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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
My feelings about Decameron seemed to shift at different times. Reading it with a partner, we'd approached the book in a traditional sense, reading sequentially, front to back. The Decameron is a long book. Ten days, ten stories to a day. One hundred stories totalling 1000+ pages. I enjoyed some of the stories from Day 1 immensely, especially the one with the scoundrel conning the priest on his deathbed. However, somewhere within Day 2, my patience began to wane. Each day being themed meant each block of ten stories started to meld together for me, with some stories so similar it felt like just the names had changed. Part of the problem for me was the summary at the start of each short story telling us what the story was going to be about. I find that works fine as chapter headings on long chapters of novels, but for short stories it made reading the actual story feel somewhat pointless.
So, having spat out the proverbial dummy, it was back to the drawing board. This time we were selective, choosing the stories that inspired Pasolini, Botticelli and Shakespeare, for their works 'Decameron', 'Nastagio degli Onesti', 'All's Well That Ends Well', 'Cymbeline' and 'Two Gentlemen of Verona', respectively. What a difference it made to read the stories non-sequentially! Not knowing the theme for each story ahead of time, dipping into different days, made the stories feel fresher, and kept me interested.
What I found so alluring about The Decameron was just how modern it felt. Completed in 1353, its narrators artfully recount tales of love, lust, treachery, desire, avarice, honour, friendship and nobility with such panache and flair, sometimes evoking moralistic conclusions, other times delighting in the cunning cleverness of some reprehensible character duping the good (Odysseus' legend springs eternal, from The Decameron to the Beano's 'Roger the Dodger'!). Other times, the stories were so despicably bawdy (some of my favourites!) that a copy of Fifty Shades of Gray sat beside it would undoubtedly blush itself off the bookshelf.
Back to its modernity, when placed next to the Italian plays of the 16th century, such as Machiavelli's 'The Mandrake Root'... Well, it makes the latter feel almost primitive. Bocaccio knew how to spin a yarn, that's for sure.
To anyone struggling to get through the work, I heartily recommend to read out of sequence!
So, having spat out the proverbial dummy, it was back to the drawing board. This time we were selective, choosing the stories that inspired Pasolini, Botticelli and Shakespeare, for their works 'Decameron', 'Nastagio degli Onesti', 'All's Well That Ends Well', 'Cymbeline' and 'Two Gentlemen of Verona', respectively. What a difference it made to read the stories non-sequentially! Not knowing the theme for each story ahead of time, dipping into different days, made the stories feel fresher, and kept me interested.
What I found so alluring about The Decameron was just how modern it felt. Completed in 1353, its narrators artfully recount tales of love, lust, treachery, desire, avarice, honour, friendship and nobility with such panache and flair, sometimes evoking moralistic conclusions, other times delighting in the cunning cleverness of some reprehensible character duping the good (Odysseus' legend springs eternal, from The Decameron to the Beano's 'Roger the Dodger'!). Other times, the stories were so despicably bawdy (some of my favourites!) that a copy of Fifty Shades of Gray sat beside it would undoubtedly blush itself off the bookshelf.
Back to its modernity, when placed next to the Italian plays of the 16th century, such as Machiavelli's 'The Mandrake Root'... Well, it makes the latter feel almost primitive. Bocaccio knew how to spin a yarn, that's for sure.
To anyone struggling to get through the work, I heartily recommend to read out of sequence!
Reading it for the 2nd time actually: 1st time was during my university years. Back than I probably would have raited it like 2 stars. However now, when years have passed and I am wiser & more mature (hopefully! lol), I believe this is an amazing example of 14th century literature that tells us more than 100 tales of that time. "Dekameron" gives us a sneak pick into the lives of people, and if not telling us exactly what was happening back than (because it's not a chronicle), at least gives us a view on what made them laugh and what made them sad, and what made them feel shameful or uncomfortable. Which - compared to today's life - is not exactly the same stuff. All in all, recommended as an enjoyable read!
Beautiful book, my favourite so far. I'm writing this review in 2022 and it reminds me a lot of the situation of COVID19 and rich people hiding in their mansions to enjoy life while an epidemic is happening.
This book has everything: comedy, drama, criticizes religion and morality. Has stories that we would read centuries later since inspired many writers. Highly recommended.
This book has everything: comedy, drama, criticizes religion and morality. Has stories that we would read centuries later since inspired many writers. Highly recommended.
The most sexist thing I have read in forever (I didn't expect anything less in that department, this is mid-14th century Europe we're talking about here) but I must admit some stories were genuinely funny, and most of them were definitely entertaining.
Finally! I can't believe I spent a month on this. I think my library will murder me. All in all, it wasn't a bad book, but some stories were really disturbing that I just can't say that I loved it. The concept was great, and the way the stories were delivered was great, but I just didn't like the stories in itselves.
I'm Italian, so of course, I love this work.
It really is such an amazing read. I think it is more enjoyable if you make an effort to really read beyond the lines. There is so much depth to this, most of which I didn't get until I analyzed it in class.
It really is such an amazing read. I think it is more enjoyable if you make an effort to really read beyond the lines. There is so much depth to this, most of which I didn't get until I analyzed it in class.
I've read maybe half of it. Perhaps even less. The stories seem remarkably modern and it's interesting (and sad in some cases) to see how little humans have changed since this book was written.
It was by no means a bad book, but I really can't see myself reading it cover to cover. I can't really explain why.
It was by no means a bad book, but I really can't see myself reading it cover to cover. I can't really explain why.
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Some stories were utterly fantastic, but a lot felt repetitive — I probably would enjoy it more as part of a course where there’s some degree of discussion.