation (there were two versions in the bookstore. I took the version "Livre de Poche"), but the writing is very nice. For now, I saw a word that I was not aware before.

I remember the scene after the murders now, Marie. It was intense. Even though Raskolnikov did such a horrible thing, I still feel sorry for him.

Lesle wrote: "It was first published in the literary journal The Russian Messenger in twelve monthly installments during 1866.
The moral dilemmas of Rodion Raskolnikov, an impoverished ex-student in St. Petersbu..."


Ok it reads like short stories.

It was hard for me to get into but everything becomes clearer at the end. Every character was so believable and has his\her own private grew nd grew till I nervous ,was almost too.

SORRY!The computer mixed my comment up somehow. I ve also seen a very old movie of it. Of course, it was very condensed but Peter Lorre was just perfect as the lead!

Donna, I thought your last message was a bit cryptic. I am glad you liked the book. I really like the way Dostoevsky creates such memorable characters.

Oh no he's falling apart!!!
That "detective" is the worst. Is he kidding?

Sigh I listened to the abridged audiobook I still liked the story especially Michael Sheen performing.

I found the confession very annoying....The police could not proof his guilt, he was safe, so why the hell did he let his guilt win over rationality? And I was wondering, how he can be capable of a murder but later he lets his guilt and the detective break him. But I guess, that`s just the way it is when you are a psychopath.

I could not deal with the "detective" he was just as selfish, self absorbed.

Raskolnikov did confess but the detective wanted him to wait? So he can get the credit? Make a dramatic reveal in court? Sigh

Glad I listened to the abridged version, not sure I could deal with the schizophrenic cast of characters.

Hehe, yep, the detective is the personification of a bad cop.

Raskolnikov could not deal with the guilt, so he just wanted to confess to get it over with. He did not realize that he would have to deal with the Russian burocracy. There are so many public employees that nothing goes quickly-- even murder confessions take a long time to be dealt with.

Rosemarie wrote: "Raskolnikov could not deal with the guilt, so he just wanted to confess to get it over with. He did not realize that he would have to deal with the Russian burocracy. There are so many public emplo..."

That drove me crazy.

And if everyone suspected him no one turns him in?

What about that confrontation with his future brother in law and his sister ending the engagement? What was that about?

I read the book two years ago, but I remember the future brother in law. He was sleazy and controlling and the sister would have had a horrible life. She was going to marry him because they were poor, not because she cared for him at all.

Rosemarie wrote: "I read the book two years ago, but I remember the future brother in law. He was sleazy and controlling and the sister would have had a horrible life. She was going to marry him because they were po..."

Ok I got that but his confrontation and the letter was very well punk like. LOL

I'm with Gem in that it's been tough to get through this one. Good premise and idea for a novel, but the writing.... the "two page letter" alone was brutal. I gave it about 50 pages and put it down. Reading a book should not be as grueling as reading this book has been.

Candace, the first time I read this book I did not particularly enjoy it. After a period of many years I took it on vacation, this time with a different translator, and enjoyed it more. I really like Dostoevsky but I prefer is other long novels to this one. He has written some very strange short stories, if you want to try him again another time.

lack of time, I have not finished the book. As I told you, I like the story, but ( this is my personal opinion) the book is too long for its history. In the middle of the book, I was a bit bored. My interest returned when Sonia reads the Bible and Raskonikov returns to the police station. I probably would give 4 stars to the book.

Marie, the book is long and there is a lot of description, but that is how Dostoevsky writes. He likes details and setting the mood. It is an interesting story. Have you read Le Rouge et le Noir by Stendhal? The hero is a very little bit like Raskolnikov.

14 years , I have tried to read Stendhal. I did not like but maybe now I can read it? I'm done. I give 3 stars because the end bored as the book of Harper Lee. it's a shame because the beginning I liked a lot . : l

No one tried the audiobook?

I never tried audiobooks. but never say never

I read the Constance Garnett translation of Crime and Punishment. I thought it well written and enjoyed it much more than War & Peace or Anna Karenina, both of which were the Pevear and Volokhonsky translations. I don't know if that makes me a closeted demure Victorian or whether I just like Dosty better than Tolstoy. I may try my Pevear version ofThe Brothers Karamazov sometime to see.
I found the Red and the Black to be a very tedious read.

V wrote: "No one tried the audiobook?"

Try it! My library has dramatic readings also. Hamlet and Henry V by the British actors yaaaa.

Brian, I like Dostoevsky better than Tolstoy, but I do like Tolstoy and all the Russians. I like reading books in the original language if possible but Russian is beyond me. I'll stick to the Romance languages and German.
I studied French and German lit in university and our French prof made Le
Rouge et le Noir come to life. But I have to admit, Stendhal is not for everyone.
Of all the Dostoevsky books, I prefer The Idiot and The Brothers Karamazov.

So I've thought of opening this book up TONS of times, but years ago in college I went on a "classic spree" & read The Brothers Karamazov. It was a challenging read and I didn't get much from it. I did some reading online afterwards and apparently a lot is lost in translation due to both language and culture.

Does this book really stand up to the hype, especially for a 'casual' reader (i.e. not spending tons of time to reflect and digest material)? I was disappointed at the time investment in The Brothers Karamazov & would hate to do the same again for this book.

Matt, I would say that this book takes some time to read. There is a lot of description of states of mind, there are lots of interesting characters and conversations but one needs to concentrate. I took it along as a holiday/airplane read because I know that for me classics are going to be a worthwhile read.
I am retired now so I have lots of time to read. I have also realized that there are times to read the classics and times to read more modern books.
If you are not enjoying the book, wait a few years and try again.
In the meantime, for all of you--enjoy reading--whatever you choose to read!

Rosemarie, it can be helpful to have a professor guide you through a book. I took a James Joyce class in college to help me get through Ulysses and it worked out well. If I had read it alone I never would have gotten as much out of the book. Hopefully, insights from knowledgeable readers on this site similarly serve as an aid to a fuller and richer classic novel read.

That is why I like goodreads. I find it more interesting and enjoyable being able to read and discuss books with other people, and I really enjoy the different points of view that we have in this group, since there are people of all ages and backgrounds in this group.