Why is this bad? I could rant about it here, but I have found that when I rant about it, eyes start to glaze over. Instead, I will share a delightful picture that makes me smile and a bunch of links to information about Harlequin’s terrible decision. That way you can choose how much you want to know.

As for smiling at the picture? Well, that you have no choice over.

Popples...of the Ninja variety

And the linkage:

The official Harlequin Horizon’s website.

A statement where Harlequin says they will be changing the name of Harlequin Horizons to just Horizons, effective immediately. Note that the official website still has the Harlequin name attached. Also, in the same post is a statement from the Mystery Writers of America regarding Harlequin Horizons.

A nice breakdown of the new vanity line, courtesy of Writers Beware.

The Romance Writers of America’s stance on the issue.

A great breakdown of the Harlequin Horizons legalese by paranormal author Jackie Kessler. Also, her follow up post is definitely worth a read.

And, in true shark style, Janet Reid weighs in with her open post to Donna Hayes, CEO of Harlequin.

There are more. Oh boy, there are a LOT more. These should get the idea across though. Enjoy your reading!

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.