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anna_kristina_nord's review against another edition
dark
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
nataliedallaire's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
fakk3uzi's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Lectura amena casi contemporánea a su ambientación que tiene un poco de todo: Crítica de los estratos sociales decadentes del Antiguo Régimen, líos de faldas, dilemas morales y un protagonista carismático pero atormentado y con múltiples defectos. Un antihéroe bien construido.
jess_mango's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars
I'm just not 100% into Julien, the handsome. ambitious young Frenchman trying to advance himself in society.
Julien Sorel is the son of a carpenter and has gotten himself an education and is pretty well-read. Napoleon is his idol and Julien yearns to advance higher in society. He gives the military an attempt (the red) and the clergy (the black). He ends up being hired as a tutor by a wealthy family where he decides to lure the wife into an affair...and so begins his conniving ways to move up in the world.
I just didn't like Julien. at.all. It made it hard for me to like this book more. I can appreciate the writing and it helped me learn more about French society in the 1800s.
I'm just not 100% into Julien, the handsome. ambitious young Frenchman trying to advance himself in society.
Julien Sorel is the son of a carpenter and has gotten himself an education and is pretty well-read. Napoleon is his idol and Julien yearns to advance higher in society. He gives the military an attempt (the red) and the clergy (the black). He ends up being hired as a tutor by a wealthy family where he decides to lure the wife into an affair...and so begins his conniving ways to move up in the world.
I just didn't like Julien. at.all. It made it hard for me to like this book more. I can appreciate the writing and it helped me learn more about French society in the 1800s.
fr_eddie's review against another edition
3.0
3,5 Un libro con una storia molto interessante, una storia sull'ambizione e l'orgoglio di un uomo che lo portano alla sua inevitabile sconfitta, una storia in cui i personaggi sono vivi, con tutti i loro pregi e difetti.
Una storia che, nonostante questo, ho faticato a leggerla per il modo in cui era stata scritta. Proprio non il mio genere di scrittura, cosa che mi ha fatto prolungare la lettura più di quanto avrei voluto, quasi annoiandomi in certi punti più lenti.
Il finale è stato un finale azzeccato alla storia, forse uno dei passi più interessanti per tutte le emozioni che mi ha fatto provare. Una conclusione per un personaggio frammentato, pieno di difetti ma senza malvagità, che avrebbe potuto compiere grandi cose.
Lo consiglierei? Sì, perché, nonostante il modo in cui è stato scritto non è stato dei miei preferiti, è una bellissima storia, molto interessante.
Una storia che, nonostante questo, ho faticato a leggerla per il modo in cui era stata scritta. Proprio non il mio genere di scrittura, cosa che mi ha fatto prolungare la lettura più di quanto avrei voluto, quasi annoiandomi in certi punti più lenti.
Il finale è stato un finale azzeccato alla storia, forse uno dei passi più interessanti per tutte le emozioni che mi ha fatto provare. Una conclusione per un personaggio frammentato, pieno di difetti ma senza malvagità, che avrebbe potuto compiere grandi cose.
Lo consiglierei? Sì, perché, nonostante il modo in cui è stato scritto non è stato dei miei preferiti, è una bellissima storia, molto interessante.
lucysbookshelf's review against another edition
3.5
3.5.
This was my first time reading a book by this author. I feel the need to clarify that most of the time, French literature is not my style at all (I found the exception in Flaubert this year, it was a great surprise) and Stendhal didn’t seem able to make it out of this curse but it might just be me.
The story is good and entertaining, the admiration the main character has for Napoleon reminded me of “Crime and Punishment” and also of Balzac so I had high hopes that this would be a main point through all the actions and thoughts this character had. However, not only that didn’t seem consistent through the narration but the actions and scenes that took place seemed to have no depth, no deeper feeling or philosophical thought. When I finished the book I realized I couldn’t care less about the main character and even less for the secondary. I didn’t feel sympathy or dislike, just a neutral interest that kept me going until I finished the story.
This story is situated during the Bourbon Restoration (1814-1830) where there was a lot of political upheaval in France and where social class determined everything. This was well portrayed in how Julian Sorel has to work hard to get the power he craves and compromise his ideals time and again to be able to keep his job, his class and the good opinion of society.
Overall, it was an entertaining read with social commentary, the idea of power and money corrupting even those who aspire to be great and above it and how a person might have to transform into someone different to be able to get what they want.
suchasuckerforbooks's review against another edition
Первая треть истории чем-то напоминает "Мартин Иден". Знаю, что и в этой книге должен быть трагический конец . Я только хотела узнать, как именно все сложится в итоге, но мне в процессе стало настолько скучно, даже с аудиокнигой, что я решила, что оно того не стоит.
lemonbugs's review against another edition
challenging
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
The last page was the only part that was enjoyable. Aside from that all the characters are deeply annoying and the women are SO BLUNT, you could resume them in one singular adjective. The paragraphs feel like they don't match at all and I felt lost throughout the entire thing. Would not recommend.