Reviews - Candide ou l'optimisme

3.27k reviews for:

Candide ou l'optimisme

Voltaire

3.56 AVERAGE

jes3ica's review against another edition

3.0

Funny.

secretass's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

tripleplay2425's review against another edition

4.75

adventurous funny reflective fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

brigidnotbrigit's review against another edition

2.0

adventurous dark fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Here’s the thing, Leonard Bernstein’s Candide is my favorite operetta of all time, and while I figured Voltaire’s Candide would be different, I also figured there’d be a lot of similarities. And there were throughout the first half before it was completely different. Which was fascinating to discover, but also made this whole experience a slog.

I do not think I am a Voltaire fan, and you know what? That’s okay. I will continue to just enjoy the 2004 NY Philharmonic production of Candide with the knowledge that I do not like the original source material. For that is for the best in this best of all possible worlds.

Content Warnings

preston94vaughn's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous funny reflective fast-paced

whatcanisay77's review against another edition

1.0

Flat, stupid, emotionless characters lended themselves to this fake, overly-excited story.
Can Candide do nothing wrong? Can nobody truly die? Can the girl who Candide married (I can't be bothered to remember her name) have no good fortune?
In a book with at least three deaths, no one died. No one had bad fortune. The once-gorgeous chick ends up hideous. Candide fights for that once-gorgeous chick, and ends up totally changing his mind because she was ugly. The Baron ends up "evil". The goofy sidekick ended up... As a goofy sidekick...
I would love to see a Disney interpretation of this book, because it would lend itself amazingly as a huge Disney flop (John Carter anyone?).