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carmenx9's review
5.0
Devoured this one. Feels like it was written as a treatment for Visconti to adapt for film, which it definitely was not, but I am very excited to watch the film with Book Club in a couple weeks.
The translation is a bit clunky (or is that just very faithful?) and the editing of this edition is a bit shoddy (can't decide whether or not to use italics or quote marks for opera titles vs aria/song titles), but it doesn't take away from the opulence and decadence of the telling.
The translation is a bit clunky (or is that just very faithful?) and the editing of this edition is a bit shoddy (can't decide whether or not to use italics or quote marks for opera titles vs aria/song titles), but it doesn't take away from the opulence and decadence of the telling.
smtvash's review against another edition
4.0
A very interesting read.
The Leopard is a story about how wealth, status, and the social constructs that surround "royalty" locks them in their own prison of wasted potential and the inopportunity to exist outside of that construct.
It's a novel that's stuck and incapable of moving on or embracing change.
First, the prose is very lush and intimate. It is clear that Lampedusa had a lot of endearment to his subject. What makes The Leopard interesting is that its a book that came from the leopard's mouth (so to speak).
The results almost feel like a eulogy to the world he came to love and saw transform before dying.
And this world, it's just rich, generational wealth, big mansions, balls, and leisure. And even then, all they're losing is status. As far as change and transformations go, The Leopard is a romantic account of the loss of status.
It's interesting to read the mindset, at least of this one author, essentially come to make peace with the experiences they had of a world that was leaving them behind.
The very leisure that they enjoyed, that inactive sense of politeness, gives way for most of the family to sit back and go gently into the good night. In their own corner of the world, just living their lives, doing their thing.
You know, like everyone else in the rest of the world.
I love stories about failure, I love stories about loss and a world turned upside down and transformed.
The Leopard is an interesting version of this tale, of one family's mindset locking into their own perceived misery.
The Leopard is a story about how wealth, status, and the social constructs that surround "royalty" locks them in their own prison of wasted potential and the inopportunity to exist outside of that construct.
It's a novel that's stuck and incapable of moving on or embracing change.
First, the prose is very lush and intimate. It is clear that Lampedusa had a lot of endearment to his subject. What makes The Leopard interesting is that its a book that came from the leopard's mouth (so to speak).
The results almost feel like a eulogy to the world he came to love and saw transform before dying.
And this world, it's just rich, generational wealth, big mansions, balls, and leisure. And even then, all they're losing is status. As far as change and transformations go, The Leopard is a romantic account of the loss of status.
It's interesting to read the mindset, at least of this one author, essentially come to make peace with the experiences they had of a world that was leaving them behind.
The very leisure that they enjoyed, that inactive sense of politeness, gives way for most of the family to sit back and go gently into the good night. In their own corner of the world, just living their lives, doing their thing.
You know, like everyone else in the rest of the world.
I love stories about failure, I love stories about loss and a world turned upside down and transformed.
The Leopard is an interesting version of this tale, of one family's mindset locking into their own perceived misery.
giadalegge's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
olliejudd00's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
elisham's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
lucilfer's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
ambernh's review against another edition
challenging
funny
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
ginny__'s review against another edition
4.0
L'ho letto perché è uno dei classici italiani, moderni e non, che mi mancano. Premetto che i romanzi di famiglia non fanno per me, per cui ho preferito i momenti in cui la storia del Principe e della sua famiglia sono più strettamente legati alla storia dell'unificazione italiana. Ma mi è piaciuto: con la sua prosa ornata, le sue riflessioni politiche e filosofiche, il suo disincanto. Le descrizioni dell'arsura dell'estate siciliana, nell'attesa della pioggia che non arriva, non le dimenticherò facilmente.
luis_conte's review against another edition
challenging
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? Yes
1.0