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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
Just spent three months reading 100 short stories from the 1300s, most of which were about people getting laid. Writing was a bit dry, but there were some great zingers in there.
challenging
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I have never been more grateful to be finished with a book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape
I was surprised by the wit of each of these 100 stories from the 14th century. (abt. 1353) They were clever, suspenseful, funny and sometimes almost pornographic. The only off-putting theme was the overt domestic violence in a few of the stories; men abusing their wives or mistresses was completely acceptable at the time. They did get even in a few stories though.
Boccaccio's epic about twelve rich people escaping the plague in the city to go to the safety of the country is one of my favorite examples of Medieval literature. Many of the tales the rich people tell while hidden away are pleasantly bawdy while other are definately moralistic and Christian. Great for history and literature buffs, but be aware that it is quite long.
Well, it took me over two months, but I finally read all of Boccaccio's Decameron. Some of the stories were really entertaining. Some of them were really uncomfortable - women were not treated particularly well in those days and it can be tough to read. I'm not sure I entirely enjoyed this book but at least now I can say that I've read it. Random person: "Hey Nancy, have you ever read The Decameron by Boccaccio?" Me: "Why yes, I have read The Decameron by Boccaccio." Goal achieved.
adventurous
funny
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was faithful reading the entirety through Day Three and then I followed the abridged guidelines suggest by Signet Classic. Stories I read were great but at times felt repetitive.
I laughed out loud on a couple of occasions. Sometimes it was weird to see what appeared to be progressive ideas about sexuality from something so old.
This was a pretty racy book for high school reading. This book was one of the ones that got me interested in English and literature.