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I looked up books set in Buenos Aires and this was in the top 5 results. Maybe 3% of the book was set in Buenos Aires. 10/10
I don’t really know how to rate books this old, particularly those written by white/European men. The gaps in the literary canon are too obviously glaring at me throughout the experience of reading for me to separate the work from its circumstance. Still, this was enjoyable enough, and I like reading historical works that are sassy/satirical/making fun of other specific old literary works. It’s the same vibe as scrolling r/HobbyDrama. I love getting the tea on niche situations that I’m completely removed from.
Voltaire kind of slayed with his criticisms of the Church and other Enlightenment philosophers’ theorizing without practice. The crux of this novel is highlighting how silly it is to say that “everything happens for a reason” when so many senseless, horrible things happen in the world.
However, reading this book published by a white man in 1759 comes with the necessary caveats of occasional racist rhetoric towards Black and Indigenous people, and lots of women being raped (which to be fair, is treated as a bad thing).
I don’t really know how to rate books this old, particularly those written by white/European men. The gaps in the literary canon are too obviously glaring at me throughout the experience of reading for me to separate the work from its circumstance. Still, this was enjoyable enough, and I like reading historical works that are sassy/satirical/making fun of other specific old literary works. It’s the same vibe as scrolling r/HobbyDrama. I love getting the tea on niche situations that I’m completely removed from.
Voltaire kind of slayed with his criticisms of the Church and other Enlightenment philosophers’ theorizing without practice. The crux of this novel is highlighting how silly it is to say that “everything happens for a reason” when so many senseless, horrible things happen in the world.
However, reading this book published by a white man in 1759 comes with the necessary caveats of occasional racist rhetoric towards Black and Indigenous people, and lots of women being raped (which to be fair, is treated as a bad thing).
Pas incroyable, ça m’a semblé plus une perte de temps qu’autre chose… mais c’est un classique donc à lire
A re-read for book group -- having said that, the last time I read it was over 40 years ago. It is amusing, but it's also a bit of a one-note performance as Candide and friends lurch from one disaster to another while clinging to the belief that all is for the best in the best of all possible worlds. This philosophy of optimism promulgated by Leibniz is thoroughly discredited now, for what should be obvious reasons, so Candide no longer provides any sense of controversy or immediacy, even if it does make you reflect on what the point of life is. Voltaire was keen on the rights of man, but I'd forgotten what a raw deal women get from him -- all the women in the book are venal idiots, and when Cunégonde loses her looks she is only saved by being a good cook.
The epithet "Philosophical Novel" doesn't immediately make one think of hilarity and absurdly cartoonish violence. Tolstoy and Dostoevsky wrote philosophical novels, and while they are excellent, they aren't hilarious. Candide is hilarious; Tolstoy and Dostoevsky never served any of their characters a butt cheek supper.
Candide entertains, can be read quickly (another difference between it and a goodly portion of the Western canon), and remains relevant 258 years after its original publication.
Candide entertains, can be read quickly (another difference between it and a goodly portion of the Western canon), and remains relevant 258 years after its original publication.
2008 thoughts on bookcrossing a la me:
Always look on the bright side of life.... do do do do de do de do...
I am trying to broaden my mind by reading some proper literature (as well as all the other rubbish I get through). Why is it that we´re put off by things like this? It´s not an overly long story, and quite interesting if in a coincidentally odd way. And this guy travels all over the world, gets through more sticky situations and nine lives than ought to be possible and in the end finishes up tending a garden in Turkey. I suppose it´s a tale reminding us that life does tend to seem like you´re rolling from one pile of crap to the next, but you´ve just got to keep on going and make the best of things that you can.
Always look on the bright side of life.... do do do do de do de do...
I am trying to broaden my mind by reading some proper literature (as well as all the other rubbish I get through). Why is it that we´re put off by things like this? It´s not an overly long story, and quite interesting if in a coincidentally odd way. And this guy travels all over the world, gets through more sticky situations and nine lives than ought to be possible and in the end finishes up tending a garden in Turkey. I suppose it´s a tale reminding us that life does tend to seem like you´re rolling from one pile of crap to the next, but you´ve just got to keep on going and make the best of things that you can.
Not much to add considering the number of reviews out there on "Candide". Suffice to say that this 4 hour read is well worth the time. I chose to listen to this one on audio and it was quite good.
Bizarre, with still relevant insights. I liked the ending most of all, but was kind of tired of it by the time I got there.
really enjoyed this, reminded me a lot of 100 years of solitude.