Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

The title says it all, and really, what can I add to the volumes of criticism that have been written about this novel? I can only say that the author is more concerned with the ideas of his characters than he is with the characters themselves. They seem to be mouthpieces so that the author can expound. I feel as if they are specimens under glass for us to study. You can probably tell that I didn't empathize or sympathize with any of the characters.