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Crime and Punishment, War and Peace and …. (insert your favourite here) are the books that define what it is to write and I mean really write. It is a classic and with that title comes the difficulty of reading it. It is not difficult to get into the story line but with every step deeper in the story you are deterred by the long, complicated russian names and statements about the social situations of the day. In Crime and Punishment this social commentary generally lead to pages of intellectual arguments and giganitic wordy essays. That being said don’t let to put you off reading the book.
The story follows the destitute student Raskolnikov. He considers himself to be of great thinker and with that he is ordained with certain privileges albeit to choose who lives or dies in his mind. So with these thoughts Raskolnikov commits the number one sin, murder. With this rash decision comes the guilt of his conscious and cat and mouse games with the police. Only until he meets are meek and mild prostitute does he consider there is more to life than is own confused points of view.
Raskolnikov is a very difficult character to like and feel for, however I found myself slowly warming to his ways only to be irritated by stupid comments or rash actions he made throughout the book. I felt that this what Dostoyevsky wanted. Raskolnikov is a character that is not easy to catergorize and I think our “hot and cold” feelings for him as the reader are meant to reflect the “hot and cold” of his temperament.
The main overriding feeling I had when reading this book was amazement. These people lived on nothing, in filthy conditions and still managed to scrounge enough money to buy 1 litre of vodka. Every time I read the passages about the living conditions I felt like I needed a bath. How did people manage to survive and can anyone explain to me what an oil cloth is that covers the lounge chairs?
This is one of those books everyone should read. I have finally read and I feel like I have gained something, what that is exactly I don’t know yet. I guess to find out I need further reflection and intellectual discussion, so please discuss with me.
One day when I had nothing better to do I wander out of the apartment and down to my local Borders and discovered this book on the ‘buy 2 get the 3rd book free table’ so as I had already picked two I desperately wanted to read this seemed like a good choice for the third. With only a week to go before my trip to Germany it seemed like and interesting choice to read a fictitious book about the childhood of Adolf Hitler.
This was a very intriguing and unique book. The story follows the life of young Adi and his family as they develop each into there own persona. The family story and dynamic is dictated to us from the point of view of a Cudgel (a Devil Minion). Throughout the story the cudgel reinforces his and the Maestro’s (the Devil’s) role on the life of Adi and the molding influences they have.
Many times in the book I found myself feeling sorry and compassionate towards Adi. It was a strange feeling when we all know how Adolf Hitler eventually turned out. It made me stop and think, if his up bring had been different, if his older brother was different, if his relationship with his father was different, could history have been change….even prevented?
The only truly disappointing thing about ‘The Castle in the Forest’ is that it was the first book in a trilogy but unfortunately Norman Mailer passed away after completing this book. I therefore felt that the story could have gone on further and I wished it had of gone on further but alas this will not be. Even without the final books this is a stand alone story and one that I found interesting and would recommend to anyone who likes something out of the ordinary a story told with a difference, it is definitely different.
There is a simple reason why I decided to read this book. I started watching the movie but was so upset and sick feeling that I couldn’t watch it any further. I thought, surely it would be easier to read the book, that was a wrong assumption. I realised that my imagination is equal to any of the scenes displayed in the film, if not more morbid. That being said I am glad that I have read the book. It is nice to read a World War II story where the hero is a German but not surprising the bad guys are German/Austrian as well.
What possessed a man like Schindler whom born to the right stock had prominence in the community and friends in high place to spend 4 million caring for the “enemy”? This is the question that was constantly running through my head while reading this book. It would be so easy to turn your back on the desolate. Being in the same situation with the same means at hand would you do what Oskar did? I think it takes great strength of character and dare I say it balls to pull of what he did. He risked his own situation to better that of his workers, something they would never forget.
It also interested me to compare Oskar with Amon Goeth. Both men born to similar circumstance, both ambitious though one choose to show his power through violence and terror while the other earns a loyalty through compassion. Though Oskar was no Mother Theresa – he boozed it up, had a wife, mistress and an affair all at the same time (though we allow him these disgraces).
This story was painfully heart breaking (I cried more than once) and graphic which I will remember but I will also remember the hardships people can overcome. One person doing a good act can change the live of many others. “Whoever saves one life, saves the world entire” – engraved inside the ring presented to Oskar by his workers.
Everyone should read this book and learn from it (by learn I don’t mean not to start wars etc that is pretty much a given), learn to be better people, help us to become more compassionate and understanding to others (discrimination through religion is still happening now). If we all do better, save one life instead of taking it we really can save the world. It is a nice thought.
My first year at uni my new friend lent me this book to read. She said it was the only book she has read that has made her cry out loud (and as you can probably tell by this blog, I like these kind of books). So I curled up in my chair in my tiny dorm room and read for what felt like a week straight (not a long book but it is an emotional journey) until I emerged red eyed and grateful.
At a few months of age Damon Courtney is diagnosed with haemophilia a disease that prevents his blood from clotting. After living with this illness for many years through routine blood transfusions, it is during one of these routine transfusions that Damon contracted AIDS. He struggled with both these illnesses until April Fool’s Day 1991 when at the age of 24 he passed away.
This is Damon’s story told through the eyes of his father and with a chapter at the end by the woman who loved him through all. It is hard not to become attached to this book. Damon was a young man in his twenties that wanted to live life recklessly (drive his Fiat at warp speed) and live it to its fullest but was held back.
I can not imagine what it must be like for a parent to lose a child, and I can’t imagine the pain a father must feel writing about it. Even though it must have been difficult at the same time I hope it bought back the memories of his son. This is an incredibly sad book though you some how still feel better for reading it. You feel the closeness of this family and the infectious personality of Damon. After reading this book you want to go out and make the most of your life, cherish every moment and at the same time stop and smell the roses.
I recommend this book to everyone, it is sad but in a tragically beautiful way and I don’t think you will be disappointed. Enjoy it and think of others like Damon.
