Reviews

The Leopard by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa

bookishwendy's review against another edition

4.0

It took me the entire first chapter to get my bearings—as a historical novel set (mostly) in 1860s Sicily, are complex and confusing at first, as are the many characters that make up this slowly crumbling noble family. I contemplated setting it aside early on, but I persevered and gradually got the hang of things. First, it was the writing and lush imagery roiling with deep emotion that got to me, and while this feels more like a series of vignettes than a single connected story, there’s a thread of deep sadness and regret that runs through its entirety and makes it feel “whole”. I felt utterly transported to another time and place, and the book’s final image (involving the dog) *might* have made me tear up, though I would of course never admit to such things.

chairmanbernanke's review

4.0

A compelling and beautiful novel

valentipeter's review against another edition

adventurous emotional lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

kricitt's review

dark reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

“Then all found peace in a heap of livid dust.”

I wish Italians were real.

johnnodvc's review against another edition

informative reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

pnpickerl's review

5.0

I was torn between a 4 and 5 star, but the last two chapters ultimately made me push it to 5. This book weirdly reminds me of an obscure combination of Desiree by Anne-Marie Salinko and the Sopranos. The combination being viewing a transforming world through the eyes of a narrator during a time of great upheaval (Desiree) as both countries were going through a revolution, and the banality of power (Sopranos). It is beautifully written, albeit dense to work through. But it’s exploration of change and death and new social structures and silent pain were all explored eloquently.

twdrake's review

4.0

4.5

isabella_reads's review against another edition

emotional reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

callumfairweather's review

challenging emotional mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

jarichan's review against another edition

4.0

Der Name und der Titel waren mir nur wage ein Begriff, als ich dieses Buch bei meiner Mutter entdeckte. Aber dass es ein Klassiker ist, war mir durchaus bewusst. Also nahm ich es mit, jedoch ohne allzu viel davon zu erwarten. Ich wusste ja noch nicht einmal, worum es in dem Buch eigentlich geht.

Dann entdeckte ich zufällig das Hörbuch, gelesen von Thomas Loibl - auch eine gute Art, ein Buch vom SUB zu holen. Also hörte ich los. Und hörte auch nicht mehr damit auf. Die 9h 30min vergingen, als seien es 9min 30sek.

Loibls Stimme passt einfach perfekt in diese Erzählung. Er brachte mir ein bis dato unbekanntes Italien nahe, vor allem auch Sizilien, mit dem ich mich bisher nicht gross beschäftigt hatte.

Von der ersten Minute an fühlte ich mich mittendrin in dieser Familiengeschichte, folgte gespannt dem Kommen und Gehen, dem Hin und Her. Ich kann sagen, ich habe mich in diesem Buch sehr wohl gefühlt.

Ob mir dies beim Lesen des Textbuches auch so ergangen wäre? Ich weiss es nicht, hoffe es aber. Auf jeden Fall ist das Hörbuch von 2019 ein Beispiel für die perfekte Besetzung eines Vorlesers. Es passt einfach alles.