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sjstuart's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I love people-watching: observing passersby from a sidewalk café table, eavesdropping on loud conversations in a restaurant, that sort of thing. It's interesting to hear little snippets of other people's lives because, as ordinary as they usually are, they're a glimpse into some entirely different existence.
This book feels a little like that: a different world, and interesting, but quite ordinary. Everyone is flawed, but in realistic ways. No character is an idealized caricature. I'm sure we all know people just as blind to consequences as Emma when it comes to their own self interest; just as boring and clueless as Charles; as caddish as Rodolphe; as self-important as Homais. There is plenty of drama, but of the fairly prosaic sort that doesn't rely on incredible coincidences or extraordinary abilities.
As with eavesdropping on the street, there are a lot of trivial details: I didn't need that much detail on fabrics and carriages and plants and decor. But overall, it was fun to be a fly on the wall and observe all of the gossipy drama in Yonville and chez Bovary.
This book feels a little like that: a different world, and interesting, but quite ordinary. Everyone is flawed, but in realistic ways. No character is an idealized caricature. I'm sure we all know people just as blind to consequences as Emma when it comes to their own self interest; just as boring and clueless as Charles; as caddish as Rodolphe; as self-important as Homais. There is plenty of drama, but of the fairly prosaic sort that doesn't rely on incredible coincidences or extraordinary abilities.
As with eavesdropping on the street, there are a lot of trivial details: I didn't need that much detail on fabrics and carriages and plants and decor. But overall, it was fun to be a fly on the wall and observe all of the gossipy drama in Yonville and chez Bovary.
lonelyhyperion's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
krj's review against another edition
5.0
On a second read, I have concluded Madame Bovary is the greatest novel written. It is quite a read.
malewifemills's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
slow-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
4.0
aroth's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
lucie_thv's review against another edition
reflective
sad
slow-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
5.0
meghaha's review against another edition
5.0
I read the translation by Lydia Davis. I believe it must be a good translation; often, I felt like I could see through it to the outline of the original. Even so, I think Madame Bovary belongs --perhaps even heads--the list of books that you have to read in the original language, because the prose itself is as important as the story or the characters, perhaps the most important aspect of the entire novel. Fortunately I was still able to get the sense, as in passing impressions of light and shadow, of just how beautiful and controlled Flaubert's prose must be in French. His sentences capture moments and hold them suspended for you to examine, as if caught in amber.
Aside from the pleasure of reading prose crafted with infinite care and precision, I can say I also liked the plot and rendering of characters. I can relate to the girlish romanticism that Madame Bovary is driven by (having felt it too and having outgrown it somewhat by now, thankfully), and the listlessness, as well. And though Madame Bovary can be cruel, shallow, and selfish, I didn't dislike her. I kind of want to marvel at the skillfulness of which Flaubert inverts her character; starting off as someone angling towards refinement, beauty, she ends up following the opposite trajectory: she plummets. It's a beautiful and distasteful fall and Flaubert, as ever, describes it with his customary meticulousness and ability to impart life and vividness to every scene. The minor characters also receive careful attention: for what wasn't painstakingly labored over in this book? Flaubert was probably one of the most exacting and dedicated of writers ever, and for that alone Madame Bovary is impressive.
Really, it's a shame I can't read French.
Aside from the pleasure of reading prose crafted with infinite care and precision, I can say I also liked the plot and rendering of characters. I can relate to the girlish romanticism that Madame Bovary is driven by (having felt it too and having outgrown it somewhat by now, thankfully), and the listlessness, as well. And though Madame Bovary can be cruel, shallow, and selfish, I didn't dislike her. I kind of want to marvel at the skillfulness of which Flaubert inverts her character; starting off as someone angling towards refinement, beauty, she ends up following the opposite trajectory: she plummets. It's a beautiful and distasteful fall and Flaubert, as ever, describes it with his customary meticulousness and ability to impart life and vividness to every scene. The minor characters also receive careful attention: for what wasn't painstakingly labored over in this book? Flaubert was probably one of the most exacting and dedicated of writers ever, and for that alone Madame Bovary is impressive.
Really, it's a shame I can't read French.
amesish's review against another edition
4.0
I wish I hadn't read this in such close proximity to "The Awakening" as they share so much in theme and subject matter. Much of this novel felt ho-hum, especially as it was my second cuckolding book in a month--but just when I started to get bored, WHAM. I was less wowed by the plot (although there are some interesting twists), but more by the one line truisms. Madame Bovary is so reminiscent (for me) of Scarlett O'Hara--beautiful, entitled, selfish, and frankly my dear, a pretty unsympathetic bitch. I guess despicable characters provide an incredible vehicle for literary exploration of real life themes.
juller's review against another edition
3.0
I picked up this book for the back to the classics challenge, translation of a classic category.
I had trouble connecting in any way to Emma Bovary. She just never seemed happy with what she had and was always looking on the other side of the fence, convinced that was the key to her happiness. In the end, I just felt sorry for her wasted life and the little girl.
Challenge Category - Translation
I had trouble connecting in any way to Emma Bovary. She just never seemed happy with what she had and was always looking on the other side of the fence, convinced that was the key to her happiness. In the end, I just felt sorry for her wasted life and the little girl.
Challenge Category - Translation
astratton1027's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-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
4.5