Crime And Punishment

Do ever feel that you've read a book before, even swear on it but have no recollection? That strange feeling of visiting a place in the past or leaving half a cup of coffee lying around, sensing its presence and being indirectly aware? Like self-inflicted gaslighting?

Crime and Punishment was a complete mystery to me although I'm sure I knew it well.

Isn't it striking also that old and stuffy novels can be fluid and easy to read when you least expect it, how good literature is good literature for a valid reason?

To enjoy this, throw away your misconceptions of antiquated and boring dialogue from the past, which although slow, political, introverted and mildly deranged in places, especially some of the police cross-examinations and dream sequences that move in and out of delirium, and replace them with narrative that's sometimes zip-along electrifying everywhere else.

Dostoevsky places you in the heart of the mire, wearing shabby clothes, low prospects and undecided pathways in a privileged yet abject state of poverty, both materially and psychologically. The incredible ability to describe every last detail and make it seem interesting while conveying plot lines in a satisfying and conclusive manner with no loose ends.

The ultimate long-winded tale of existentialism where nothing is decided until the last possible moment as we self-inflict punishment or decide to live a happy life if we choose. It's entirely up to us.

This isn't the sort of book you can jump into and reel off in a couple of hours, neither read too meticulously because of how easy it is to get bogged down, making for a strange paradox - cumbersome to digest in major chunks because of the depressing pointlessness of it all yet no frilly thriller either.

Even though this is a bleak read, it's a surprisingly rampant, enjoyable, antagonistic and anti-social book, balancing emotions between love, hate and moral viewpoints. Dystopian at times with no real direction, contradicted by incredible certainty at what it wants to say. The real winner is the dialogue and intimate relationships.

I love the way Crime and Punishment goes full circle to become thoroughly worthwhile by the end, Dostoevsky doing a wonderful job of hooking you into his world, dragging you down, then shining a ray of light and hope by the final pages.