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ellenmpeters's review against another edition
4.0
Very enjoyable. Although it was quite predictable, the journey through was pleasant.
azorka's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
wolfdan9's review against another edition
3.5
Home of the Gentry is a pretty average “star crossed lovers” novel. Turgenev is no stranger to the formula (see the equally good “First Love”), but I can think of countless better stories with a similar theme (there are many: The Red and The Black, Romeo & Juliet, The Sun Also Rises, etc.). Turgenev is a master of realism and the general flow of the story is paced well and interestingly told. Like Tolstoy, Turgenev is able to paint crystal clear scenes with a good dose of psychological portrayal and meaningful characterization. I enjoyed flying through this story and was entertained mostly with Turgenev’s style.
My main issue lies in Lavretsky’s relationship with Liza. The stakes are pretty low. His wife is assumed dead for most of their relationship and Liza is unmarried. Couldn’t they just… be together? They disagree on religion, but that’s not exactly a juicy deal breaker. Panshin, Liza’s other prospect, is not threatening enough or loser-ish enough to be too enjoyable and there is just a lack of relationship building moments between Lavretsky and Liza. It’s too ethereal or intangible or something. Turgenev writes some interesting quotes and reflections about love and feelings connected to it, but the story is almost a little too breezy and weightless. Even with the borderline immaculately clean prose and vivid storytelling, I can’t justify considering this an outstanding work. I almost wish it was a storyline in a huger, character-rich novel rather than a standalone work. I liked how Turgenev handled Lavretsky’s character, especially how he maturely/realistically managed his relationship with his wife. And the minimalism/light touch during characterization was refreshing but just a bit too understated. Liza’s decision to live in a convent for nearly a decade seems inexplicable and makes me feel like I missed something. Overall a wonderfully set up story with excellent writing but maybe some poor execution.
My main issue lies in Lavretsky’s relationship with Liza. The stakes are pretty low. His wife is assumed dead for most of their relationship and Liza is unmarried. Couldn’t they just… be together? They disagree on religion, but that’s not exactly a juicy deal breaker. Panshin, Liza’s other prospect, is not threatening enough or loser-ish enough to be too enjoyable and there is just a lack of relationship building moments between Lavretsky and Liza. It’s too ethereal or intangible or something. Turgenev writes some interesting quotes and reflections about love and feelings connected to it, but the story is almost a little too breezy and weightless. Even with the borderline immaculately clean prose and vivid storytelling, I can’t justify considering this an outstanding work. I almost wish it was a storyline in a huger, character-rich novel rather than a standalone work. I liked how Turgenev handled Lavretsky’s character, especially how he maturely/realistically managed his relationship with his wife. And the minimalism/light touch during characterization was refreshing but just a bit too understated. Liza’s decision to live in a convent for nearly a decade seems inexplicable and makes me feel like I missed something. Overall a wonderfully set up story with excellent writing but maybe some poor execution.
dsundy's review against another edition
5.0
Simply one of the most beautiful books I’ve ever read.
and suddenly dead silonce ensued, nothing tapped, nothing stirred; one by One swallows swooped along the ground without a murmur, and the very silence of their fight made the heart sad."'Here am I as though I were at the bottom of a river, Laveetsky thought again. 'And here always, at all times, life is quiet and unhurried,' he reflected.
Whoever enters its charmed circle
must submit to it: here there is nothing to worry about, nothing to disturb one; here success comes only to him who carves out his own unhurried path as the ploughman carves out the furrows with his plough. And what strength there is everywhere, what vigour in this static peace! Just there, beneath the window, a rugged burdock shoves its way through the thick grass; above it lovage stretches its juicy stalk, angels tears unfurls its rosy curls higher still; and there, further off, in the fields, the rye gleams brightly burnished, and the oats have formed their little trumpet ears, and every leaf on every tree, and every blade of grass on its stalk, has broadened out to its fullest breadth. My best years have passed in loving a woman,
, Lavretsky continued to reflect. 'Now let this boredom bring me to my senses, let it calm me and prepare me to take up my task without hurry.' And once again he began to listen to the silence, awaiting nothing - and yet at the same time endlessly expectant: the silence engulfed him on every side; the sun ran its course across the tranquil blue of the sky, and the clouds floated silently upon it; it seemed as if they knew why and where they were going. At that very time, in other places on the earth, life was seething, hurrying, roaring on its way; here the same life flowed by inaudibly, like water through marshy grass; and until evening Lavretsky could not tear himself away from contemplation of this receding, out-flowing life; anguish for the past was melting in his soul like spring snow and - strangest of all! - never before had he felt so deep and strong a feeling for his country.
and suddenly dead silonce ensued, nothing tapped, nothing stirred; one by One swallows swooped along the ground without a murmur, and the very silence of their fight made the heart sad."'Here am I as though I were at the bottom of a river, Laveetsky thought again. 'And here always, at all times, life is quiet and unhurried,' he reflected.
Whoever enters its charmed circle
must submit to it: here there is nothing to worry about, nothing to disturb one; here success comes only to him who carves out his own unhurried path as the ploughman carves out the furrows with his plough. And what strength there is everywhere, what vigour in this static peace! Just there, beneath the window, a rugged burdock shoves its way through the thick grass; above it lovage stretches its juicy stalk, angels tears unfurls its rosy curls higher still; and there, further off, in the fields, the rye gleams brightly burnished, and the oats have formed their little trumpet ears, and every leaf on every tree, and every blade of grass on its stalk, has broadened out to its fullest breadth. My best years have passed in loving a woman,
, Lavretsky continued to reflect. 'Now let this boredom bring me to my senses, let it calm me and prepare me to take up my task without hurry.' And once again he began to listen to the silence, awaiting nothing - and yet at the same time endlessly expectant: the silence engulfed him on every side; the sun ran its course across the tranquil blue of the sky, and the clouds floated silently upon it; it seemed as if they knew why and where they were going. At that very time, in other places on the earth, life was seething, hurrying, roaring on its way; here the same life flowed by inaudibly, like water through marshy grass; and until evening Lavretsky could not tear himself away from contemplation of this receding, out-flowing life; anguish for the past was melting in his soul like spring snow and - strangest of all! - never before had he felt so deep and strong a feeling for his country.
danielajap's review against another edition
3.0
Peccato per la traduzione che per quanto sia di Leone Ginzburg è eccessivamente datata.
agirlandabook85's review against another edition
4.0
April’s choice for #ayearofrussianlit took us to the Russian countryside with Turgenev’s A Home for the Gentry, in which Lavretsky a broken hearted nobleman returns home to his country estate.
Turgenev’s writing is evocatively descriptive, a passage which described the sound of sitting outside alone in silence was sheer genius, one of the most powerful passage of words I’ve ever read and now lives rent free in my head. I’m currently writing this review sitting in my garden enjoying just such a serene moment. Swipe across for anyone interested in reading the words which have had such a profound impact on me.
Turgenev’s novel contains just a handful of interesting characters interacting in a small number of locations which I could very much see this being adapted for the stage. He wrote with a real theatrical flair I remember one particular moment made me audibly gasp whilst reading in this very bath!
I think why I enjoyed this so much is I resonated with Turgenev’s pessimistic realist attitude, this is a love story which does not have the fairy tale happy ending I so often find unrealistic. It felt real, he assembled a cast of characters, gave us their backstory and then spent a little time with them before moving on it was not complicated in format but does a good story have to be?
And whilst I describe this as a love story between two people it it is also a brilliant portrayal of social history. Our story opens in 1842 a time after the Napoleonic Wars and December revolt and yet before reforms and liberation of Serfs within Russia. In understanding the wider history we can see how in Lavretsky Turgenev reflects the homecoming of a whole generation of young Russians who are struggling between the influence of European ideas and their Russian patriotism and attempt to find reconciliation with their land.
It’s safe to say I loved this one.
Turgenev’s writing is evocatively descriptive, a passage which described the sound of sitting outside alone in silence was sheer genius, one of the most powerful passage of words I’ve ever read and now lives rent free in my head. I’m currently writing this review sitting in my garden enjoying just such a serene moment. Swipe across for anyone interested in reading the words which have had such a profound impact on me.
Turgenev’s novel contains just a handful of interesting characters interacting in a small number of locations which I could very much see this being adapted for the stage. He wrote with a real theatrical flair I remember one particular moment made me audibly gasp whilst reading in this very bath!
I think why I enjoyed this so much is I resonated with Turgenev’s pessimistic realist attitude, this is a love story which does not have the fairy tale happy ending I so often find unrealistic. It felt real, he assembled a cast of characters, gave us their backstory and then spent a little time with them before moving on it was not complicated in format but does a good story have to be?
And whilst I describe this as a love story between two people it it is also a brilliant portrayal of social history. Our story opens in 1842 a time after the Napoleonic Wars and December revolt and yet before reforms and liberation of Serfs within Russia. In understanding the wider history we can see how in Lavretsky Turgenev reflects the homecoming of a whole generation of young Russians who are struggling between the influence of European ideas and their Russian patriotism and attempt to find reconciliation with their land.
It’s safe to say I loved this one.
miruna_bezi16's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
_dunno_'s review against another edition
3.0
Rather interesting than captivating. After 50 pages it was quite predictable he will fall for her and for a while I had the feeling I was reading the Russian version of "Pride and prejudice", but thank goodness it wasn't so. I am a fan of happy endings but I swear, if this one ended happily I wouldn't have read Turgenev again.
Turgenev has an interesting way of setting his work, maybe I'll get into details after finishing [b:Fathers and Sons|19117|Fathers and Sons|Ivan Turgenev|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1287773617s/19117.jpg|1294426].
***
Interesting fact: in 1979, a Russian discovered an asteroid and named it Turgenev, after the writer.
Turgenev has an interesting way of setting his work, maybe I'll get into details after finishing [b:Fathers and Sons|19117|Fathers and Sons|Ivan Turgenev|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1287773617s/19117.jpg|1294426].
***
Interesting fact: in 1979, a Russian discovered an asteroid and named it Turgenev, after the writer.
jaimemt_reads's review against another edition
emotional
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? It's complicated
4.0