If you want to dip into Russian literature (and be able to say you've read some Dostoyevsky) but not be too committed, then this is a good start. Crime and Punishment is about Raskolnikov, a poor student who decides he needs to sell something for money. He ends up commiting a murder and realizes that he can get away with it. A good portion of the book is Raskolnikov talking to himself as he becomes paranoid and suffers from some delusions. Honestly, this is a pretty good place to read quickly. I found myself doing a little skimming and saying to myself, "Okay, he's going crazy, he's going crazy...ah, here's some more plot." During the state of paranoia he befriends a prostitute who helps keep him sane. I read a brief version of Dostoyevsky's bio after reading this book and it helped put the book into perspective. Dostoyevsky led a "wild" young adult life, which included some incarceration. He became a Christian, which is evident in the works that I have read, and underlines the redeeming nature of Crime and Punishment. I won't write anymore for fear of ruining it for anyone.
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