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sfx_naike's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
lilliangrey's review against another edition
reflective
sad
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
3.75
A Russian novel that isn't difficult to read? Oh my prayers have been answered.
A very interesting concept provided in this book - a loss between generations due to a difference in personal philosophy. I could not pick a side, despite myself having a personal quarrel with nihilists (but I won't delve into it now), as I understood why someone of that time period may have had nihilist tendencies; it was not the most glamourous of places (mid 19th century Russia). However, I could not help but feel unspeakably sorry for the father-son dynamic, I could not reconcile the two drifiting so far apart as the father fails to accept what his son is becoming. It made me hate Bazarov and yet I do not think that hate is the appropriate word. I felt perhaps there were layers to him which he tried to conceal, and in the end I was left wondering if he was truly a nihilist at all. There was a lot to juggle in this book, conceptually, and like always with Russian literature I was left in a liminal space where I could not muster the energy to reflect, and yet that was all that I could do.
A very interesting concept provided in this book - a loss between generations due to a difference in personal philosophy. I could not pick a side, despite myself having a personal quarrel with nihilists (but I won't delve into it now), as I understood why someone of that time period may have had nihilist tendencies; it was not the most glamourous of places (mid 19th century Russia). However, I could not help but feel unspeakably sorry for the father-son dynamic, I could not reconcile the two drifiting so far apart as the father fails to accept what his son is becoming. It made me hate Bazarov and yet I do not think that hate is the appropriate word. I felt perhaps there were layers to him which he tried to conceal, and in the end I was left wondering if he was truly a nihilist at all. There was a lot to juggle in this book, conceptually, and like always with Russian literature I was left in a liminal space where I could not muster the energy to reflect, and yet that was all that I could do.
lizziebennett's review against another edition
informative
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
mdreadsandreviews's review against another edition
5.0
I could not have picked a better start in fulfilling my resolution to read more fiction. While I know that Turgenev wrote from an outline (it is handily appended in this edition), it almost seems that he simply called the characters into existence and let them spin out like tops, crashing and colliding into each other. The Kirsanovs' and Bazarovs' lives and personalities feel so real that their generational and ideological conflict (the main theme of the novel) is a natural progression and still resounds today. While other works with well-developed characters might suffer from a halting plot (here I look, lovingly, to [b:Independent People|77287|Independent People|Halldór Laxness|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1282892439l/77287._SY75_.jpg|1391302]), Turgenev's tale might slow for reflection but never stops. Indeed, I read the second half of the book in almost one sitting, I was so hooked. This is an instant favorite and a novel I am sure to reread, perhaps in Russian.
I highly recommend this translation, both for the clever conversions of Russian idioms and speech patterns and some simply stunning prose, e.g., "The morning was marvellous and fresh. Small dappled clouds formed a fleece against the pale clear blue. A fine dew was scattered on leaves and grass and glittered like silver on a spider's webs. The damp dark earth still seemed to retain within it the rosy pinkness of the sunrise."
I highly recommend this translation, both for the clever conversions of Russian idioms and speech patterns and some simply stunning prose, e.g., "The morning was marvellous and fresh. Small dappled clouds formed a fleece against the pale clear blue. A fine dew was scattered on leaves and grass and glittered like silver on a spider's webs. The damp dark earth still seemed to retain within it the rosy pinkness of the sunrise."
perihanerdogan's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
njw13's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
sam_mehdi's review against another edition
4.0
Fathers and Sons has all the characteristics of a great novel. It is moving; the characters are well-developed; there are climactic highs and lows; it is well-written; it was historically situated well; etc. Nonetheless, it is undoubtedly just "not for" some people. I am a huge fan of Dostoevsky; I enjoy his novels because of how he examines misery, struggle, destitution, faith, and redemption. Certainly, there is some of that in Fathers and Sons, but it still feels quite lacking. Furthermore, I never felt as deeply connected to any of the characters (barring the parents of Bazarov) as I do with Dostoevsky's. Fathers and Sons is a spectacular book, and I would recommend it, for either you will enjoy Turgenev or you will realize what you like about another author more.
antoniahobbs's review against another edition
3.0
I bought this with the intention of doing an OU course (which I didn't take) and didn't get very far with it at my first attempt. I found it much more readable on coming back to it but can't say it's one of my favourites. I may need to become better informed to appreciate it fully. I find with books in translation that there can be sentences that seem a bit awkward or unnatural and can't tell if it's down to the author or the translator.