A review by msgtdameron
Sentimental Education by Gustave Flaubert

emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

As I read this I could not help but see the comparison between Flabert's work and Dostoevsky's "The Idiot".  It is very obvious that Dostoevsky read "Sentimental Ed" while he was voyaging through France and Germany.  The plots are very similar.  The main difference being the Prince in "The Idiot" is really an idiot as defined by late 19th Century psychology.  More likely high functioning autistic / aspergers as defined today.  But, Frederic is really a mid 19th Century rich, family money, playboy who can't make a bloody decision.  Multiple times through out this work I find myself screaming at the work, "Grow some balls you dam fool!!!  Make a bloody decision!!!  Don't take the worst decision which is no decision!!!!  How stupid can you be."  Yea, OK yelling at a novel is dumb, but Frederic will drive any one who made decisions as a part of his/her every days work absolutely to distraction.  And yet even with this "Sentimental Ed" is a wonderful work.