Reviews - Candide ou l'optimisme

3.27k reviews for:

Candide ou l'optimisme

Voltaire

3.56 AVERAGE

vendix's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous funny reflective fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

dee_monic_reader's review against another edition

4.0

challenging funny reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

It's a classic for a reason.

lish76's review against another edition

3.25

adventurous funny lighthearted tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

kevkevoi's review against another edition

3.0

lighthearted fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

This is just the 18th century equivalent of a diss track

qdbarclay1994's review against another edition

5.0

This novel is what many consider to be Voltaire's Magnum Opus which was written for the express purpose of mocking Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz's claim that "this is the best of all possible worlds". Even though the ending interpretation of the book is highly debatable, what I took away from the ending was that Candide deciding that even though the world is chaotic his friends and himself should try to make the best of it, which to me at least has a distinct existentialist bent. This is a fantastic book that is also fairly short so you don't have to spend have a year reading it, which is a definite plus.

P.S. This is the first book that I've read in just one day! New personal best!

witek99a's review against another edition

3.5

funny reflective relaxing fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

babythestarsshinebright's review against another edition

3.75

adventurous challenging dark funny reflective tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I‘m not sure how to feel about this yet. I couldn’t stop reading it and the story progressed quickly so it was not boring at all. The ending was idk kinda anticlimactic? Candide‘s character was obviously flawed (and thats not a bad thing) but the 22nd chapter where he randomly cheated on Cunegonde 😭. In 90% of the story he did NOT play about her but then he cheats on her and in the end once she has lost her beauty he suddenly did not want to marry her anymore. I know this is probably a point the book is trying to make but damn. I
My favorite quote is by that one eunuch who appeared in the old woman‘s story: 'O che sciagura d'essere senza coglioni!' (it just means its unfortunate to not have balls).
The transition from chapter 14 to 15 was also quite amusing. In chapter 14, Candide and the Baron (Cunegonde’s brother) reunite and embrace each other very emotionally and all seems happy. Followed by the next chapters title "How Candide killed Cunegonde‘s brother". The satirical and humorous nature of the book really peaked through here. Anyway, I still really enjoyed reading this. All is well in the end.