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3.13 AVERAGE
3.13 AVERAGE
Fun, interesting read. It offered interesting perspectives from the time, but I still want to read the story from Manon's perspective.
L'Abbé Prévost 1699-1763
L'inventeur du premier roman modern de la litteratura francaise.
"Ses héros n'y agissent por sens du devoir, mais sous le seule impulsion su plaisir"
L'inventeur du premier roman modern de la litteratura francaise.
"Ses héros n'y agissent por sens du devoir, mais sous le seule impulsion su plaisir"
I enjoyed this read for the observations of a 1700's story...and how well it translates to current perspective. However, the characters are the kind you just want to shake! The main fellow is not merely blinded by love...he's made completely senseless by desperate obsession. It was a tragedy...and I am the sort who weeps throughout a tragic story...but not once did I shed a tear, not even as the story concluded.
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It's a condensed form of narrative that gives the impression of a story overview. Even though it reads as a condensed story, the narrative is so repetitive that it's the length of a full length novel. Nothing about the world in which the characters live is ever described in any real detail and even the characters themselves are completely flat. I kept wanting to be drawn in by the author's words, the plot or the emotions derived from the scenes but it never happened. I read half the book in French and half in English. Neither the original or translation is enjoyable.
The thing I can't excuse is that upon the death of a major character in the climax, the narrator basically says "and I was so overwhelmed that I'm not going to describe this tragedy". Upon the deaths and murders of other characters, we are treated the to the same indifferent "and they died". I'd get the same sense of emotion by simply reading a plot summary of the book.
Then we have the romance element, which is what attempts to drive the entire story along. It's never described properly. We're continually told by the narrator about how much he loves this woman but we never understand why, apart from the fact that she's pretty. For all the betrayal and harm she puts him through, the repetitive declarations of love aren't enough.
The thing I can't excuse is that upon the death of a major character in the climax, the narrator basically says "and I was so overwhelmed that I'm not going to describe this tragedy". Upon the deaths and murders of other characters, we are treated the to the same indifferent "and they died". I'd get the same sense of emotion by simply reading a plot summary of the book.
Then we have the romance element, which is what attempts to drive the entire story along. It's never described properly. We're continually told by the narrator about how much he loves this woman but we never understand why, apart from the fact that she's pretty. For all the betrayal and harm she puts him through, the repetitive declarations of love aren't enough.
Manon Lescaut is a fictitious, first-person account of a suitor who doesn’t know when to quit. A tale of warning and woe as to not live one’s life devoid of responsibility and only for pleasure as the narrator, Chevalier Des Grieux so has. Chevy (for short) finds a mysterious handsome woman who seems almost accidentally placed in an all intense and purpose a chain gang in which he is told this woman is incredibly dangerous. Intrigued and instantaneously in love Chevy asks the woman to escape with him. Through bouts of infidelity and misdirection Chevy slowly loses not only his sanity but also his wealth at the beguiling of the beautiful Manon Lescaut. There were several moments in which I could help feeling bad for the poor woman the way this man refused to let her leave. I think the writer meant for us to feel bad for the male character and all he sacrificed, yet I can’t help but find him to be a bit of an unreliable narrator whom may even have been flat out stalking this woman. “I was the master of Manon‘s heart the only possession I cared for…”For our honeymoon Connor and I are seeing the ballet version of this play in France and thought it might be good to read ahead of time. Very cool story loved how the end cycles back to the beginning.
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
0 estrellas, increíble tostonazo duro de leer e imposible de aguantar teniendo al protagonista más estúpido que he visto en mi vida. He conseguido llegar al 42%
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes