Rating: 
Summary: Beautifully Written
Review: "Fathers and Sons" comes very close to perfection. At times, Turgenev's use of the language borders on poetry. The characters are intriguing and sympathetic. The novel deals beautifully with man's inability to live without holding something sacred, and its tragic "hero" goes to the grave realizing that he has been trying to fill that void with "straw" instead of something more meaningful--like faith, or family, or true love.
Some critics have said that Turgenev supported the "nihilists," the young men who scoffed at all things sacred. They say Bazarov is the hero of the novel, intended to be idolized. But I consider it impossible to read "Fathers and Sons" and not be moved by a deep need to hold something--anything--sacred.
Rating:
Summary: My favorite Russian work!
Review: Bless him for keeping this one short, unlike his contemporaries in Russian literature. Unfortunately, the fact that this book is 200 pages is the best thing I can say about it. This is so clearly the case of an author who had a political statement to make and decided, unwisely, to couch it in a fictional as opposed to non-fictional format. This would have made for a great political or sociological treatise, but it is not good literature. The characters and plot are so obviously secondary to the message. The characters are one-dimensional, predictable, and transparent. The plot is forgettable and really almost seems to have been an afterthought. The only real merit of this book is that it captures the birth of an important social and political movement, at a very pivotal time in Russian history.
Rating:
Summary: Still modern after all these years
Review: In Turgenev's Fathers and Sons, as in most of Chekhov, nothing much really happens. People talk a lot and that's about it. Should be dull, right? But it isn't. The talk, and the characters revealed, reflect the profound changes that were being felt in Russian society at the end of the 19th Century; changes that would set the stage for much of what was to happen in the 20th Century. But more important to a modern reader, the ideas and the real life implication of those ideas are as current and relevant as when Turgenev wrote. Bazarov, the young 'nihilist', sounds just like the typical student rebel of the 60's (or of the Seattle WTO protests just recently). He has the arrogance and the innocence of idealistic youth. He is as believeable, and as moving in his ultimate hurt, as any young person today might be confronted with the limitations of idealism and the fickle tyranny of personal passion. I loved this book when I first read it as a teenager and I enjoyed it even more on subsequent rereadings. It makes the world of 19th century Russia seem strangely familiar and it gives many a current political thread a grounding in meaningful history.
Rating:
Summary: Imaginatively dynamic and intellectual reading
Review: Of what I call the "Russian Inklings" Turgenev is by far the most accessible, this book being the apogee of his career, much like B&K with Dostoyevsky, and W&P with Tolstoy. Fathers and Sons not only is a shorter read than the two masterpieces mentioned above, it is subsequently faster paced and less of a cerebral and psychological labyrinth. There seems to be two protagonists, something that Russian writers did fairly often in contrast to western literature which usually has only one hero, or protagonist. Turgenev's usage of two protagonists conveys two invaluable view to every circumstance, character, and event that transpires in this books 350 pages. The novel takes place during the "scientific enlightenment," of Russia where romanticism currently, or perhaps already has been dethroned by the resident naturalistic sciences and breeds secular agnosticism, or Deductionary Atheism. **The book was received hilariously by critics. Many radical naturalistic atheists both loved and hated it. The critics that loved the book (in the late 1880's) were enamored with Turgenevs scientific objectivity, and humored pokes at both radical romanticism and radical nihilism. The critics who despised the book felt that their intellectual camp had been fraudulated, and required reconciliation. **I want to point out that many themes spoken of by these Russian authors, and explicitly Turgenev, are issues that are still at the forefront of political and philosophical debate. Nihilism is really the anthem of Hume's deductionary logical philosophy of indeterminism. It is the purest form of naturalistic sciences and often times is confused with empiricism. I wish to point out that governmental forms like socialism, that wish to divide any personal belief with public display, (similar to Socialist France) are displaying the very same traits and political referendums fought for by the youth in this book. **The youth of today, I would say as a majority (and being one of them), are not sympathetic towards selfish conservatism, which is represented in this book by Arkady's uncle, (Arkady being the Romantic protagonist). The emotional turmoil and intellectual struggle that the characters go through in the throngs of political debate are incredible. ***MOST IMPORTANTLY: *** Bazarov (the 2nd of the two protagonists) represents the theoretical Jesus of nihilism. Turgenev constructs him faithfully and without bias, and allows the man to live and breathe and think so perfectly throughout the enirity of the work. For that reason alone the book is worth reading.
**Bazarov may be my favorite character in any novel, only short of Alyosha in B.K. I say this because Bazarov represents the secular humanist who is self gratified in his scientific altruism, but (not to spoil anything) rounds with an ironic existence.
Five stars, awesome, objective russian literature, that like most, is dynamically applicable to the modern political melting pot.
Rating: 
Summary: A Good Read
Review: This book by Ivan Turgenev was, all in all, a pretty good read. I myself favor Dostoevsky because I think that the other Russian others can't hit so true and honest a note than Dostoevsky can.
Anyway, the book centers around Evgeny Bazarov and Arkady Kirsanov. Arkady is the young disciple of Bazarov, a nihilist.
Bazarov lives a life of pride, insolence, and anger. He is abusive, harsh, and very critical. He has no idea what love really is, in fact he says " love is a contrived feeling, don't you think?" He is an empty individual with no real heart or soul. Unlike Raskolnikov of "Crime and Punishment", we really don't see that Bazarov has any redemptive qualities.
The book is good as a work of art. The language flows very beautifully, and Turgenev's descriptions of nature are exquisite. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Rating:
Summary: A fascinating look at Russian nihilism
Review: This book is an interesting look at Russia in a time of change. Nihilism was gaining favor, the serfs had been emancipated, and the old way of life had begun to die. In this work, Turgenev explores the nature of the conflict between old, traditional values of class and custom and the new way of thinking. The title, Fathers and Sons, is aptly named, for this novel examines the gap between two generations' way of thinking. On the one side, the sons represent a new way of thinking called nihilism. Bazarov, the main character in the nihilist camp, represents the new generation of thinkers, those who accept nothing on authority and question everything. He influences a young man named Arkady, who becomes a sort of disciple of his. On the other side, Nikolai and Pavel, Arkady's father and uncle, respectively, represent "Old Russia." Nikolai is a landowner and, though he has emancipated his peasants and tries to be progressive, is stuck in the past. Pavel is the extreme traditionalist, representing everything that Russia was at the turn of the nineteenth century.
Turgenev uses these characters to explore the strengths and weaknesses of each way of thinking. The book seems to make the statement that the old way of life is inadequate and needs to be replaced, though he does not provide a solution. At any rate, Turgenev does not seem confident that nihilism can provide the necessary change. In the end, Arkady drifts away from Bazarov's influence, and becomes a sort of compromise between Bazarov's way of thinking and Nikolai's, and in this there is, it seems, at least a partial solution. Though he does not propose to solve the problems he points out in this novel, Turgenev sheds some interesting light on the subject of nihilism vs. traditionalism at a time of social upheaval in Russia.
Rating:
Summary: "Revolting" Stuff
Review: This is an eminently readable book - really a novella at only a couple of hundred pages. Arkady, a student, brings his nihilistic friend Bazarov home to meet his father and uncle. The latter, Pavel Petrovich, is an embittered traditionalist who becomes the natural butt of Bazarov's disrespectfulness and intellectual superiority. A medical student, Bazarov's politics are revolutionary but his main way of putting himself across to his elders is merely to yawn discontentedly. Petrovich abhors and fears the potential consequences of Bazarov's sceptism for people, institutions, ideas, all the marks of "civilisation".
Nihilism, which spawned the Russian revolution, was an intellectual movement in Russia in the mid-nineteenth century. It supported the end of serfdom for the workers on estates. Its growth and influence, plus its effect on people of all shades of belief, has recently been brilliantly dramatised, with Turgenev himself as a character, in a trilogy of plays by Tom Stoppard (who wrote the screenplay of _Shakespeare in Love_): _The Coast of Utopia_ ,well worth seeing and reading. Turgenev's novel, drawn from his own contacts and experiences, was profoundly disturbing in its day and still rings uncomfortably true. Apart from the politics, the characterisation is adept and the descriptions, though scarce, poetic. Lack of a plot is not serious here; I found the book to be a real page-turner because the ideological conflicts drive it.
Rating:
Summary: There are feelings. Everything depends on them.
Review: This is such a wonderful novel about two young men returning home from University - Arkady Kirsanov and his friend, Yevgeny who is known mostly as Basarov. Firstly they stop at Arkady's father's poor farm - but he is a landowner. Arkady's father's name is Nikolai and living with him is his brother Pavel. What contrasts we immediately meet - Nikolai whose wife has died (Arkady's mother) but who is living with one of the local peasant women (Fenitchka) and has a son by her, and Pavel whose playboy life collapsed when the princess he hoped to marry rejected him. So here we have two young men with all the potential of their living beings contrasted with Nikolai and Pavel and their strange life outcomes. What complicates the matter is that Basarov is a nihilist - someone called him the first 'angry young man'. He is cynical and argumentative - prepared to accept Nikolai's simple innocence and honesty in living, unprepared to tolerate Pavel's Anglophile airs and graces. The young men move on to Basarov's parent's place (simple folk living a traditional old age) but on the way meet Madame Odintsova - quickly called Odintsov (presumably because she is widowed). They spend some time with Odintsov and we learn her name is Anna Sergyevna. Anna lives with her younger sister Katya and and older aunt. The contrasts are once again evident. Anna has no feeling for Arkady at all and quickly Arkady and Katya become friends as Anna and Basarov fascinate each other. But Basarov is appalled at his romantic feelings - not what he expects a nihilist should experience! And when Odintsov's flirting causes him to express that love he has to flee to his parent's place horrified by what he has felt. But he is no more at home with his parents whose love and affection overwhelms him, so the young men return to the Kirsanov's farm, stopping briefly at Odintsov's country residence where they are not really welcomed. However Arkady, home again, is ill at ease and has to return to Odintsov, leaving Basarov behind. What happens at Odintsov's residence is perhaps not unexpected, what happens at the Kirsanov's farm - with Fenitchka and Pavel is remarkable. Eventually Basarov joins Arkady at Madame Odintsov's before returning home. The outcomes I will leave to Turgenev. As a mid-fifties person myself I can readily identify with Nikolai and Pavel who see themselves as old, although they too are only fiftyish. But we all have memories and I can see myself as Basarov and Arkady - in some ways each of them, but in no ways entirely either of them. While, as a young man, I too had ideals (anarchist rather than nihilist) that I used to obscure other things in my life, subsequent experiences in my life have lead me to regret that path my life took for a while. Turgenev's outcome for Basarov is entirely in accord with my view. But what then of Pavel? Perhaps the most extraordinary thing for me about this beautiful novel is that at the end - but not during the novel - I loved each and every one of the characters. The title of this review is a quote (p203 Konemann edition) and it is my feelings that are immensely positive from reading this book. Other recommended reading: For a non-Russian view of Russian people read 'Under Western Eyes' by Joseph Conrad
Rating:
Summary: A Masterpiece of Russian Literature
Review: This is the first fiction book I've read in a long time, and I have to say I'm not too disappointed. Fathers and Sons relates not only the generation gap in 19th century Russia, but also shows how fragile and fake the entire Russian system was in that time period. Every character symbolizes an important facet of Russian society. Paul Petrovich is the old slavophile nobility, convinced that Russians and their ways are the best in the world while they wear English clothing and speak and read in French. His brother Nicholas is the bridge between the old world and the new world, trying to fit in with the new ways while he only understands the old customs. Arcady, who represents those in society who outwardly follow the latest trendy beliefs but can't shake their emotions or their humanity. And Barazov, who represents youth, with its eternal promise of new ideas and ways, but who are blind to their own naive hypocrisy. Certainly there are other characters, but these major figures shape the plot of the book. Turgenev manages to leave no stone unturned, casting withering attacks on peasants, psuedo-intellectualism, government officials, corruption, and conventions. The book mentions that Turgenev alienated and angered many in Russia with this book, and the reader will quickly see why. Turgenev recognized the backwardness of Russia, and that it must change if it were to survive in a new world. The big question was how, and Turgenev shows that while idealists like Bazarov may have new ideas (Bazarov's idea was nihilism, a belief in nothing), those ideas mean nothing if not backed up with solutions to the problems. An excellent book, and very readable. The price is low enough that most people really don't have an excuse to give this one a shot.
Rating: 
Summary: Class required readers beware.
Review: Whilst a valuable insight to the nature of Russia in those changing days, this book is hardly a treat to read. Historically, Russia is behind the times compared to the rest of Europe, and you can see that clearly portrayed.
However, my problem arises within the realm that without the proper framing and realisation of the proper bias that this book is coming from, this book stands to lose its impact.
I felt Bazarov was a hypocritical, self-destructive prick, and throughout felt him abrasive and abusive on a whim. He's the supposed hero, but his end is that of anything but a matryr, leaving me wonder as to "why bother?"
My sympathy went much more to the uncle with the European tendencies, Pavel, and I found myself vindicated in his survival and ability to return, in the end, to Europe where he felt at home and could be happy. If he was meant to the be the anti-hero, why bother letting him win, and the actual hero die such a foolish death? Arkady is a character that's enjoyable in a passive way, who, though he affiliates with Bazarov and considers him a friend, is parted and goes on to live a life seemingly contrary to what Bazarov was extolling. His is not a happy ending, per se, but a bittersweet one.
This is a fair enough novel-- it's readable and crafted enough to not be accidentally good-- but if Turgenev wanted to weigh in on the state of current Russia, he should have written a non-fiction book and published that. It wouldn't have mattered-- in his time, authors of fictional works were as prosecuted as much as the non-fiction under the Tsar. Why frame the opinion in a story that leaves for more reader interpretation that goes beyond authorial intention?
If this is a textbook for a class, beware the intentions of the author. Modern literary interpretation may lead you astray on this book, and away from what the professor is expecting; IE, the fictionalisation of Turgenev's Russia.
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