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breadandmushrooms's review
adventurous
emotional
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
stjernesvarme's review
adventurous
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
secretsoda's review
4.0
Eye opening
I didn’t appreciate Turgenev when I read Fathers and Sons. In fact, I didn’t appreciate him until I was over halfway through this book.
At first I thought he lacked the ability to create vivid scenes and power of description. His works consist of mostly lengthy dialogues. I realized as I read this that he is more than capable of creating enchanting images, but chooses to focus on the mental aspects of his characters.
I would compare this book to the podcast series “This American Life”. It could be titled “This Russian Life”. I felt like I was sitting in on conversations and in the room with the characters described in the book.
My favorite thing about this book was how authentic and it seemed. While many of the scenes may have been exaggerated for effect, the emotions behind them were incredibly genuine and sincere.
I learned more about the attitudes of the serfs from this book than from all other Russian literature combined. It was a refreshing transition from the life of the nobility or common city folk described by other authors.
I didn’t appreciate Turgenev when I read Fathers and Sons. In fact, I didn’t appreciate him until I was over halfway through this book.
At first I thought he lacked the ability to create vivid scenes and power of description. His works consist of mostly lengthy dialogues. I realized as I read this that he is more than capable of creating enchanting images, but chooses to focus on the mental aspects of his characters.
I would compare this book to the podcast series “This American Life”. It could be titled “This Russian Life”. I felt like I was sitting in on conversations and in the room with the characters described in the book.
My favorite thing about this book was how authentic and it seemed. While many of the scenes may have been exaggerated for effect, the emotions behind them were incredibly genuine and sincere.
I learned more about the attitudes of the serfs from this book than from all other Russian literature combined. It was a refreshing transition from the life of the nobility or common city folk described by other authors.
steven_nobody's review against another edition
5.0
Turgenev is a beautiful writter but he shocked me a few times. Serfs weren't "kind of like slaves" as I thought, but were actual slaves. People are terrible to each other, that's for sure, and it will never change. He's also a very beautiful writer. The interview with the paralyzed woman in the barn is the best. The final story of the chase by bandts at night is also excellent, and the epilogue of nature writing is beautiful. If you like the Western genre or Hemingway, you will like these and you will find out about the lives of village life in Tsarist Russia. Hmmm, reminds me of Studs Terkel's Working.
vijays's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.75
I listened to the audiobook, superbly narrated by Steven Marvel. This version was translated by Charles and Natasha Hepburn. I've bookmarked a few chapters to re-read as prose because Turgenev's descriptions and the translation are so exquisite. Of the 25 chapters / independent short stories, only 2 were boring, IMO. An impressive success rate for a mid 19th century writer to achieve with a 21st century reader.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
pvbobrien's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
ghostcheerio's review
5.0
This was a really enjoyable read! Although there were a few stories that I found boring (Lebedyan and Two Country Gentlemen, for instance), and sometimes the descriptions could drag on for far too long, overall each story was interesting and well-written enough that I believe this book deserves 5 stars :)
The descriptions of nature were beautiful, the characters were often vivid, and it's social critiques aren't too... I can't think of the proper word right now, but it's not too in-your-face or preachy — one of my favorite moments was probably when the peasant proprietor Ovsyanikov described how poorly the narrator's grandfather treated his family as serfs, and the narrator cannot seem to say anything or look him in the eyes, so not even the narrator is innocent of the injustices he witnesses — and it doesn't dominate the whole of the book. I'd also say that the richness of the descriptions of both character, especially nature, made this book one of the few ones that really made me feel a sort of conviction that the past... actually happened, if that makes sense, and that the people "back then" were exactly the same as we are. I knew that in the abstract, of course, but still, there's an unconquerable distance between us and them, which, even for me, a massive history nerd, makes history feel a bit hazy and it's hard to imagine the things one reads about actually happening. Yet, in this book, the narrator's descriptions of nature and the feelings of being in it in such a familiar way, that I felt a strong connection with him, and it made the stories feel very grounded in reality.
The descriptions of nature were beautiful, the characters were often vivid, and it's social critiques aren't too... I can't think of the proper word right now, but it's not too in-your-face or preachy — one of my favorite moments was probably when the peasant proprietor Ovsyanikov described how poorly the narrator's grandfather treated his family as serfs, and the narrator cannot seem to say anything or look him in the eyes, so not even the narrator is innocent of the injustices he witnesses — and it doesn't dominate the whole of the book. I'd also say that the richness of the descriptions of both character, especially nature, made this book one of the few ones that really made me feel a sort of conviction that the past... actually happened, if that makes sense, and that the people "back then" were exactly the same as we are. I knew that in the abstract, of course, but still, there's an unconquerable distance between us and them, which, even for me, a massive history nerd, makes history feel a bit hazy and it's hard to imagine the things one reads about actually happening. Yet, in this book, the narrator's descriptions of nature and the feelings of being in it in such a familiar way, that I felt a strong connection with him, and it made the stories feel very grounded in reality.