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ndr's review against another edition
5.0
A dying author has a firm grasp on the important parts of existence and a wry tolerance for life's trivia. This edition of The Leopard has, in addition to the novel of that name, a short memoir, a fragment of another novel, and an exquisite short story, The Siren. It is The Leopard, though, that tempts us to mine our childhoods for every delicious morsel of memory and to celebrate the world that Tomasi de Lampedusa distills from the Italian Risorgimento's Sicilian incarnation. Imminent extinction must have been on his mind in 1957 as he corrected the manuscripts while undergoing treatment for lung cancer; he died before The Leopard was published in 1958. Sicily decays intensely and gracefully so that it can remain unchanged as The Prince makes difficult and accurate calculations of the paths of celestial objects. A book with a Great Dane of Bendicò's calibre is one to treasure. If it takes your fancy, consider renting Luchino Visconti's 1963 film version. I loved it too, down to the 45 minute gala scene near the end.
insertsthwitty's review against another edition
4.0
This is one of the few examples of books where the form surpasses content, but the form itself is so lovely and beyond refute that you can hardly hold this against it.
The end is surprising and unanticipated, mostly because it is not foreshadowed or executed well previously at all; there is a sense of rush over the last few chapters but the bulk of the book more than makes up for it. The style is languid and indulgent, the plot and its subtleties are hinted at through the depictions of their surroundings (it's excellent at how it combines cynicism and indulgence), and there are few parts of social commentary that left me reeling at how well they were expressed (particularly the scene between Don Ciccio and Don Fabrizio in the wake of the plebiscite). It's superb.
The end is surprising and unanticipated, mostly because it is not foreshadowed or executed well previously at all; there is a sense of rush over the last few chapters but the bulk of the book more than makes up for it. The style is languid and indulgent, the plot and its subtleties are hinted at through the depictions of their surroundings (it's excellent at how it combines cynicism and indulgence), and there are few parts of social commentary that left me reeling at how well they were expressed (particularly the scene between Don Ciccio and Don Fabrizio in the wake of the plebiscite). It's superb.
magdalenalala's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.5
marieribeiro's review against another edition
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
bookworm9090's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
artupop's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Mierda, este libro solo reafirma mis principios en favor de la alta nobleza. Cómo pudo pasar...
ellioth_mess's review against another edition
5.0
Hay una condición clara que define a los clásicos, y es que dibujan temas que van a asomar para siempre la cabeza en la historia humana. Son, además, muy agradables de leer. "El Gatopardo" es un libro que cuenta sin contar los malabares emocionales y las incomodidades en sociedad de un aristócrata desplazado, que es más que el avatar de una clase social: es por momentos un estudio de personaje cuya creación bien podría haber contado con la asesoría de Durkheim, si no fuera porque di Lampedusa claramente recibió ecos familiares de las contradicciones que un país-bolsa de gatos como era la Italia de los 50' (y la de hoy en día también).
Basta despacharse un par de veces con alguna frase resonante para que el resto del libro resuene con la idea centro: "Para que todo cambie es preciso que nada cambie". Lo agarré, de hecho, después de escucharlo nombrar en varias columnas periodísticas de gente que respeto (y algunos que no). En línea con los tiempos actuales, quizá la habilidad más útil y dolorosa del Gatopardo no sea pasar desapercibido en la penumbra (dicho popular al que la novela NO hace referencia pero que la sobrevuela siempre), sino la de caer siempre parado y quedarse calladito mientras todo alrededor se transforma en un palacio donde saquean nuestras momias cuando todavía están vivas.
Me agradó para 4 estrellas, le pongo 5 porque es mejor de lo que lo pude disfrutar.
Basta despacharse un par de veces con alguna frase resonante para que el resto del libro resuene con la idea centro: "Para que todo cambie es preciso que nada cambie". Lo agarré, de hecho, después de escucharlo nombrar en varias columnas periodísticas de gente que respeto (y algunos que no). En línea con los tiempos actuales, quizá la habilidad más útil y dolorosa del Gatopardo no sea pasar desapercibido en la penumbra (dicho popular al que la novela NO hace referencia pero que la sobrevuela siempre), sino la de caer siempre parado y quedarse calladito mientras todo alrededor se transforma en un palacio donde saquean nuestras momias cuando todavía están vivas.
Me agradó para 4 estrellas, le pongo 5 porque es mejor de lo que lo pude disfrutar.
codexmendoza's review against another edition
5.0
Fantastic, wonderful, truly one of the great works of our time that I have arrived at woefully late. I knew it was good from the first page; what a perceptive eye the narration has, the way it manages to find beauty, decay, irony, and amusement in the sweep of a single sentence. The characters, especially the endangered titular Leopard, are also carefully drawn and their personal ambitions and failures blend with the ideas Lampedusa conveys about the movement of Italian history and the spirit of Sicilians without becoming crass allegory. An intact and perfect vision.