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hibsta's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
An excellent collection of stories that vastly vary in subject, capturing Maupassant's remarkable versatility. I especially adored his countryside scenes, flowing with beautiful nature descriptions.
schmidtmark56's review against another edition
5.0
The most exceptional realist writer I've run across; his stories are hyper-short at times, but almost all pack a timeless punch in the gut. He shows his purpose clearly and unflinchingly in each story, and you just can't stop reading.
fcannon's review against another edition
4.0
Elaborate and unresolved. His style kind of grew on me.
brona's review against another edition
4.0
4 and half stars
Guy de Maupassant (1850-1893) wrote nearly 300 short stories during his life. They were uneven at times yet distinct in style. Full of irony, deception, narrative drama, arguments & quarrels. De Maupassant was also a naturalist with a tendency to lean towards the bleaker side of real life. The Guardian says that he considered life to be "brutal, incoherent, disjointed, full of inexplicable, illogical and contradictory disasters".
The Best Short Stories (first published in 1997 by Wordsworth Editions) contains 17 such examples. My 2011 reprint is rounded out with a rather dry Introduction by Cedric Watts, who informs us that Maupassant's tales 'dealt predominantly with the provincial bourgeoisie, urban employees and civil servants.'
For the past three years, I've been reading a handful of these stories at a time to coincide with Paris in July. This year, I decided it was time to be finished with them. Not because I haven't been enjoying them, but three years is long enough for a book to by taking up space on my bedside table.
I wanted to take my time with each story and not rush from one to the next. I've made that mistake in the past with short story anthologies, and as a result I have no recollection of many of them. I decided to make brief notes on each story. I also gathered together some points about the short story format to help me with my notes.
Full review here - http://bronasbooks.blogspot.com/2019/07/the-best-short-stories-by-guy-de.html
Guy de Maupassant (1850-1893) wrote nearly 300 short stories during his life. They were uneven at times yet distinct in style. Full of irony, deception, narrative drama, arguments & quarrels. De Maupassant was also a naturalist with a tendency to lean towards the bleaker side of real life. The Guardian says that he considered life to be "brutal, incoherent, disjointed, full of inexplicable, illogical and contradictory disasters".
The Best Short Stories (first published in 1997 by Wordsworth Editions) contains 17 such examples. My 2011 reprint is rounded out with a rather dry Introduction by Cedric Watts, who informs us that Maupassant's tales 'dealt predominantly with the provincial bourgeoisie, urban employees and civil servants.'
For the past three years, I've been reading a handful of these stories at a time to coincide with Paris in July. This year, I decided it was time to be finished with them. Not because I haven't been enjoying them, but three years is long enough for a book to by taking up space on my bedside table.
I wanted to take my time with each story and not rush from one to the next. I've made that mistake in the past with short story anthologies, and as a result I have no recollection of many of them. I decided to make brief notes on each story. I also gathered together some points about the short story format to help me with my notes.
Full review here - http://bronasbooks.blogspot.com/2019/07/the-best-short-stories-by-guy-de.html
steve_t's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this collection. The writing is clever and fun, full of personality. There were a few sentences I would read and reread because of how beautiful and evocative they were.
The collection is very provincial, capturing small town life. de Maupassant really dislikes Prussians and his depiction of women, while sympathetic, is quite outdated. He captures the sublime of nature very well, especially in the story, Clair de Lune. Overall, this is an excellently well written collection of short stories that acts as a French time capsule. Reminds me a bit of Chekhov and, at very small times, Munroe.
I really disliked the introduction, which spent the entire time trying to counter de Maupassant's detractors, rather set up the collection. Only if you are involved in de Maupassant debate will the introduction be useful.
The collection is very provincial, capturing small town life. de Maupassant really dislikes Prussians and his depiction of women, while sympathetic, is quite outdated. He captures the sublime of nature very well, especially in the story, Clair de Lune. Overall, this is an excellently well written collection of short stories that acts as a French time capsule. Reminds me a bit of Chekhov and, at very small times, Munroe.
I really disliked the introduction, which spent the entire time trying to counter de Maupassant's detractors, rather set up the collection. Only if you are involved in de Maupassant debate will the introduction be useful.
cindyc3689's review against another edition
3.0
Kalau di [b:kumcer O. Henry|10727858|Cinta yang Hilang|O. Henry|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1299543591s/10727858.jpg|15638660] yg kubaca sebelumnya ada The Gift of Magi, maka di antologi ini ada Diamond Neckless yang sudah jadi favku sepanjang masa. Tapi setelah kubaca buku ini, semuanya, 8 cerpen dan 1 novela, masuk dalam seleraku. Tema kisahnya, karakterisasinya, juga twist di akhir cerita. Sedikit depresif dan pahit, tapi realis.
Selain cerpen Kalung Berlian tersebut, 2 cerita lainnya menarik perhatianku. Yang satu adalah
My Wife, berkisah dengan jenaka tentang bagaimana Pierre Letoile muda mendapatkan istri istimewanya, yang lain adalah novela yang melambungkan nama de Maupassant di sastra dunia, Boule de Suif. Cerita ini pahit, penuh hipokrisme, dan memotret dengan sangat pas kemunafikan manusia. Endingnya... wah endingnya. Bahkan kaum agamis yang disimbolkan dengan 2 orang biarawati terlihat sangat sok suci dan sejatinya tak peduli.
Untuk edisi terbitan Serambi ini, yup judul2 cerpennya bbrp masih diterjemahkan secara sinetronis sekalee, plus cover yang berasa zadul. Ya gitu d. Tapi isi terjemahannya bagus kok.
Selain cerpen Kalung Berlian tersebut, 2 cerita lainnya menarik perhatianku. Yang satu adalah
My Wife, berkisah dengan jenaka tentang bagaimana Pierre Letoile muda mendapatkan istri istimewanya, yang lain adalah novela yang melambungkan nama de Maupassant di sastra dunia, Boule de Suif. Cerita ini pahit, penuh hipokrisme, dan memotret dengan sangat pas kemunafikan manusia. Endingnya... wah endingnya. Bahkan kaum agamis yang disimbolkan dengan 2 orang biarawati terlihat sangat sok suci dan sejatinya tak peduli.
Untuk edisi terbitan Serambi ini, yup judul2 cerpennya bbrp masih diterjemahkan secara sinetronis sekalee, plus cover yang berasa zadul. Ya gitu d. Tapi isi terjemahannya bagus kok.
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