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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
This was a hard book for me to finish. Starting out it had a lot of strikes in it's favor already--it's epistolary in style, which is my least favorite style of novel ever; it's about horrible people doing horrible things to each other, which isn't necessarily a deal breaker but is a thing I need to be in a specific mood for; it's got a couple movie adaptations out, both of which I've seen, which can make it difficult for me to settle into a book, particularly if I enjoyed the movie adaptation; and finally, on a physical note, the book was literally falling apart in my hands as I read. I did manage to finish, but my overall impression of the book was mostly neutral. I didn't like it, but I also didn't hate it.
The book is definitely well-written, which is probably what made the epistolary style tolerable for me. The characters are clearly defined, and I never found myself thinking "Who?" when someone's name was mentioned. It's also a book written in the 1700s, though, and a lot of standard rules of characterization and development don't seem to have been in general practice at this point. Laclos' characters do have definitive arcs, but they're all just a little bit too archetypal, in my opinion. Granted, this could be because since the novel was first published, these character types have become archetypes even though they weren't originally, and generally, I tend to allow for looser characterization in general in classic literature.
I think the thing I found most disappointing about the book was that the Marquise de Merteuil's story line ended with her being socially and physically punished. Clearly French society at the time the book was published wouldn't have accepted it if she'd gotten away Scot-free, but there was something very moralizing and pat about her ending.
The book is definitely well-written, which is probably what made the epistolary style tolerable for me. The characters are clearly defined, and I never found myself thinking "Who?" when someone's name was mentioned. It's also a book written in the 1700s, though, and a lot of standard rules of characterization and development don't seem to have been in general practice at this point. Laclos' characters do have definitive arcs, but they're all just a little bit too archetypal, in my opinion. Granted, this could be because since the novel was first published, these character types have become archetypes even though they weren't originally, and generally, I tend to allow for looser characterization in general in classic literature.
I think the thing I found most disappointing about the book was that the Marquise de Merteuil's story line ended with her being socially and physically punished. Clearly French society at the time the book was published wouldn't have accepted it if she'd gotten away Scot-free, but there was something very moralizing and pat about her ending.
The Marquise de Merteuil is one of my absolute favorite literary creations of all time.
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Rape, Gaslighting
challenging
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Cool concept
emotional
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
I want to share with you my 3 (Three) favorite books. So far there have been three books that have impressed my keen delight for melodrama, since it's really melodrama I love reading about most. Les Liaisons Dangereuses is my third favorite book; and I've probably read it at least 5 times, without finishing; yet again, my affection was seized so strongly I could not continue; every February I have attempted to read it, then ceased before I could allow myself disappointment ... So I picked up the rest of it tonight, and I will likely read it one more time. I've had my mind on erotic fiction ... So, my 1st (First) ever favorite was none other than Dracula. This one and that one are both entirely composed by the letters of fictional events, fictional characters. I have a thing for letters, there is a side to me that wishes to be immersed and dearly fond of personal letters .. Dracula was among the first few I picked out, and in it's place was a thirst I have quenched thrice; & needs must quench again, although next time I will read Bram Stoker's complete novels, incl. Lair of the White Worm, which I half expect to love as much as Dracula. The 2nd (Second) book was Richard Russo's Bridge of Sighs, which I never want to ever read again. So until I have found a fourth and a fifth, Choderlos de Laclos has been read, shelved, and re-read over .. my admission that I adore this novel.
"I will say with Socrates: "I like my friends to come to me when they are unhappy"; but as he was a philosopher, he could get on without them when they did not come. In that respect, I am not quite so wise as he, and I felt your silence with all a woman's weakness."
^ above is a section of a letter written by The Marquise de Merteuil to her lover, Chancellor Danceny. The Marquise is everyone's confidante and the fulcrum by all events unfolding, in a word, matchmaker. Actually Danceny loves Cécile Volanges, and the Marquise finds her beneath him, either/or, and the despicable Vicomte de Valmont, is trying to seduce and ruin a widow, until she reciprocates, falls deathly ill in a convent. The Vicomte spurns them all, manipulated and wronged them all, egged on by the meddling Marquise. 🥚
"I will say with Socrates: "I like my friends to come to me when they are unhappy"; but as he was a philosopher, he could get on without them when they did not come. In that respect, I am not quite so wise as he, and I felt your silence with all a woman's weakness."
^ above is a section of a letter written by The Marquise de Merteuil to her lover, Chancellor Danceny. The Marquise is everyone's confidante and the fulcrum by all events unfolding, in a word, matchmaker. Actually Danceny loves Cécile Volanges, and the Marquise finds her beneath him, either/or, and the despicable Vicomte de Valmont, is trying to seduce and ruin a widow, until she reciprocates, falls deathly ill in a convent. The Vicomte spurns them all, manipulated and wronged them all, egged on by the meddling Marquise. 🥚
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I absolutely, thoroughly enjoyed this book. Many epistolary novels are not very well-done; you can see the author's discomfort with the medium, the stiltedness. This one got the medium perfectly. The characters are so well drawn; their interactions are so beautifully authentic, so perfectly cohesive. There's cunning and charm and competing ideologies and oh my lord this was a wonderful book. So much food for thought.
The only reason it doesn't get five stars is the ending. I found the ending far too predictable and far too much of a let-down---but then, it probably never would have gotten published if it hadn't ended that way.
The only reason it doesn't get five stars is the ending. I found the ending far too predictable and far too much of a let-down---but then, it probably never would have gotten published if it hadn't ended that way.
I've used a long time to actually read this because I've spent my time elsewhere, but this is a really fun and interesting classic. Easy to read, easy to follow, and the character relations are all fun and interesting, some more than others. It's highly dramatic in the best of ways.
Opon re-reading: now 4.25 stars and not 4. I read it in 3 days this time (I had no choice) and enjoyed it immensely. There's so many things to pick up here and it's definitely another classic that gets better with reading it again, knowing the ending and other stuff makes me enjoy the first parts more.
Opon re-reading: now 4.25 stars and not 4. I read it in 3 days this time (I had no choice) and enjoyed it immensely. There's so many things to pick up here and it's definitely another classic that gets better with reading it again, knowing the ending and other stuff makes me enjoy the first parts more.