Reviews

Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert

Only show reviews with written explanations

katiescho741's review against another edition

4.0

One of the classic tragic french novels about love!
The fact that Flaubert wrote this in third person means we get both sides of the marriage: Emma's feelings of disappointment and ennui, and Charles' love. When Emma has conversations with people other then her husband you get a very obvious sense of ow much more lively they are. As if her husband is smothering her.
Our tragic heroine starts and affair and then acts foolishly out of desperation to be happy. Our modern perspective could get some very sour lessons from this novel, but personally, I love a tragic novel!

effloress's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

It is both grievous and ardent - certainly worth reading at least once!

chasejwise's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional reflective 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

2.0

hailin_10's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

sheilagarcia's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional reflective relaxing slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

sjstuart's review against another edition

Go to review page

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.