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Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, translated by Sidney Monas.This is my second or third reread. I still adore this book dearly and am fascinated with the philosophy behind all the characters. I think people always mistake painting Raskolnikov in black and white when Dostoyevsky has shown time and time again that he is a complex character with differing morals and ideas which depends on the whim of his emotions. People also make the grave mistake of removing religion from Crime and Punishment when resurrection and redemption are crucial themes. Excited to finish this with the possibility of another reread in the future.
On Marx: Revolutionary and Utopian by Alan Ryan.I usually like to look into books before committing to them but this is one I picked up on a whim at the library. It provides a brief overview of Karl Marx, his philosophies which influenced the Communist Manifesto, a look into Engels' role in Marx's life, and some excerpts from a few of his writings. In my opinion, this serves as a good introduction to Marx and his influences at the time of his active years, and I'd probably direct someone to the first half of the book for that before having them read the Communist Manifesto.
Other books I have started reading: Sisters in Hate by Seyward Darby; The Plague by Albert Camus; The Snag by Tessa McWatt; The Idiot by Dostoyevsky, translated by Pevear and Volokhonsky; Karl Marx's Theory of History: A Defence by G.A. Cohen; The Marx-Engels Reader
Demand the Impossible! A Radical Manifesto by Bill Ayers.
To quote Mark Fisher: "It is easier to imagine an end to the world than an end to capitalism."But why should this be? Don't we all want a better world, not only for ourselves, but for our fellow men? When we ask why, the answer is that's how the world is. But who decides what the world is? Aren't we in charge of our own fates? This book is split into chapters that focuses on specific points of interest such as abolition, free healthcare, education, etc. It provides statistics, facts, and a window to a more hopeful world. If you're an anarchist, communist, or other radical leftist, this book introduces nothing new. Still, I think the first step to combating a problem is identifying and vocalizing it. Why is it easier to imagine the end of the world than an end to our government?
"Giving it all, here and now, fully animating our moment in the light between those two infinities of darkness. "I can't do everything," we hear a friend lamenting. "Time is short, and I am small." True. But can you do anything—Anything at all? Anything is where you begin."
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kuroolily
omg I've heard so much about Crime and Punishment. Is it really as good as it sounds??
absolutely! it has a lot of humorous elements and the characters will make you feel a broad range of emotions. if you go into it thinking that the story primarily centers around a murder though, you will be sorely disappointed. on the flip side, wondering about why characters do the things they do (be it extreme good or extreme bad) and thinking about why Dostoyevsky puts an emphasis on religious redemption, is a reward in itself. this book just makes you THINK and i love it, but it's also completely okay if you read it through the first time and don't get it. i certainly didn't fully appreciate it the first time around (i actually finished The Brothers Karamazov even before i had the motivation to finish C&P). the story is basically a teeny tiny portion of crime and a large part of punishment - punishment of the conscience especially - most of which happens before the crime has even begun.
IF this is your first Dostoyevsky work though, a lot of people would probably recommend that you read Notes from Underground as a primer. NFU is full of that philosophical stuff which he published before C&P (i cannot attest to 100% of this since NFU just hasn't caught my attention in any of the attempts i've read it but i'm trying to pick it up again). anyway long answer short, yes absolutely read Crime and Punishment !!!!! :D
by mocha!; ; Report
Ouuuuu tbh I like how it focuses on the characters. It sounds like lit fic and that's the only book genre I like! I'm going to add it to my tbr list. I checked out NFU in goodreads and it seems a little intimidating. I'm not too much into deep classic lit like that but if I do get to C&P, I will put NFU in my tbr list too. Tysm for your answer!!
by kuroolily; ; Report
EsLikesBlackCoffee
Dostoyevsky is so re-readable, there's always something new to be found in the same book
exactly! i've had my copy of C&P since beginning of high school too, so it's really interesting to see how my thoughts of the story have changed as i got older. planning to reread The Brothers Karamazov at some point too, i'm really excited :)
by mocha!; ; Report
Got a copy of that recently so I'm also going to read it soon :D I trust it's worthwhile
by EsLikesBlackCoffee; ; Report
oh my god absolutely !! i haven't read it in a couple of years but it absolutely changed me - like rewired me in ways i can't even describe. i'd love to know what you think as you read it or when you've finished it!
by mocha!; ; Report
EasyxX
I recommend Dostoevsky's Nietoschka Nezvanova, it's very good T-T
oh thank you! :) i always love hearing about Dostoyevsky's lesser known works
by mocha!; ; Report