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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
Some irony in that this a book for women and meant to make women laugh, yet many of these stories are so at odds with modern sensibilities (rape, domestic violence). Begs the question if these stories really reflected what women found entertaining or if they reflected what Boccaccio thought women would like (he, after all, includes several stories that emphasize that women are only good for sex and making babies and lack the higher faculties). How much does this reflect actual medieval gender norms and how much does it reflect only the male perspective?
Technically did not read the whole thing, but I wrote a 15 page paper about this big ass book, so I’m countin it.
I realized I had never read the Decameron all the way through, but only in selections tied to its influence on Chaucer or Shakespeare. Rebhorn's translation is lively and his notes are supportive without being intrusive. Now, Boccaccio--if you want to understand how much antifeminism, misogyny, and defenses of rape lie at the foundation of western "love literature", read it all the way through. Although this is ostensibly a text "for the ladies" its treatment of women (as a whole) really is mortifying.
First book I'm reading in Italian, so I'm very proud of myself right now! Okay the version of the book I read was a much shorter one, but I really don't care!
В этой книге есть все чего нет в моей жизни:похоть,разврат и прочие многочисленные пороки.Средневековые литературные герои умели развлекаться
This was a good read. The device chosen to account for the existence of the group and the need to pass the time in story telling was a parallel to other collections, like the Canterbury Tales. In some ways it was, to me, weaker for the device did not give and same variety of story tellers.
The style was ornate in keeping with the refinement of chosen story tellers and, although the stories included examples of less refined activities, the language in which they were described remained refined. (Boccaccio refers to this in his postscript.)
The tales themselves were, to this modern reader, very varied in the way they engaged me. Many were clever and highly amusing. Some described beautiful attitudes and respect. Some disturbed me by finding amusement in the deception of the vulnerable and there was one simple character who was the butt of the humour in many stories.
Overall it was a good read and a glimpse into the lives, expectations, attitudes and foibles of the privileged in a long past era.
The style was ornate in keeping with the refinement of chosen story tellers and, although the stories included examples of less refined activities, the language in which they were described remained refined. (Boccaccio refers to this in his postscript.)
The tales themselves were, to this modern reader, very varied in the way they engaged me. Many were clever and highly amusing. Some described beautiful attitudes and respect. Some disturbed me by finding amusement in the deception of the vulnerable and there was one simple character who was the butt of the humour in many stories.
Overall it was a good read and a glimpse into the lives, expectations, attitudes and foibles of the privileged in a long past era.
[..] es vēlreiz atgādinu, ka sieviete, kam ir kaut kas cits darāms, rīkotos muļķīgi, šīs noveles lasīdama [..]
Paldies, Džovanni, ar šo vajadzēja sākt, nevis nobeigt grāmatu :/
Bet paldies pandēmijai, Kvadrifronam un Spotify! Bez jums visticamāk nebūtu šos viegli izklaidējošos, tomēr ne līdz galam saistošos pastāstus piebeigusi.
Autora apņēmību gan drusku novērtēju. Bet, lai arī kaut ko nebūt no šiem 100 stāstiem varu paņemt sev līdzi, tomēr neņemšos vēl kādam ieteikt.
Paldies, Džovanni, ar šo vajadzēja sākt, nevis nobeigt grāmatu :/
Bet paldies pandēmijai, Kvadrifronam un Spotify! Bez jums visticamāk nebūtu šos viegli izklaidējošos, tomēr ne līdz galam saistošos pastāstus piebeigusi.
Autora apņēmību gan drusku novērtēju. Bet, lai arī kaut ko nebūt no šiem 100 stāstiem varu paņemt sev līdzi, tomēr neņemšos vēl kādam ieteikt.
adventurous
dark
funny
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
