Fathers and Sons Audiobook

" I read this for my very first literature class in College. I was 19, so it is quite a few years since I have picked up this book. So what do I remember. Not much. It is essentially another Russia in transition novel that touches on the decline of the aristocracy, its dependency on serfdom and the rise of the bourgiosie. Tolstoy's Anna Karennina & War and Peace do the same thing with more complexity; Jane Austen's Emma and Persuasion do the same thing with English culture, which kind of indicates that Marx's base/superstructure thesis about literature is probably a good evaluation at least for the rise of industrial capitalism. "

" An exploration of generational angst. Surprise! It existed in the nineteenth century too, in Russia. I like reading Turgenev, like how he takes you to previous times. "

" A fascinating novel, not only for its portrayal of the ideas of the time, but especially for its vivid characters: the protagonist, but also others. "

" I read a lot of Russian literature in college, but not since then. Consequently, this book initially awakened a sense of nostalgia. I found the strength of the novel to be in its depiction of the people, landscape, and way of life in the Russian countryside in the mid-nineteenth century. The descriptions are specific and vivid and quintessentially Russian. I found the characters to be types rather than complex individuals, and I thought the story was adequate, but trivial. The central character, Bazarov, was the most strongly developed. I know he is considered to be a masterpiece, but I found him to be something of a caricature and eminently unlikable. This particular translation uses some contemporary slang that I found jarring. It's an old-fashioned novel and I thought the dialog should have fit the period. "

" A very good book...and it just goes to show that the youthful truly are full of s%@t. :) "

" How things change. an examination of pre-revolution and relationships between friends and fathers and sons. "

" what pleases me about turgenev is that like dostoevsky and tolstoy, he makes an entertaining parody of the elite in those days yet the characters aren't vehicles for their passions. they're normal people who make fools of themselves and then die of tuberculosis. "

" Great writer. Not as moving as Tolstoy or Dostoevsky, but worth a read. "

" this book did a good job at making me suddenly hate romanticism. i don't know why there was so much commentary included in this edition. "

" pretty good book about some dude that is a nihilist and a total dick. much like dostoevsky's demons, its interesting and useful to note that nihilists still act this way. especially when they are german. has a token russian ending "

" I can't remember this well, but I think I mostly found it too dry. Some touching details perhaps. "

" I liked it, although not nearly as much as my dd who recommended it. Thought it was plodding some of the time and not as dramatic as she said it'd be "once I got into it", which I suppose I never did. The love stories are given short shrift, not too surprisingly given the title, and the relationships between the fathers and sons are displayed but not explained. Worth reading. "

" Russian novels carry their own postcode of emotions. This is not as heavy as some. Well told. "

" This was an interesting novel about the clash of generations in the mid 1800's Russia - liberalism vs. nihilism, art vs. science, etc. "

" It used to be that when I had a long stretch of time to myself and people asked me "What are you going to do with your vacation?", I would joke back, "I think I am going to read 'War and Peace'". Then one summer came along and I decided that I really would read the Tolstoy classic and from then on I have been in love with classic Russian writing. So, this one came as a surprise when I couldn't finish it because I thought it was boring. I made it 50 pages in and gave up. "

" The rise of Communism as told through the lives of a farm owner and his son, a university student. Predictable. "

" It's been a long time since I read this book, but out of all the books I read in my Russian Lit. class, it was one of my top two. I would definitely recommend it to anyone. "

" All I remember about this book is that in an attempt to make the Chinese-aimed mockery in our high school production of "Anything Goes" less offensive to the largely-Chinese population of San Marino, we used a bunch of Russian names instead, like "Odintsova," all taken from this book. Self-awareness, lacking. "

" O carte minunata despre moravurile Rusiei secolului XIX, despre conflictul intre generatii in cu totul alt context decat cel al zilelor noastre. Acest conflict este in esenta mereu acelasi, iar stilul de expunere al lui Turgheniev il face si mai moralizator. Personajele au fiecare un rol bine definit, predomina conflictele valorilor. Mi-a placut foarte mult cartea, ce-i drept imi era dor de un clasic. O recomand tuturor! "

" An exemplified tale of fathers and their sons set among the Russian outlands. It candidly unveils the many scandals and affairs of the Russian aristocratic society though the journeys of two young nihilists and their change of hearts in the presence of love. The many flavors and frevours of love have been touched upon by Ivan Turgenev with his master class. A must read and a classic in all its entirety. "

" Really well-written. Not as complex or dark as my Russian faves. "

" A great example of Russian literature at its finest. The only great writers coming out of this country weren't only Tolstoy and Doesevski. After reading this novel for a history class, I downloaded a bunch more of his work to my Kindle, for later reading. Enjoy! "

" good construction. i didn't read this translation, though. "

" Ouch, ouch, ouch. But it's true, so what can you do? "

" I loved this book, the character of Madame Odintsova in particular. "

" I can't believe I haven't read this until now. Turgenev is so sentimental, so clever and so melancholy. This was so bittersweet, that I was on the verge of tears near the end. This was really a wonderful novel. "

" Just a great piece of Russian literature. It stood out in a great survey course of 19th Century Russian authors I took in college. I need to go back and re-read it, since it's been a long while. "

" This book is like a tasty morsel you enjoy unwrapping and nibbling from on the subway to and fro . . . "

" I love the humanity of 19th-century novels. Turgenev's fathers and sons fuss and misunderstand each other, philosophies are exchanged, and we end with two weddings and a tragic death. Great introduction by Alain de Botton in the OUP edition I read. Could have wished for a better translation. "

" Everything that makes the great Russian novel without the 1,500 page commitment. "

" Very modern for a book written in the 19th century--or was it the translation that made it seem so? Glad I read it. "

" It's Russian, its sad, and it makes being simpleton look good by comparison. "

" My favourite Russian novel of all. "

" Turgenev seems to have a way with words (although it's hard to tell since it's translated from Russian). Lots of descriptions of Russian landscapes and Romantic characters. "

" I chose this book for my book club a few years ago because of the great differences the father and son have. I like Russian literature and this is a classic. "

" Another of those Russian books that, if read before the age of 19, will stay with you all your life.An impossibly beautiful woman, unrequited love, early death, philosophical ramblings that at the time must have seemed avant garde. Among the very best C19th Russian novels. "

" this book is one of my favorites. i don't really know why because it's also pretty reactionary and kind of knocks the precursor to my political beliefs ('nihilism'), (my beliefs being something which i would describe as the 'lazy-woman's anarchism'.) it's a good book, i haven't read it in awhile, so maybe if i read it today i'd feel differently about it. "

" bavarov was a well-rounded character. "

" Nihilism. Emancipation of the Serfs. Russian Pastoral. "

" Read for Classic Book Club. Easier than most Russian novels. Interesting description of time/place/customs. "

" Kind of sterile for an angry Russian! Supposedly the High Book of Russian nihilism. "

" delightfully terrible translation in my version "

" This book turned my on to Russian literature, and it remains one of my favorites. "

" My first crack at Turgenev and I was not disappointed, quite compelling in its attempt to compare the differences at that time( Saint Petersburg, Russia in the 1860s) between the younger and older generations of radical/liberal men & women. But on another note it was very enjoyable to read. "

" I found the first half very dull and unmoving. Thankfully, the second half made up for it with an exciting new format and strong story. The novel is surprisingly beautiful, charming and intense. And I just loved it. "

" Read for Classic Book Club. Easier than most Russian novels. Interesting description of time/place/customs. "

" The first Russian novel I ever read. It got me hooked. "

" My new favorite novel. Pavel Petrovich is a darling, and I am delighted to find female characters who are ambiguous and complicated. I am so profoundly uninterested in Bazarov it probably approaches embarrassing, but I can't help it: he bores me. "

" It goes without saying I will give five stars to all russian lit. But now without good reason. This book did a lot for me. It really displays the relationship of family lovelingly and honestly. "

" surprisingly interesting...I have to throw in a classic every now and again..... "

" It's Russian, its sad, and it makes being simpleton look good by comparison. "

" Terrific read. I think what I love most about this novel along with Tolstoy and Doestyesky (spelling is wrong, I know) is the characters inability to be sure of anything in life, of constant change. "

" Great writer. Not as moving as Tolstoy or Dostoevsky, but worth a read. "

" Great writing. The best. Really "

" Fantastic book. Easily the best 19th century work of literature that I have read. It's about an intense conflict of ideas...the older generation's traditionalist/aristocratic/bourgeois tendencies against the younger generation's nihilist/liberalist yearnings. "

" Bazarov is one of the more memorable characters I've read. Nihilists, man. If you'd like to read a Russian novel but don't want to devote several months to it, I highly recommend this. "

" An amazing book, showing a great comparison and character studying of the two main characters, and even the minor ones. It was a book that definitely made me think. "

" This was supposedly a very controversial book in it's day, or so I was lead to believe. I have no idea why. I found it to be rather innocuous, myself. Not terrible, just somewhat bland. "

" As we all know, time sometimes flies like a bird, and sometimes crawls like a worm, but people may be unusually happy when they do not even notice whether time has passed quickly or slowly.. "

" Definitely easier prose than Dostoevsky but couldn't relate to any of the characters. This could be the end of reading classic Russian lit for me "

" Read for Classic Book Club. Easier than most Russian novels. Interesting description of time/place/customs. "

" Cute but unmemorable. I love this site, that I can say things like that about people like Turgenev! Hah! "

" Not so much amazing, more like I fell in love! "

" One of the best Russian novels I've ever read, and that says a great deal. Also one of the shorter ones, read very quickly. Full of fascinating conversations. It is on my read-again list, for sure. "

" I've been interested in Russian novels lately. This one was okay, nothing special. "

" My favorite book, which I like to read once a year. The characters seem so real and timeless. After reading it multiple times, I've never decided if I love or hate Bazarov, yet I keep thinking that I am growing more and more like him. "

" Loved it. Very touching love of parents to children. "

" Not being a fan of the overly-long Russian novel, I found Turgenev to be approachable and thoroughly enjoyable. You should read it just to add to your literary depth--unless, of course, you have have alrealy read Tolstoy or Chekov. "

" I was surprised to find I enjoyed this book-- I did not expect to do so, though I cannot fully explain why! this is a fascinating snapshot of Russian life in the early 19th century, with serfdom soon coming to an end. "

" I remember this as a fine novel, and a good choice for discussion. "

" Turgenev was never a revolutionary or a great writer. Sort of a limosine liberal of 19th century Russia. But this book is a nice entree into the ideas of the 1860s. "

" he's no tolstoy or dostoevsky (who said you could only like one of them anyway?), but it is easy to see why he sold better. i like the turgenev character in demons (the possessed). "

" felt superfluous next to other Russian classics. "

" Loved it. Very touching love of parents to children. "

" I reread this book once in several years. Now I am reading it again. As I grow I understand the writer more and more. "

" Ouch, ouch, ouch. But it's true, so what can you do? "

" Yes it is a Russian novel. Yes, it reads exactly like a Russian novel. That is what makes it so good. It's poignant even in today's world. Thankfully this one is only 200 pages. "

" Highly recommend if you haven't read it already. "

" This is a book about the ideals of youths set against those of their parents. And it is about so much more. "

" what pleases me about turgenev is that like dostoevsky and tolstoy, he makes an entertaining parody of the elite in those days yet the characters aren't vehicles for their passions. they're normal people who make fools of themselves and then die of tuberculosis. "

" Read this in high school and liked it. My first taste of nihilism and it fascinated me. "

" Read this in high school and liked it. My first taste of nihilism and it fascinated me. "

" Read this in high school and liked it. My first taste of nihilism and it fascinated me. "

" Read this in high school and liked it. My first taste of nihilism and it fascinated me. "

" Russians knew their way around writing. And seing the opposition between the traditional views on life of the old generation and the subversive new views of the new generation it's always stimulating. "

" Russians knew their way around writing. And seing the opposition between the traditional views on life of the old generation and the subversive new views of the new generation it's always stimulating. "

" Russians knew their way around writing. And seing the opposition between the traditional views on life of the old generation and the subversive new views of the new generation it's always stimulating. "

" Russians knew their way around writing. And seing the opposition between the traditional views on life of the old generation and the subversive new views of the new generation it's always stimulating. "

" The clash between generations, as told through the lens of Russian Nihilism during the 19th century. "

" Brilliant book. Typical Russian literature setting, but far more readable than say Dostojevski. Great Story. "

" Brilliant book. Typical Russian literature setting, but far more readable than say Dostojevski. Great Story. "

" The clash between generations, as told through the lens of Russian Nihilism during the 19th century. "

" The clash between generations, as told through the lens of Russian Nihilism during the 19th century. "

" Brilliant book. Typical Russian literature setting, but far more readable than say Dostojevski. Great Story. "

" The clash between generations, as told through the lens of Russian Nihilism during the 19th century. "

" Brilliant book. Typical Russian literature setting, but far more readable than say Dostojevski. Great Story. "

" I've been interested in Russian novels lately. This one was okay, nothing special. "

" I've been interested in Russian novels lately. This one was okay, nothing special. "

" I've been interested in Russian novels lately. This one was okay, nothing special. "

" I've been interested in Russian novels lately. This one was okay, nothing special. "

" This is a great, short and accessible Russian masterpiece. Easy to read and a marvelous look at society there in the 1860's; politics, manners, family relationships. "

" This is a great, short and accessible Russian masterpiece. Easy to read and a marvelous look at society there in the 1860's; politics, manners, family relationships. "

" This is a great, short and accessible Russian masterpiece. Easy to read and a marvelous look at society there in the 1860's; politics, manners, family relationships. "

" This is a great, short and accessible Russian masterpiece. Easy to read and a marvelous look at society there in the 1860's; politics, manners, family relationships. "

" Excellent book, now one of my favourites. "

" Excellent book, now one of my favourites. "

" Excellent book, now one of my favourites. "

" Excellent book, now one of my favourites. "