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3.56 AVERAGE
3.56 AVERAGE
Do i give out 5 start ratings too easy? Maybe. But if i like it, i really like it. So glad i waited until this point in my life to read this. A hysterical political and philosophical satire.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
In terms of easy to read classics, "Candide" is definitely up there. I wasn't familiar with Voltaire outside of his name before, but as this is satire, it's interesting to see Voltaire advocate for the rejection of Leibnizian optimism ("everything is for the best") in favor of a more practical philosophical approach by the end — "we must cultivate our garden," aka, don't walk through life and hope it all works out.
There were parts I did genuinely find funny, including one notable occasion where Candide basically says "how can anyone eat ham at a time like this" incredibly distraught (but he eats the ham anyway).
There were parts I did genuinely find funny, including one notable occasion where Candide basically says "how can anyone eat ham at a time like this" incredibly distraught (but he eats the ham anyway).
The book's characters seemed to be all hyperbolic, all or nothing. I felt much of the work was devoted to references or call outs of people Voltaire knew and that makes it difficult to relate to.
This was interesting as a satirical travelogue of the 18th century European world. It's also fascinating to find a source work that, directly or indirectly, has influenced many modern novels of fantastic fiction that I greatly enjoy. I believe that Neil Stephenson's baroque novels, Jack Vance's stories of Cugel the Clever, and Terry Prachet's Disc World books all owe a debt to Voltaire's Candide.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-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
The narration by Jack Devenport was great, the book takes dark subjects and tells them in a way that is lighthearted as a satire to Leibniz “Theodicy” (or that we are in the best possible world). Ridiculous in Monty Python style of humor, it’s aged well.
dark
funny
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No