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janeblue's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-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? It's complicated
5.0
kumipaul's review against another edition
4.0
I think I enjoyed this so much because I could compare it to War & Peace (the Peace part), where nobles dealt with their various social issues which were actually trivial and completely unimportant except to them. I was also impressed by the wit and humor displayed by the author, which reminded me so much of Jane Austen (though Austen fans may kill me for that comparison). Character personalities were, weak/meek Mom, strong opinionated modern daughter, annoying passive-aggressive cousin, sexist arrogant entitled City-guy tenant, country bumpkin priest, and selfish matchmaker. Those character types were well-formed, and they were all crucial to the story. We could clearly see the author's respect for country folk over the city folk who just felt like everyone else was below them. I guess because this is a very recent translation of a very unknown author from around 1860, I had low expectations. However I was very pleasantly surprised.
bibliobethreads's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
northerly_heart_reads's review
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
flamingo_and_owl_books's review
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-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? Yes
4.0
kiriamarin's review against another edition
4.0
Satira e comedia de costumes ao estilo de Jane Austen,com dialogos afiados como Oscar Wilde e analises sociais da epoca como Pais e Filhos de Turgueniev, e tudo isso escrito ppr uma escritora russa esquecida :Sofia Khvoshchinskaya , que junto com a suas irmãs também escritoras,eram comparadas aa irmãs Bronte(também da mesma epoca).
Adorei este obra,una surpresa, a estoria se passa um ano depois da liberação dos servos na Rússia e a pequena semente que germinara no futuro,da decadencia da nobreza e a revolução. Aqui vemos essas relações absurdas e pitorescas entre servos,e donos de terras(gente do campo) e a nobreza (gente da cidade),com a chegada de hospedes que vem interromper a vida tranquila e bem organizada da mãe e filha , Nesteya e Olenka,que representam uma forca indepentente e feminina de pensamento inesperada, para um intruso contraditório Nikolai Demyanovich,que tem ideias modernas e progressistas mas é um conservador enraizado...
Este livro me divertiu e me surpreendeu e adorei Olenka,que já entrou na minha lista de heroinas literárias inspiradoras.
Adorei este obra,una surpresa, a estoria se passa um ano depois da liberação dos servos na Rússia e a pequena semente que germinara no futuro,da decadencia da nobreza e a revolução. Aqui vemos essas relações absurdas e pitorescas entre servos,e donos de terras(gente do campo) e a nobreza (gente da cidade),com a chegada de hospedes que vem interromper a vida tranquila e bem organizada da mãe e filha , Nesteya e Olenka,que representam uma forca indepentente e feminina de pensamento inesperada, para um intruso contraditório Nikolai Demyanovich,que tem ideias modernas e progressistas mas é um conservador enraizado...
Este livro me divertiu e me surpreendeu e adorei Olenka,que já entrou na minha lista de heroinas literárias inspiradoras.
100reads's review
emotional
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-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? It's complicated
4.25
Thoroughly enjoyed this comical satire. I love Olenka! She’s the best
phiabobia's review against another edition
4.0
i like a lot
fucking hate ovcharov
could dead write an essay on some parts of this book, it had a lot of profound aspects that could be reflected on
fucking hate ovcharov
could dead write an essay on some parts of this book, it had a lot of profound aspects that could be reflected on
janeeyre's review against another edition
4.0
Another Russian book which simultaneously confused and delighted me! The dialogue really can be quite disorienting at times and very witty at others. I found all of the characters fascinating, especially Olenka and Anna. I wish this book was more well known.
bookish_arcadia's review against another edition
4.0
This satire of nineteenth-century Russian manners and social hierarchies centres around the rural estate of widow Natasya Ivanova Chulkova and her daughter Olenka who work hard to maintain their home and their lives in relative comfort. But as rural figures with modest property they are subjected to the metropolitan snobbery and disdain of two unwelcome guests. The first is Anna, a demanding cousin with her self-righteous religious preoccupation who goes out of her way to undermine and harry Natasya with demands and accusations. There is also Erast Sergeyevich Ovcharov the self-absorbed former neighbour who rents their bathhouse for the sake of his health.
Natasya Ivanova is troubled by her sense of duty to her neighbours and perceived social betters, even against her better judgement. She struggles to meet the needs of her “guests” and the superior attitude of the urban nobility towards those they see as simple and rustic. Ocharov is keen to give advice and spends much of his time writing pseudo-intellectual pamphlets about Russia’s backwardness but he has allowed his own large estate languish into disrepair and in the aftermath of the emancipation he grapples ineffectually with the changed relationships with his former serfs. His paternalistic and patronising attitude sees the nobility remaining central to the organisation of the land with few real concessions to the needs of peasants and workers while Natasya and Olenka have managed to adapt to the sweeping changes with relative success.
Olenka objects to her mother’s servility, recognising the weaknesses of their guests. She’s an independent girl who trusts her own judgements more than society’s dictates. She’s often amused by the peccadilloes of Anna and Ocharov but increasingly resents their fussy demands on her mother. As the situation reaches a head with interference from all sides, Natasya and Olenka begin to fight back, recognising their own strength, their independence and hard work as more valuable than titles and prospects. In this they clearly represent the experience of their creators, who lived in similar circumstances.
There’s match-making, affairs, betrayal and social conflicts and Khvoshchinskaya brilliantly sends up the pomposity of her characters, clinging to the social conventions propping up the crumbling hierarchy. The incisive wit and humour are reminiscent of Jane Austen’s works, particularly in the clever dialogue, but the wider considerations of the political and social landscape give it a different intensity and the lack of a neat resolution is immensely satisfying.
Natasya Ivanova is troubled by her sense of duty to her neighbours and perceived social betters, even against her better judgement. She struggles to meet the needs of her “guests” and the superior attitude of the urban nobility towards those they see as simple and rustic. Ocharov is keen to give advice and spends much of his time writing pseudo-intellectual pamphlets about Russia’s backwardness but he has allowed his own large estate languish into disrepair and in the aftermath of the emancipation he grapples ineffectually with the changed relationships with his former serfs. His paternalistic and patronising attitude sees the nobility remaining central to the organisation of the land with few real concessions to the needs of peasants and workers while Natasya and Olenka have managed to adapt to the sweeping changes with relative success.
Olenka objects to her mother’s servility, recognising the weaknesses of their guests. She’s an independent girl who trusts her own judgements more than society’s dictates. She’s often amused by the peccadilloes of Anna and Ocharov but increasingly resents their fussy demands on her mother. As the situation reaches a head with interference from all sides, Natasya and Olenka begin to fight back, recognising their own strength, their independence and hard work as more valuable than titles and prospects. In this they clearly represent the experience of their creators, who lived in similar circumstances.
There’s match-making, affairs, betrayal and social conflicts and Khvoshchinskaya brilliantly sends up the pomposity of her characters, clinging to the social conventions propping up the crumbling hierarchy. The incisive wit and humour are reminiscent of Jane Austen’s works, particularly in the clever dialogue, but the wider considerations of the political and social landscape give it a different intensity and the lack of a neat resolution is immensely satisfying.