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3.56 AVERAGE
3.56 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
hopeful
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Possibly this is that part of the globe where everything is right, for there must certainly be some such place.
Candide is an interesting short novel. It is only about 120 pages long, but it is broken down into 30 chapters, so it is a very quick read.
I got both a Don Quixote and an Arabian Nights vibe from Candide. In this story, Candide searches for his lost love, Lady Cunegonde, and all the while is also learning that the world is far from perfect. He finds that there is evil, war, death, pain, and suffering in the world, and he eventually obtains a realistic view of his world, which is a sea change from the “rose-colored glasses” optimism he starts out with. The final line of Candide conveys Voltaire’s entire point: ...”but we must cultivate our garden” - meaning that while there will always be evil, we must make the world better whenever and wherever we can.
Voltaire wrote in a bold voice during his time which got him into trouble, but his message in Candide definitely resonates today. It is overall a dramatic hyperbole, but he used the exaggerations to great effect to help him make his point. I especially enjoyed the El Dorado chapters - it reminded me so much of Arabian Nights which I read last year and thoroughly enjoyed.
Candide is worthwhile mainly because it is short and it is rather unique in the way it is delivered with the very short chapters, and quick, fast-moving plot.
Candide is an interesting short novel. It is only about 120 pages long, but it is broken down into 30 chapters, so it is a very quick read.
I got both a Don Quixote and an Arabian Nights vibe from Candide. In this story, Candide searches for his lost love, Lady Cunegonde, and all the while is also learning that the world is far from perfect. He finds that there is evil, war, death, pain, and suffering in the world, and he eventually obtains a realistic view of his world, which is a sea change from the “rose-colored glasses” optimism he starts out with. The final line of Candide conveys Voltaire’s entire point: ...”but we must cultivate our garden” - meaning that while there will always be evil, we must make the world better whenever and wherever we can.
Voltaire wrote in a bold voice during his time which got him into trouble, but his message in Candide definitely resonates today. It is overall a dramatic hyperbole, but he used the exaggerations to great effect to help him make his point. I especially enjoyed the El Dorado chapters - it reminded me so much of Arabian Nights which I read last year and thoroughly enjoyed.
Candide is worthwhile mainly because it is short and it is rather unique in the way it is delivered with the very short chapters, and quick, fast-moving plot.
I read this after Sunrise on the Reaping, and all I can say is that Voltaire is no Suzanne Collins.
Il m'a pris plusieurs essais sur quelques années pour terminer ce livre court. Ce ne veut pas dire qu'il est mal écrit : bien sûr qu'il est extrêmement hyperbolique, mais il représente quand-même un récit divertissant qui expose de différents excès et hypocrisies du siècle des Lumières. Je dirais juste que mon français a enfin amélioré au point où je n'ai plus besoin de trop réfléchir sur chaque détail et je peux simplement apprécier le ton taquin de Voltaire. N'est-ce pas d'après tout le message de la narrative ? De ne pas trop prendre la vie au sérieux, mais de se concentrer sur ce qui est devant soi ? Sinon, on va tout se rendre fou (et être fixé sur des romans français excentriques).
Interesting read but not sure exactly what point the author was making with this work. Accordingly the author is one who writes during the age of “enlightenment”. His protagonist of the story Candide is a young open minded man who goes on an adventure. In the story he circles the globe, sometimes of his own choosing and sometimes not, some good things happen but usually not. One thing is clear, this story could have been written yesterday or several thousand years ago. The earth spins but man always behaves as he always has.
adventurous
dark
funny
reflective
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
Banned due to its Political and Religious blasphemy (not to mention the murder and sexual exploitation) Candide is a brilliant satire that skims the surface of edginess.
Voltaire takes you on a fantastical journey around the Atlantic Ocean.
Our protagonist, Candide is a naive man-child, whose blind optimism is often his downfall. The best part about this character is that you feel sorry for him when you don't really have to. He goes though so much, but somehow always comes out smiling. It's encouraging and maddening all at once.
