One of the greatest novels I have ever read. Such beauty. Nearly drove me to tears a few times. An exploration of the clashes between the generations, families and friends, nihilism and traditions, love and adventure. Turgenev isn't passing judgement on either side. For Turgenev, perhaps the best we can hope for is that we understand that we don't understand each other, and learn to live with that.

"Every single man hangs by a thread, a bottomless pit can open beneath him any minute, and yet he still goes on thinking up unpleasantnesses for himself and making a mess of his life."