Nihilism in Fathers and Sons

Posted by Kevin Donovan on March 3, 2011 · Leave a Comment 

A pleasant discovery in reading Turgenev’s Fathers and Sons is that it is one of the earliest commentaries on  nihilism. The ever-reliable Wikipedia entry on nihilism cites Fathers and Sons as the work to first popularize the term. It went on to mean something broader thanks to our favorite philosopher of the revolutionary and despot, … Continue reading →

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Starting Fathers and Sons… Is it any good?

Posted by Kevin Donovan on February 14, 2011 · Leave a Comment 

Sorry for the week-long hiatus, but we’re back and picking up the next book on the list, Ivan Turgenev’s Fathers and Sons. This is the first non-20th century novel in the Letters Republic project. Admittedly, that was done intentionally as 19th and 18th century novels (Jane Austin almost universally excepted thanks to her perpetual dominance of the … Continue reading →

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New book: Fathers and Sons by Ivan Turgenev

Posted by Kevin Donovan on January 31, 2011 · Leave a Comment 

  We’ve finished The Talented Mr. Ripley and will start up a new book, Ivan Turgenev’s classic Fathers and Sons. I know very little about this work so this will be the best kind of reading experience: a total surprise. Here are the stats and the first line. Fathers and Sons (Also known as Fathers … Continue reading →

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What Should We Read Next?

Posted by Kevin Donovan on November 5, 2010 · 2 Comments 

Okay gang! If on a winter’s night a traveler was a great start, but we’re ready for a new challenge. I’ll be writing up some closing thoughts on traveler for Monday but in the meantime, I am really keen on finding the next book. Seriously, what do you want to read? Take a look at … Continue reading →

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