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My first time reading Voltaire after I read a biography about Catherine the Great and learned that she liked his work
It’s not what I expected but I like how this is written in comparison to other philosophical books I’ve read
It’s more entertaining
At first I was a bit disappointed to find out that the solution to life is to work, it felt kinda propagandaey, but I’m also a Gemini so I get where he’s coming from
It’s like when I stopped taking my antidepressant cause it felt better to be sad than to just feel numb all the time
It’s not what I expected but I like how this is written in comparison to other philosophical books I’ve read
It’s more entertaining
At first I was a bit disappointed to find out that the solution to life is to work, it felt kinda propagandaey, but I’m also a Gemini so I get where he’s coming from
It’s like when I stopped taking my antidepressant cause it felt better to be sad than to just feel numb all the time
adventurous
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
funny
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
reflective
sad
fast-paced
yeah it was alright... it was small and could have been read in one sitting, but it was hard for me to want to pick it up and read... it was slightly humorous, but mostly hard to follow... i didn't really get it... it was philosophical, but i thought the philosophy was lame... i'll stick to my girl ayn! haha...
I am going to freely admit to giving this book a bit of a bump in the ratings by sheer credit of being a classic. Though it doesn't technically rank up with the rest of my 3-star books, the style of writing and humor is certainly impressive given the time period in which it was written. However, I can't simply give it a total free pass.
There is a lot of wit and (dry) humor present in the writing and the entire narrative is ripe with over the top interactions and results. The sheer number of "coincidences" that happen along the way were painfully eye-rolling. Yes...I understand that this is on purpose as the entire piece is meant to be a satire and that it obtains its critical success largely because of this hyperbole, but still...too much. There is a lot of tongue in cheek humor, a frequent presence of oppositional circumstances, and a lot of thumbing its nose at religion.
Thankfully, it is short...which makes this crazy construction tolerable and somewhat entertaining. The plot does provide quite a bit of action and plot movement, which is impressive given the length. The shortness also allows the book to maintain relevance in the modern age, as readers are not tasked with wading through thick and overly flowery prose or excess description.
Long story short...good as a classic, but certainly not my general tastes. Worth appreciating for its ability to withstand the test of time, but I am thankful that it was not a larger book.
There is a lot of wit and (dry) humor present in the writing and the entire narrative is ripe with over the top interactions and results. The sheer number of "coincidences" that happen along the way were painfully eye-rolling. Yes...I understand that this is on purpose as the entire piece is meant to be a satire and that it obtains its critical success largely because of this hyperbole, but still...too much. There is a lot of tongue in cheek humor, a frequent presence of oppositional circumstances, and a lot of thumbing its nose at religion.
Thankfully, it is short...which makes this crazy construction tolerable and somewhat entertaining. The plot does provide quite a bit of action and plot movement, which is impressive given the length. The shortness also allows the book to maintain relevance in the modern age, as readers are not tasked with wading through thick and overly flowery prose or excess description.
Long story short...good as a classic, but certainly not my general tastes. Worth appreciating for its ability to withstand the test of time, but I am thankful that it was not a larger book.
Candide is a hilarious book and (in my opinion) one of Voltaire's best works. It's a strong, yes humorous, critique of France in his time that still resonates with the ills of today's society. I connected strongly to it; it feels more like a coming-of-age story at some parts than a political/religious satire. He hits every point of human life and does so brilliantly.
If you have the time and haven't read it, do it soon. I promise you won't regret it! ^_^
If you have the time and haven't read it, do it soon. I promise you won't regret it! ^_^