Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky is as agonizing as it is intriguing. Dostoyevsky provides the unique experience of undergoing a brutal murder from the—wait for it—killer's perspective! The main character Raskolnikov is characterized as a poor student who is unable to go on with his law studies. He has a superiority complex, and he believes he is above morality. Although he believes he is above the law, he is burdened to find out that he is not free from a guilty conscience once he commits a heinous murder. Raskolnikov must then endure the punishments for his crimes.

Crime and Punishment had me screaming out loud at one point because of the mental frustration and pain that Dostoyevsky conveys about Raskolnikov’s agony. It was surprising how the book penetrates Raskolnikov’s tormented mind. Although you never lose sight of what Raskolnikov did as wrong, you find yourself often feeling sorry for him. This feeling is both off-putting and, at the same time, humane. You wonder why Raskolnikov committed his crime. Does he have a mental illness that influenced his actions? Does poverty play a role in turning Raskolnikov into taking such drastic actions? Or is he simply a rotten human being?

The Prestige is often referred to as a masterpiece, and I agree. All I can say is that you must read it and form your own perspective on Raskolnikov's downward spiral and his derailed thinking.

Review by: Lauren

Lauren is a teen volunteer at the Granada Hills Branch Library who is a senior in high school from the San Fernando Valley area.

—Rachael Zak, Young Adult Librarian, Granada Hills Branch Library