Spring Torrents (Penguin Classics)

by Ivan Sergeevich Turgenev | Literature & Fiction |
ISBN: 014044369x Global Overview for this book
Registered by lucybrown of Laurel Park, North Carolina USA on 4/18/2004
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This book is in the wild! This Book is Currently in the Wild!
12 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by lucybrown from Laurel Park, North Carolina USA on Sunday, April 18, 2004
Turgenev is one of my favorites and this book is
a delectable as any. His portrait of a man in love
is brilliant, but then he had a little experience in
the doomed love department. While not up to the
standard of Fathers and Sons (but how many books
are) in terms of eternal importance, it is a bright
and shining little jewel

Journal Entry 2 by lucybrown from Laurel Park, North Carolina USA on Saturday, May 29, 2004
This book is soon to be traveling as part of a 2-book
bookray. Its traveling companion is Lermontov's "A
Hero of Our Time."

The participants in this ray are

1.Zarylia**
2.starfish 103198**
3.Antof9**
4.themarina**
5.Brookler**
6.cmbohm**
7.urspider**
8.KF-in-GA**
9.bookczuk
10.Shadie*
11.Metropolitan
12.ottoshumato
13.florafloraflora
14.billhookbabe
15.csvariation
16.jackiea
17.tqd

Journal Entry 3 by lucybrown at BookRing in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, June 16, 2004
Released on Wednesday, June 16, 2004 at Bookring in Bookring, A Bookring Controlled Releases.

forgot to note that this one is released.
In the mail to Zarlyia

Journal Entry 4 by Zarylia from Saint Paul, Minnesota USA on Thursday, June 17, 2004
Paynesville/MN/USA - Just received this the other day, along with A Hero of Our Time. I'll read them as soon as I can. Thanks for starting the ring! :-D

Journal Entry 5 by Zarylia from Saint Paul, Minnesota USA on Monday, July 5, 2004
Paynesville/MN/USA - Sorry it took me so long to finish this one, it just didn't grab me. Not to say that it wasn't a good book, because it was. And lucybrown was completely correct when she said that Turgenev's protrayal of a man in love is brilliant. The book just didn't really capture my interest; I wasn't really very concerned about any of the characters even in spite of how intricatly they were crafted. There were some parts where it was absolutely uncanny how exactly Turgenev described the subtle reactions in their features. It seems rather odd to me now that I didn't really find the book that interesting. I guess I must not have been in the right mood for it; maybe I'll give it another try at some other time but now it'll be heading off to starfish 103198. Thanks lucybrown for starting the ring, Russian authors are definitely not scary! ;-D

Journal Entry 6 by Zarylia from Saint Paul, Minnesota USA on Monday, July 19, 2004
Paynesville/MN/USA - Sent off to starfish103198 today. Enjoy!

Journal Entry 7 by starfish103198 from Stockton, California USA on Thursday, August 5, 2004
Picked up at the post office today.

Journal Entry 8 by starfish103198 from Stockton, California USA on Friday, September 10, 2004
I had a hard time getting into this one at first. I'm not sure if it was because of the book or if it was because I was trying to watch the Olympics at the same time. Once I was able to sit down and really read it, it was great. The author’s descriptions of the couple, both of them I think, were right on. It is sad what happens to them, what a nasty woman. In the end there is a glimmer of hope, and I have no doubt that he made it.

Journal Entry 9 by starfish103198 from Stockton, California USA on Wednesday, September 15, 2004
I forgot to post this, I mailed the books yesterday.

Journal Entry 10 by Antof9 from Lakewood, Colorado USA on Thursday, September 23, 2004
YAY! The Russians have arrived :)

I remember Fathers & Sons, but I think that's the only Turgenev I've read so far (and I graduated high school in 1984, so it's hard to remember!). I do have another ring or two ahead of these two, but I'll do my best to go quickly.

We are going camping this weekend (husband fishes; I read), so maybe this one would be appropriate. We're expecting "fall torrents"! (but don't worry, lucybrown -- I'll protect it!)

The pic is the book and its travelling companion on my desk blotter.

Journal Entry 11 by Antof9 from Lakewood, Colorado USA on Sunday, October 3, 2004
So .. . . this book wasn't exactly what I expected. Actually, it wasn't anything like I expected! For some reason, in my head I was expecting some Camus, I think. Perhaps Dostoevsky. Now I'm not sure :)

But the majority of it was nothing like the depress-fests I've read by those two! Anyway, here are my thoughts on this book, in no particular order. . .

Do you think Turgenev knew what a romance novelist he was? I *loved* this description: "Sanin returned to his room, threw himself on the divan without lighting the candles, put his arms above his head, and abandoned himself to those sensations of newly apprehended love which it is pointless to describe. He who has experienced them knows their languor and sweetness; there is no way of explaining them to one who has not." What a perfectly apt way to write that!

There were so many passages like this that had such a lovely "turn of the phrase", that I thought long and hard about the way the author wrote and/or the way the translator translated. I finally decided it was a combination of both that made it so enjoyable to read :)

Sometimes when I read books set in a different time and place, I wonder what they're trying to say without saying it (or without saying it in my language). At the risk of sounding plebian (appropriate, given the number of times it used in this book!), I have to wonder if Polozov was supposed to be gay. Several things seemed to allude to it (at least in my 21st century mind) -- his enjoying and being gifted at picking out clothing for his wife, dressing her hair (!), and the question she asks Sanin, "'Tell me, are you a great friend of my husband?' 'We went to the same boarding school.' 'Was he already like that -- in those days?' 'How do you mean, 'Like that'?' Madame Polozov suddenly burst out laughing, and laughed until her whole face was scarlet." Is she laughing at his naivete? Laughing at the fact that he doesn't know about her husband? Who knows? That was the only explanation that made sense to me. For a beautiful, rich woman, marrying a gay man might be the best way to avoid fortune-seekers, and an easy way to have any sort of affairs she likes. Who knows? Maybe it was just me. Or maybe it's really obvious to everyone else, and they're wondering why I'm not certain :)

My two favorite things were the duel fought in Gemma's honor, and Sanin working in the patisserie -- giving away two pounds of goodies for half the price.

lucybrown -- thanks for sharing these books with us! I'm going to look at the stacks to see if I can start Lermontov, or if I need to read something else in between.

A side note: beware if you participate in Release Challenges. I misplaced this book for three days, and only found it this morning when Unk insisted I look in a large duffel bag of books. This is my Goodwill bag, and I had it downstairs the other night (full of books, of course), as I was watching tv and registering books. Evidently, I thought I'd do some reading too, so had put this in the bag with them. I was getting a little concerned that I couldn't find it. . . .although I knew I hadn't released it, as Unk insisted :) Anyway, take it from me -- keep your books in clearly marked piles!

Journal Entry 12 by Antof9 from Lakewood, Colorado USA on Saturday, October 9, 2004
WAAAAAHHH!! The mean man at the post office put the customs sticker RIGHT ON TOP OF the little running book sticker! HOW RUDE! The ladies who work there (and the other men, too) are always very careful to go around those. And of course, I try to put them in an out-of-the-way place :) I just *had* to journal and put a pic of him somewhere on these books. . . . And of course, now this one is set at travelling too!

Journal Entry 13 by themarina from Coquitlam, British Columbia Canada on Thursday, October 28, 2004
This came in the mail from Antof9 as part of the Russian authors bookring. I'm going to read "A Hero of Our Time" first but I'll get to this one shortly!

Journal Entry 14 by themarina from Coquitlam, British Columbia Canada on Tuesday, November 2, 2004
I just finished Spring Torrents and was happy to find it a wonderful love story with a twist. I must admit thought that once Sanin met Maria, I had an inkling that something terrible was goint to happen to his previous relationship but I never immagined the events that would follow. I figured a romp in the hay and then back to Gemma but alas, no!

I wasn't going to but in the end I even read the eassay. I did get some good points from it and found the connection between Turgenev's real life and the novel interesting but there was a lot of information in there that I could have done without. Regardless, I suggest that reader's take in both the Foreword and the Essay as they do add a fair bit to the story.

This was a great little book. Uma Gemma! (as the Italians would say! hehehe) Thanks to lucybrown for this unique bookring! I'm now waiting to get Bookler's address and then I'll send them on their next leg of the trip!

Journal Entry 15 by themarina from Coquitlam, British Columbia Canada on Tuesday, November 9, 2004
I'm sending this off to the next member of the ring, Brookler!! :) I hope you enjoy them!

Journal Entry 16 by Brookler from Powell River, British Columbia Canada on Tuesday, November 16, 2004
I just received this in the mail. Thanks so much for sharing it.

Journal Entry 17 by Brookler from Powell River, British Columbia Canada on Monday, December 20, 2004
I didn't really like this book while I was reading it, but the ending redeemed it a little for me, so that I like it better now that I've finished it than when I was in the middle of it. It's one of the very few books that I could have walked away from without finishing.

Throughout I had a strong sense of foreboding about Sanin and Gemma's relationship (probably created from the prologue), giving me a sinking feeling of dread whenever I picked up the book. I love reading and I love most books; when I do dislike a book, it's usually because it's too disgusting or offensive to me. This book wasn't like that. In fact I liked a lot of the gentle descriptions and the way phrases and words were so aptly put together. But the story was just too deflating for me.

I liked the ending although it was bittersweet and did not leave me with the sense that happiness would certainly follow.

Journal Entry 18 by Brookler from Powell River, British Columbia Canada on Thursday, December 30, 2004
The next person on the list asked me to wait on mailing this until after the holidays, which is why today is the day it finally got off. It's now, together with its Ring companion, on its way to Utah, USA. Enjoy!

Journal Entry 19 by cmbohn from Orem, Utah USA on Wednesday, January 12, 2005
Got this one too. It sounds a little more appealing than the other. I'm looking forward to reading it. Thanks, lucybrown!

Journal Entry 20 by cmbohn from Orem, Utah USA on Monday, February 14, 2005
Just couldn't get into this one right now, so I'm planning to mail it off this week. Sorry! But things have been crazy here. So I don't want to hold it up any longer.

CMB

Journal Entry 21 by urspider from Hendersonville, North Carolina USA on Friday, April 1, 2005
I had not read the journal entries before starting the Russian books, so I read Spring Torrents first. I didn't love the characters, but I did love the way Turgenev described them, especially the poor Herr Klueber and fat Polozov. It was also beautifully written. ALthough the end of the hero's romance with Gemma was not a surprise, I was still eager to get to the ending of the book. If it was a modern American novel, it probably would have ended with Sanin and Gemma making geriatric love in New York! Thank God it didn't!

Journal Entry 22 by KF-in-Georgia from Marietta, Georgia USA on Saturday, April 23, 2005
Arrived today...

Journal Entry 23 by KF-in-Georgia from Marietta, Georgia USA on Sunday, May 8, 2005
I read this one second of the pair.

I enjoyed Spring Torrents. Poor Sanin. I could see him headed for disaster the moment he encountered Polozov, even before the introduction of Maria. But, as badly as he hurt Gemma and her family, he hurt himself more...and more permanently.

Bookczuk asked to be skipped for now on this bookring, so these books will be going out Monday to Shadie.

Journal Entry 24 by Shadie from Indian Trail, North Carolina USA on Wednesday, June 15, 2005
Im very sorry for the delay in journaling these. This one is next on my list to be read. :)

Journal Entry 25 by florafloraflora on Saturday, March 25, 2006
Just arrived--thanks, Shadie, and everyone else who contributed to sending this my way. I was just reading about Turgenev in George Sand's biography, so I'm looking forward to this novel. It looks like a heartbreaker.

Journal Entry 26 by florafloraflora on Saturday, January 2, 2010
I was horrified to find this book along with its sister volume A Hero of Our Time as I was unpacking last month. I haven't read this, but rather than hold things up any further I'm sending this and Hero on to tqd in Australia (the other readers have asked to be skipped or are no longer active Bookcrossers).

Journal Entry 27 by florafloraflora at Controlled Release, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases on Saturday, January 30, 2010

Released 14 yrs ago (1/30/2010 UTC) at Controlled Release, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Finally made it to the post office on a snowy day to mail this, and what a scene that was. Hope it arrives safely! Happy reading, tqd.

Journal Entry 28 by tqd at Sydney CBD, New South Wales Australia on Thursday, November 25, 2010
Well, these have *finally* turned up in Sydney! Not sure what route they took (nine months!) but this morning, there was a torn parcel in the mailbox, and these two books almost falling out! (I hope there was nothing else in the package.) Maybe they were temporarily borrowed by a literary postie. :)

Anyway, onto Mt TBR these go! I'd like to say I'd get to them quickly, but I don't think that's going to happen, given the size of Mt TBR...

Journal Entry 29 by tqd at Light Rail in Rozelle, New South Wales Australia on Sunday, August 9, 2015

Released 8 yrs ago (8/9/2015 UTC) at Light Rail in Rozelle, New South Wales Australia

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

Clearing out books I've held onto for far too long (my apologies to everyone involved).

Left this one on a bench in the park on the north side of the light rail stop.

Happy hunting/reading!

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