So Crime and Punishment was pretty good. I loved it for about 3/4 of it, and then was felt with a "so what" after so many pages, and so much character/plot development. The epilogue was kind of redeeming, to that end, but ultimately, I'm not sure I understand much about Raskolnikov's real "punishment." It made me think, but not as much as other recent books I've read.
After that, I read Poisonwood Bible for the first time, and it was absolutely one of the best books I've ever read. Certainly one of the best books of the 90s. The narrative technique is really unique and innovative (I guess a bit like Faulkner, but easier to follow). The storytelling is utterly perfect. Maybe some could find it preachy, but I think that gets underscored by the emotional aspects of the story. I laughed and cried more than any book in recent memory. It's really a gripping novel, not from a suspenseful standpoint, but just one that takes you in and makes you feel and think a lot. There's a lot to consider beyond the geopolitical and family stuff; it's really a book about life and death in the end. Fantastic read.
Now I'm on two books, This Side of Paradise by F Scott Fitzgerald, and Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood. The former is pretty classic Fitzgerald so far. Mostly rich people with rich people problems and not much plot but somehow still tremendous writing. The latter is CRAZY. No idea what to think so far, but I am definitely on board for the whole trilogy. Someone at work said if I like the trilogy, to check out Swamplandia. Anybody read that?