On the animated television series "Rocky and Bullwinkle", bad guy Boris Badenov would use "Raskolnikov!" as a curse word when he got thwarted. That was how I first heard of it- initially I thought it was the Russian version of "Damn!" until I learned of Dostoyevsky later on.
That show's writers liked their hidden jokes- it was also a long time before I learned that Boris' surname was actually a flipped version of the Russian historical warrior figure Boris Godunov!
I loved Rocky and Bullwinkle. And the show only gets better the older you get because the jokes start landing. Boris and Natasha are two of the greatest cartoon creations ever.
Fantastic book and great review that also makes me want to revisit brothers K… I got only halfway through it when I was a teen. Have heard some translations are far better than others.
Thanks! The Oliver Ready translation I read came well recommended. I found it very readable, and it gets the critical marks for accuracy. Most of those considerations are well beyond my knowledge, however; I’m thoroughly ignorant of Russian and mostly ignorant of Russian culture. The P&V translation is also well regarded. I’ve heard the Constance Garnett translation, the first English translation(?), is not terribly good.
The Brothers Karamazov has defeated me several times, but I’m almost done with it now—or at least three quarters of the way there. I’m reading the David McDuff translation. Very readable, but not as well regarded as the P&V or some others.
When I read it last year, Raskolnikov's grandiloquence kept reminding me of the internet warriors and influencers who talk big and do sordid little crimes.
Nailed it with the claustrophobic feel of this book! That's exactly the feeling I got. I just read it for the first time last month and I couldn't put it down. The Russians are just built different. The Kingdom of Cain by Andrew Klavan got me to read this one.
Thanks Joel. Ive never read it but this review is extroidinary. Youve egged me on to go back to some of these classics. There is something else in this story speaking to a 'something' much much deeper lll have to reflect on.
On the animated television series "Rocky and Bullwinkle", bad guy Boris Badenov would use "Raskolnikov!" as a curse word when he got thwarted. That was how I first heard of it- initially I thought it was the Russian version of "Damn!" until I learned of Dostoyevsky later on.
That show's writers liked their hidden jokes- it was also a long time before I learned that Boris' surname was actually a flipped version of the Russian historical warrior figure Boris Godunov!
I loved Rocky and Bullwinkle. And the show only gets better the older you get because the jokes start landing. Boris and Natasha are two of the greatest cartoon creations ever.
Certainly they are among the most aware of the fact that they ARE cartoon characters…
Fantastic book and great review that also makes me want to revisit brothers K… I got only halfway through it when I was a teen. Have heard some translations are far better than others.
Thanks! The Oliver Ready translation I read came well recommended. I found it very readable, and it gets the critical marks for accuracy. Most of those considerations are well beyond my knowledge, however; I’m thoroughly ignorant of Russian and mostly ignorant of Russian culture. The P&V translation is also well regarded. I’ve heard the Constance Garnett translation, the first English translation(?), is not terribly good.
The Brothers Karamazov has defeated me several times, but I’m almost done with it now—or at least three quarters of the way there. I’m reading the David McDuff translation. Very readable, but not as well regarded as the P&V or some others.
When I read it last year, Raskolnikov's grandiloquence kept reminding me of the internet warriors and influencers who talk big and do sordid little crimes.
Haha! So true. He talks himself in circles.
Dostoevsky writes inside my head......🪓😬 ❤️🩹✍🏼
Nailed it with the claustrophobic feel of this book! That's exactly the feeling I got. I just read it for the first time last month and I couldn't put it down. The Russians are just built different. The Kingdom of Cain by Andrew Klavan got me to read this one.
Wasn’t that Klavan book something? I thought it was great.
Oh yeah, it was really good. Love me some Klavan.
Thanks Joel. Ive never read it but this review is extroidinary. Youve egged me on to go back to some of these classics. There is something else in this story speaking to a 'something' much much deeper lll have to reflect on.
μετάνοια on the Riverbank ⛓️❄️😮💨✍🏼📚⌛
Grace and peace to you Amigo.....
.....Semper Fortis and God Bless FD! 🌐❤️🩹🕊️✍🏼📚
Metanoia indeed. Thanks, man!
I consider Repentance as THE theme of C&P.
Great review. I read it... I guess last year (?) but I really should read it again. A lot of what you pointed out went over my head the first time.
I am going to try to follow your list this year. But I’m already behind on March 1!!
Hey, no worries! Love having you on the journey.
Eucatastrophe 🎶❤️🩹⛪🌳🌹🌿☦️✍🏼😌🕊️📿🕯️
https://claude.ai/public/artifacts/1df93519-1bc8-43c6-ae50-ce3e7470c632
🌐🪽 Grace🔥 and peace⛲ to you Amigo,
3/15/2026 Anno Domini, Glory to Jesus Christ,
Glory to the Precious and Life-Giving Cross!
......and God bless FD! 🕰️📚⚖️✨
I don't know where you got those two book covers, but they're terrific!!-- bring back that good old-fashioned book cover art!! 👍
Excellent review! I hope you read and review all of Dostoevsky’s novels; they are worth it!