I have been reading Russian literature since high school. I truly enjoy the beautiful descriptions of the characters and their interactions with each other. A good read to get away from it all.

“ …. a Russian masterpiece, one written so beautifully and with such economy, that when you finish reading it you feel a little shaken and a little stirred. A vodka martini on the front porch might be in order” writes Gary Shteyngart, and he is exactly right!

The biggest draw for me to Russian literature is just the feeling of 'wow, people 200 years ago in a foreign country were feeling and thinking the same things I am today.' This book accomplishes that. I didn't feel invested in the characters though, which is why I don't rate it higher.

"Şimdi lütfen şu çıngırağı çalıver kardeşim Nikolay Petroviç, kakao saatim geldi."
Pavel Petroviç 10/10

Turguêniev is a master character creator, and his narrative in this book is timeless.

I read this book directly after I finished “Germinal,” and I’m reflecting now on how both Zola and Turgenev have meditated on youth and vigor and having for oneself a set of guiding principles. Yet both authors seem to offer, at least superficially, little more than a condemnation of nihilism and of the status quo, at least as it requires exploitation of the lower classes of workers in the mid-19th century.

A character in “Germinal” is even quite similar in his views to Barasov …

There’s something delightfully charming and special about the novels of the masters of 19th century Russian literature. It was easy to read and had a few funny moments. Entertaining and, in parts, exciting. Russians love their duels and Turgenev loves a failed romance.

A timeless story of the unbreachable generational divide and a reflection on a nation going through a major social change. Bazarov is undoubtedly the anti-hero of the story and his character accurately represents the idealism and political activism of youth. Nikolai Petrovich represents the parent who tries to be progressive and accommodating to the changes that the younger generation are trying to usher in. Pavel Petrovich is emblematic of those in the older generation who are demanding respect and deference, and I can't help but think there is something of Turgenev himself in his portrayal. Set against the backdrop of the emancipation of the serfs and the profound social upheaval this entailed, this novel has a deserved place in history.

One of the great classics of Russian literature, Fathers and Sons follows two young men, their parents and their friendships at a time of great social change. It explores class and generational divide in a narrative that switches from fast-paced action to less exciting discussions on society, philosophy and politics. This translation by Peter Carson is solid and well annotated but at times a little stilted and opaque.

"...headstones have been displaced as if someone has pushed them aside from below..."