254 reviews for:

Manon Lescaut

Abbé Prévost

3.13 AVERAGE

emotional fast-paced

A book about idiots making terrible decisions
emotional reflective sad medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
adventurous dark emotional tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: No
adventurous emotional relaxing medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
adventurous emotional reflective sad slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This story was an absolute fantasy! Indeed, fantasy, because I could not believe something like that was even possible. I can only assume that I do not have any kind of understanding of the 18th century. Indeed, things have changed, but life is not all that different when it comes to such things as love, lifestyle standards and honour.

Manon Lescaut was a deplorable young girl, very easy to tempt by offering her different... stuff. Moreover, she cared only of her own comfort and entertainment. Girls like these one can easily find. However, boys so foolish and perseverent in foolishness are more difficult to find. I can understand the passion of young love, the thought that nothing is more important than love and the person who awakens such feeling - I really do! They have been through so many unfortunate events and still, they learnt nothing. Even the "Providence" was kind enough to help them over and over again, by sending in their path some good (naiv!) man aiding them in some way. In the few moments when they were tranquil and living in peace, they surely found some way to mess with it and without taking any kind of precaution, they were, once again, in great dispair. The end was also defined by irresponsibility and ridiculousness, like every other action presented.

What was astonishing was the character of Chevalier himself, the duality inside of him. His passion for Manon led him into all sorts of troubles, while the other part was studious, with a great reputation and a model for any other man. He managed to make good impresion over a number of people he encountered, even by including in his tale the evil deeds and mistakes. He fell deeply in love with the wrong girl, as did so many others, and love became a flame which destroyed the future of at least one of those involved.

Nevertheless, this story gives me something to ponder upon, while it reminds me of the youthful love and its twists and turns.

Des Grieux est un personnage tellement interessant. En effet, pendant tout le livre je me demandais si il était juste débile, ou si il avait un cafard dictant toute ses actions.
fast-paced
sad slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes