Before reading my post, head over to Janet Reid’s blog to learn more about the new FTC guidelines.
I hated … when I had to read it in high school, but when I read it on my own later, I loved it because….
My junior year of high school, I was in Honors English. We all thought our teacher, Miss Karnop, was completely evil (I had her for AP English senior year as well–she wasn’t so evil that year…she was actually pretty cool). While none of the books we read stand out as being particularly enjoyable, one does stand out as being more miserable than the rest.
Pretty sure we read the Constance Garnett translation in high school. This is a better translation.
We took well over a month (and possibly even more than two) to get through Crime and Punishment as a class. Every chapter was analyzed, every scene picked apart. Single sentences were scrutinized for full class periods. Often, class time was spent on one single word, trying to discern why Dostoevsky used it (was I really the only one who remembered we were working off a translation and not Dostoevsky’s words?).
I loathed every single second we spent on Crime and Punishment that year.
***
Fast forward two years. I am finishing up my first semester of college–and my first Russian language course. Summer is fast approaching and I need a good book. I head to the trusty bookstore to look over their shelves. My eyes alight on a shiny new copy of Crime and Punishment. ‘Well,’ I think, ‘my Russian class was interesting. Perhaps now that I have a better knowledge of the language and culture I will enjoy it more.’ I leave the store with Crime and Punishment tucked under one arm.
***
So, as I traveled to Hawai’i, I read the book again. And I freakin’ LOVED it.
The story! The characters! The depth! The beautiful writing! The biblical allusions! The amazing, amazing, amazing book! (The exclamation points!)
I love Crime and Punishment. Once I read it freely, without all the intensive scrutiny, I was finally able to see it for what it really is: a wonderful, thought-provoking novel. In high school, I was overburdened with analysis and critiquing. I was unable to look past the assignments we were given to just enjoy Dostoevsky’s story. Which is really sad; it is definitely a story worth enjoying.
Have you ever read Crime and Punishment? Leave a comment; let me know what you think of it.
