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hmm (Reply to this comment)
by jankp
I've enjoyed Dosteyevsky, but will have to check this guy out. I read this twice, wondering if you lacked description of his writing. I guess she meant the mechanics like if he uses long sentences, long paragraphs, a great vocabulary and such, but can one judge a translation by that?? It's good enough for me what you've written! :-)
Jan
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May 13 '04
9:37 pm PDT
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Re: Re: There really is... (Reply to this comment)
by Redlass
Now see, I thought learning Cyrillic was the fun part--it was almost like doing cryptograms. At any rate, it kept me busy during the long hours of an internship far from home.
French is a language that completely flummoxed me--and it was made worse by the fact that I can't pronounce any of it, not even those that have been adopted into English. German liked my tongue much better.
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May 13 '04
7:19 am PDT
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Re: There really is... (Reply to this comment)
by Bruguru,  in Books
Thanks, Bridgette. Reading in Russian is tough, because you've got to learn Cyrillic if you want the full experience. However, I agree that reading a novel in the original language is preferable. I can read well in French and with a dictionary close by, in German. A much different experience that what you get in translation.
Regards!
John
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May 13 '04
5:46 am PDT
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Re: Seems like a lot of the best literature (Reply to this comment)
by Bruguru, in Books
Thanks for the comment! I'm sure you'll enjoy it. Turgenev is definitely not as long winded as Tolstoy. He usually gets his point across, though. A shame he did not write more than he did.
Regards!
John
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May 13 '04
5:43 am PDT
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Re: ... (Reply to this comment)
by Bruguru, in Books
Hi David!
I guess we never know what it is in life that draws us to certain things. I gained an enthusiasm for Russian literature in college, though I've always enjoyed a good novel. Have you ever tried reading a Russian novel with a good Russian Imperial Stout (technically not Russian, but certainly Russian in its hearty style) while listening to Tchaikovsky? Heaven!
Regards,
John
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May 13 '04
5:42 am PDT
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As I was reading this, ... (Reply to this comment)
by johngo
after my latest effusion had been walloped with an H by Iyagushka, I was thinking to myself that it had just what was lacking in my review of Fiasco, and that it certainly covered the gaps identified by Iyagushka in my own piece. In my view it is therefore fully deserving of a VH. To my surprise you were deemed deserving of an H as well, but at least you were a borderline H/VH. I am consoled to be in good company.
John
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May 13 '04
5:03 am PDT
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I was once told (Reply to this comment)
by Stephen_Murray
that there are Tolstoi people and Dosteovesky people, but I always chose Turgenev and Gogol as my 19th-century Russian idols (icons?).
On to Rudin?
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May 12 '04
8:33 am PDT
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There really is... (Reply to this comment)
by Redlass
...something quirky and wonderful about Russian literature. Once upon a time, I was so taken with it that I tried to learn Russian just so I could read it in its original language. I took three years of Russian, but never got good enough to read the masters.
The only Turgenev that I've read was Fathers and Sons. Perhaps it is time for me to branch out and read this one. Except I fear it might draw me back into Russian novelists when my reading list is still a mile long.
But I'll definitely keep your suggestion in mind.
Bridgette
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May 12 '04
7:30 am PDT
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Seems like a lot of the best literature (Reply to this comment)
by Horswispr
is timeless. I've said the same thing about good ol' Mark Twain. Quick read? Like War and Peace? Kidding. I may have to check this out. Thanks.
--Horse
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May 12 '04
7:27 am PDT
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... (Reply to this comment)
by dpjohansen
You're so right about Russian literature, it's wonderful, and very.. Russian. this is an excellent book and you've done a great job with your review.
Oddly, like Simon's Dad, I have a strange thing about imperial Russia, don't ask me why, I'm not exactly sure myself!
once again, great piece.
Cheers!
~David
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May 12 '04
6:29 am PDT
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Re: ... (Reply to this comment)
by Bruguru, in Books
Hi Simon!
Turgenev is a great place to start, I think. He was one of the first Russian writers I discovered, and he's still my favorite to this day.
Thanks!
John
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May 12 '04
5:46 am PDT
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Re: I wavered... (Reply to this comment)
by Bruguru, in Books
Hi!
Thanks for the rating and the comment. I think I did explain why I like the book, and the other points I enumerated. Why is the book timeless? As I stated a bit further on:
It’s themes are as relevant today as they were a century and a half ago
I respect your opinion; however, I do disagree with your points.
Thanks!
John
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May 12 '04
5:45 am PDT
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I wavered... (Reply to this comment)
by lyagushka
between rating this H and VH. In case you care, I'll leave a note explaining why. You do a good job with describing this book. You also communicate your appreciation for Turgenev and his works. What's missing for me is the explanation for why you like this book so much; the critical impression, if you will.
When you say things like "this book is timeless," my immediate question is: Why do you think so? When you use terms like "genius" it really makes me curious. What are the specific things about Turgenev's writing that you like so much? From what you have written about this book, I suspect you have enough to say about it to fill several reviews over. Perhaps it's just that Turgenev's writing makes you think, but I suspect there's something about the quality of the writing itself that has impressed you. I'd like to hear about it.
best,
Kate
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May 12 '04
4:39 am PDT
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... (Reply to this comment)
by slarter
... My father has an odd obsession with Imperial Russia, so he might like Turgenev's work. Come to think of it, I'd probably like it too, having enjoyed Chekov quite well. Thanks for reminding me I should pick up some Russian writers.
Cheers!
Simon
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May 11 '04
7:09 pm PDT
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