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karinlib's review
4.0
This took me almost a month to finish. The translator Wayne Rebhorn was absolutely amazing (5 stars for him). The book is easy to read, due to the translation, but there are 100 short stories. The best part of this book is the introduction and the myriad of footnotes explaining the Italian nuances.
The Decameron takes place in 1348 Florence Italy, when the Black Plague was raging. A group of seven young women meet in church to decide how to face the horrific situation. Pampinea suggests they take a trip to the country to escape the chaos and risk of death that the Plague caused. They are afraid to take the trip without male protection, so they ask three young men they know to accompany them (which the men readily agree). Once they are settled into a country estate, they decide that each day for their entertainment they will elect a "Queen" or "King" for the day to arrange everything for their comfort. The only rule is that each must tell a story, 10 stories for 10 days (there are 4 religious days during which no stories are told).
The Decameron takes place in 1348 Florence Italy, when the Black Plague was raging. A group of seven young women meet in church to decide how to face the horrific situation. Pampinea suggests they take a trip to the country to escape the chaos and risk of death that the Plague caused. They are afraid to take the trip without male protection, so they ask three young men they know to accompany them (which the men readily agree). Once they are settled into a country estate, they decide that each day for their entertainment they will elect a "Queen" or "King" for the day to arrange everything for their comfort. The only rule is that each must tell a story, 10 stories for 10 days (there are 4 religious days during which no stories are told).
emanuele312's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
sarahanne8382's review against another edition
3.0
Considering how much I loved the Canterbury Tales, it's a shame it took me this long to get around to read it's 14th century Italian predecessor. In this case, a group of ten young nobles escape The Bubonic Plague ravaging Florence and spend ten days in the country keeping each other entertained by telling stories. Yes, it is long, very long in fact, but most of the stories are entertaining, and if you like this sort of thing, it's certainly worth a look. Because it's told as a series of short stories, it was fine it was something I picked up everyone now and then.
ipanzica's review against another edition
3.0
It is an interesting book to read while in quarantine given the history of the book.
booccmaster's review
adventurous
challenging
funny
informative
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
lizziemcherring's review
4.0
Read for school. God this took it out of me but I learned a ton. In a sense the Decameron is humanity explored
giljule's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
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
4.0
patokoao's review
funny
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0