Reviews

The Red and the Black by Stendhal

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.

kord's review

challenging slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No

1.25

apleiades17's review

5.0

"Love creates equalities, it doesn't search for them."

no30's review

challenging emotional funny reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

neila3's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.5

i enjoyed this. i dont understand why ppl are complaining of it being wordy... its almost not wordy enough for me.. 
the first time ive heard of stendhal's the red and the black was from neitzsche, i expected the not only to be ''wordy'' but also plotless and philosophical.
at the begining i was imbivalent as to how i felt about julien, he wasnt the most likeable person which is understandable considering his upbringing, i loved reading about the relationship between him and madame de renal. like most ppl i found the second book more complelling its in the second book that you really see julien changing, giving in, you see more and more clearly the self hatred behind all that idealism, he is complexe irrational he strives and he loves, he is pained and he causes pain. 

in the last part where is going to get excuted his meditations on god and religion are beautiful

keepthisholykiss's review against another edition

adventurous tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

billie_yankie's review against another edition

funny reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

This was satire and you can't convince me otherwise.

bookbelle5_17's review against another edition

dark emotional tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

Review of The Red and the Black

By: Stendhal

            Julian is a peasant of great ambition and has educated himself over the years, but in post Napoleonic wars, he is unable to improve himself.  Julian gets a lucky break to become a Latin tutor to the mayor’s children and finds himself falling in love with the mayor’s young wife.  Julian finds himself rising in status, but in doing so loses his own honor in the process.

            This was just an okay story, because the story I realize focused least interesting part of Julian’s life.  I did prefer the second volume when Julian goes into the Seminary and finds himself amongst the upper class of France.  He resents them but also wants to be one of them.  He calls them hypocrites but won’t acknowledge his own hypocrisy.  He relationship with both Madame de Renal and Mathilde frustrated me.  Madame de Renal loved him but would berate herself and the pair would question the other’s love constantly, of course her being married to the mayor didn’t help matters.  While Mathilde and Julian would go back and forth being mean to each other and then being like “I love you”.  Mathilde would fear losing her independence, but then he’d manipulate her jealousy making her all the sudden think “I love you!  You’re my master”.  All the dynamic and intriguing storylines were over shadowed by this melodrama.  I admit I did want to know what would happen to these characters and the novel had some amusing moments. I liked some of the other characters such as Mathilde’s father and il Abbe Pirard, but of course they were secondary characters.   I do enjoy reading about this time period as well and learning about what was happening through fiction.

casparb's review

4.0

Pleasantly surprised by this. The pre-Flaubert great French novel, which has fallen out of fashion in the past few decades (at least in the English-speaking world. Can't speak for France). The Red and the Black (or indeed, The Scarlet and Black. How romantic is your translator?) is a very impressive novel, that seems to achieve just as much as the 1200-page Count of Monte Cristo did in about 500. Flaubert and Dumas certainly seem to have been heavily influenced by this novel.

It's fair to say that the structure is a little wonky - but not unforgivably so. Something approaching life there. I was very impressed by the psychological depth Stendhal manages to draw, particularly in the more adulterous conversations - layers and layers remarkable for an early novel. Definitely worth a read if you enjoyed Bovary.

jitka597's review

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25