Scan barcode
outcolder's review against another edition
5.0
This took me over a year to finish. The stories in here offer a broad range of themes and moods but first and foremost, they all take place in a horrible society where women are essentially chattel slaves. Men who don't automatically rape women when they are alone with them are considered to have exceptional moral fiber. Women are traded like any other object and are included when men speak of "all their possessions." It is disturbing. Within that context though, the female characters in the stories are incredible survivors. In quite a few of the stories, women succeed at their goals or even triumph over the men they "belong" to. Some of the stories are extremely dark, including horrible torture. But most are more or less the equivalent of a fourteenth century "truly tasteless jokes" collection. Boccaccio pops up himself once in the middle and then again at the end to defend his work and to fight against censorship. Although I found it difficult going, it was well worth it and I would like to learn more about Boccaccio the man and how this work was published and distributed and received at the time and through history. I would also like to know what literary theory types make of it today, and which stories were reused where. I did recognize one Shakespeare plot in here, but there must be tons of others. Just an amazing collection, full of humor and soul but also a brutal depiction of its times.
grayjay's review against another edition
2.0
A group of nobles take up residence in a country villa outside of Florence to escape the black death and keep themselves entertained by telling stories. Ten a day for ten days. They take turns settings the theme. This cycle of 100 stories has was influential to Chaucer and Shakespeare, and some of the stories have provided the plots to theatre, opera, novels, and film.
The tales give us a picture of 14th century European life—presumably from an aristocratic perspective—its attitudes toward wealth, politics, religion, the clergy, marriag, sex, gender, and society. Tales range from erotic, to comedic, to tragic.
I will say that the majority were ribald. In fact so many of the stories were about a man or woman going to great lengths to have extra-marital sex that it became repetitive and I began skipping stories.
In the end I would say that is a good collection to skim for the sake of literary/historical interest, but not worth reading all the way through. I did a lot of skimming and skipping.
The tales give us a picture of 14th century European life—presumably from an aristocratic perspective—its attitudes toward wealth, politics, religion, the clergy, marriag, sex, gender, and society. Tales range from erotic, to comedic, to tragic.
I will say that the majority were ribald. In fact so many of the stories were about a man or woman going to great lengths to have extra-marital sex that it became repetitive and I began skipping stories.
In the end I would say that is a good collection to skim for the sake of literary/historical interest, but not worth reading all the way through. I did a lot of skimming and skipping.
freagh's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
a_amira's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
msbananananner's review against another edition
slow-paced
1.75
I now understand why Christine de Pizan had such beef with Boccaccio. It’s giving borderline incel.
Half the time it feels like a jumble of half finished story ideas someone was keeping in their notes app that they just threw together and called a book.
Maybe I’m just not a “simple” enough loveless young woman to find these tales interesting.
Half the time it feels like a jumble of half finished story ideas someone was keeping in their notes app that they just threw together and called a book.
Maybe I’m just not a “simple” enough loveless young woman to find these tales interesting.
teaandbooklover's review against another edition
1.0
Not the book itself; THIS version.
I am speaking of the purple hardcover version by Biliobazaar.
I have tried many times to keep reading this, but the writing is so very small I can only read for a few moments before my eyeballs start to hurt and get a headache.
I thought maybe it was just me so I asked my husband and teenage daughter to read it too and they both said the same thing.
If anyone knows of another, bigger (read-NORMAL) type, please advise!
I am speaking of the purple hardcover version by Biliobazaar.
I have tried many times to keep reading this, but the writing is so very small I can only read for a few moments before my eyeballs start to hurt and get a headache.
I thought maybe it was just me so I asked my husband and teenage daughter to read it too and they both said the same thing.
If anyone knows of another, bigger (read-NORMAL) type, please advise!
wherepoetsdie's review against another edition
Was this a dry and boring classic? No, it’s pretty spicy, actually.
Do a majority of the characters belong in horny jail? Heck yes, I can’t give you a modern equivalent of a book that is as horny as this one. It’s scary how sexual a great number of these stories get (and often in really scandalous ways, even for modern standards).
Are many stories sexist and do the female characters feel like oversexualized cis male fantasies? You bet.
Can you learn anything from the frame narrative or the 100 stories told throughout these ten days? Not really. Many have a moral message, but it’s all pretty shallow and regurgitate stuff.
Despite everything that is wrong with this book, is it so out there and bad that it’s fun again? Absolutely.
Was I entertained? For sure. It’s trashy and incredibly extra, and I hate everything about it but in a fun way.
I don’t know what I expected going into this collection, but I don’t regret picking it up. I had a great time and learned something for my literature studies, so what more could I want.
Do a majority of the characters belong in horny jail? Heck yes, I can’t give you a modern equivalent of a book that is as horny as this one. It’s scary how sexual a great number of these stories get (and often in really scandalous ways, even for modern standards).
Are many stories sexist and do the female characters feel like oversexualized cis male fantasies? You bet.
Can you learn anything from the frame narrative or the 100 stories told throughout these ten days? Not really. Many have a moral message, but it’s all pretty shallow and regurgitate stuff.
Despite everything that is wrong with this book, is it so out there and bad that it’s fun again? Absolutely.
Was I entertained? For sure. It’s trashy and incredibly extra, and I hate everything about it but in a fun way.
I don’t know what I expected going into this collection, but I don’t regret picking it up. I had a great time and learned something for my literature studies, so what more could I want.
montse_rius's review against another edition
3.0
Increíble viaje, para quien no estudia de manera específica la Edad Media y el Prerrenacimiento puede ser un desmitificador, una obra que arroje nueva luz sobre un periodo considerado generalmente oscuro y serio; nada más lejos. En algunos cuentos nuestros valores chocan frontalmente, mientras que en otros podemos asentir con sorpresa ante ideas que nos sorprendan dado el contexto, pero siempre encontraremos alguno que nos divierta. El formato, además, es ideal para una lectura tranquila, un cuento al día, lejos de un estudio sesudo, como libro de ocio.
More...