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So, this isn't exactly a new book which means the language is a little archaic making this a bit of a challenging read. It's a satire, and it really is a bit of a silly story and everything that happens to Candide is fairly outlandish. Outlandish and gruesome.
The characters endure harrowing pain and dire situations and how they remain optimistic is a ridiculous mystery. Hey, I think that was the point!
Recommended for fans of classic literature.
The characters endure harrowing pain and dire situations and how they remain optimistic is a ridiculous mystery. Hey, I think that was the point!
Recommended for fans of classic literature.
I did not expect so many dead people. Black humor at its finest.
I'm not sure what I think of this book. On one hand, the sheer ridiculousness of this was entertaining, but on the other, it was drawn out and the ending was less than satisfying. However, it was a nice break in my studying.
So entertaining enough to distract from the fact that it was required reading, but strange enough to keep me from being in love with it.
So entertaining enough to distract from the fact that it was required reading, but strange enough to keep me from being in love with it.
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
All I will say is I would have rather read this book than listened to it. The voice really ruined my enjoyment of a funny tale. I will have to read this again in the future.
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Voltaire recurre a una ironía mordaz y a un insólito humor para alzar una despiadada crítica al optimismo metafísico de Leibniz. Por medio de una sátira de lenguaje ligero y sucesos descabellados, exagerados e inverosímiles, el autor despedaza el pensamiento propuesto por el filósofo para inclinarse por una visión del mundo que resalta toda la oscuridad y podredumbre de éste.
De la mano de Candido, un joven ingenuo y amable que se aferra al optimismo que le inculcó Pangloss, su mentor y referente, vamos atestiguando una serie de eventos que son en un inicio desafortunados pero tornan rápidamente en trágicos. Alejado de Cunegunda, la mujer a la que ama, y obsesionado con la inquebrantable ilusión de volver a su lado, se embarca en un viaje inusitado a través del mundo que lo enfrenta a las más insospechadas crueldades y desventuras. En compañía de personajes tan golpeados por la vida como él, el libro casi se convierte en una competencia de quién tiene el pasado más brutal y más absurdo.
Si bien el humor prima a lo largo de toda la obra, carácter imprescindible para hacer de ella una sátira, Voltaire utiliza este recurso para hacer una crítica nada ligera a la filósofa de la época, a la hipocresía de la iglesia, la corrupción de las instituciones políticas, la crueldad inherente del ser humano y demás aspectos negativos del mundo que conoció y que, pese a los siglos de por medio, no acaba de diferir demasiado del nuestro.
De la mano de Candido, un joven ingenuo y amable que se aferra al optimismo que le inculcó Pangloss, su mentor y referente, vamos atestiguando una serie de eventos que son en un inicio desafortunados pero tornan rápidamente en trágicos. Alejado de Cunegunda, la mujer a la que ama, y obsesionado con la inquebrantable ilusión de volver a su lado, se embarca en un viaje inusitado a través del mundo que lo enfrenta a las más insospechadas crueldades y desventuras. En compañía de personajes tan golpeados por la vida como él, el libro casi se convierte en una competencia de quién tiene el pasado más brutal y más absurdo.
Si bien el humor prima a lo largo de toda la obra, carácter imprescindible para hacer de ella una sátira, Voltaire utiliza este recurso para hacer una crítica nada ligera a la filósofa de la época, a la hipocresía de la iglesia, la corrupción de las instituciones políticas, la crueldad inherente del ser humano y demás aspectos negativos del mundo que conoció y que, pese a los siglos de por medio, no acaba de diferir demasiado del nuestro.
I'm surprised that I gave this such a low rating. I was ready for the satire and the humor. I was ready to fully enjoy this book. When I began though, I found myself quickly disinterested. I'm typically a fast reader, but I kept reading and rereading. It often took me ten minutes or more to get through one page. I also did not enjoy the story like I thought I would. Reading it became a chore, though I could not give up on it entirely. I understand what the story is lampooning, but it's simply not my kind of humor.
It's a pretty fun book with surprising amounts of comedy on nations, which was amusing at best, but the real comedy stems from the discussions between total optimists, total pessimists, and everything in between. The making fun of the enlightenment's optimism is, while a bit sad to read, warranted. Also love how characters compete with who's got the worst life of the group, but my absolute favourite is the old woman.
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No