Laura Occasionally Blogs

3.5
This is one of my favorite chapters, so I'll relate it in pretty close detail.

Raskolnikov continues laughing and joking at Razumihin's expense as he walks into Porfiry's study. Razumihin bumbles bearishly and upsets a teacup. As desired, Porfiry seems charmed by their innocent, youthful exuberance. Raskolnikov will quickly lose this elaborately-constructed upper hand. ( Watch the train wreck. )

See, wasn't that chapter good? In my opinion, this is exactly what we paid our admission for, in this book: nerve-wracking crime-hiding suspense; lengthy theoretical discussions of the nature of crime; a murderer alternately ingeniously covering his tracks, internally freaking out, and practically begging to be caught; a fantastically relaxed chief-inspector toying with him so effectively that even the reader isn't sure if he actually knows anything; a loving and mostly-unsuspecting friend who disapproves of all this (please let it be) abstract talk. What a great book.

3.6
Raskolnikov and Razumihin head out to meet back up with Raskolnikov's family.

Razumihin kept stopping on the way in the heat of discussion, confused and excited by the very fact that they were for the first time speaking openly about it.

( Hint: IT is CRIME )

Raskolnikov Like-O-Meter: Like a 7. I actually find it kind of hard not to like him, even if he is trying to get away with murder. He's witty when he's being a jerk and he's kind of adorably underdog-ish when he's being neurotic and inept.
Razumihin Like-O-Meter: 93 million

Q: Laura, why so many Crime and Punishment recaps? Eight chapters in two days!
A: I HAVE TO FINISH THIS FREAKING BOOK

4.1
So, this is the part of the book I picked up after a several month absence, and man, was it confusing. WHO IS SVIDRIGAILOV? ( And what's up with the spiders? )

4.2
Raskolnikov and Razumihin hurry to make their dinner engagement with Pulcheria and Dunia. Raskolnikov is relieved and somewhat surprised that Razumihin actually saw Svidrigailov clearly there in the room. He was beginning to think he was a hallucination. ( Right there with you, man. )

Raskolnikov Like-O-Meter: Mostly he reacted to other people in this pair of chapters. He didn't do much to help with Luzhin, but he didn't hurt, either. Still a 7.
Razumihin Like-O-Meter: 98 million. He didn't have too much to do here, but he knew well his role in this other-family drama: sit quiet, don't reveal your vested interest, let the lady handle her own affairs, but step in at the point of the scorned bad ex-fiancee's mean parting shot with a well-timed "Does the fellow want his head smashed?"
Dunia Like-O-Meter: 50. Good for you, Dunia.