It was so interesting to hear your thoughts. I tried to read Madame Bovary last year and had to give up about halfway through. I just could not manage to like any of the characters. I think you put your finger on the reason when you said they are all idiots. Apparently, I do not suffer fools gladly, even in my fiction. I tend to struggle with 19th century fiction, although I did enjoy Anna Karenina, which also has its share of idiots. And I recently read and thoroughly enjoyed Pride and Prejudice. Obviously that is a much lighter book which tends to make sly fun of its idiots. Thank you for your insight into this classic.
I love that book. One of my best reads ever. I think the topic of greed and personal decline is timeless and also avant-garde given the times when it was written.
@@milla411 Totally agree. Such a fantastic book. I am going to re-read it again after 10 years and pretty curious to see what impact it will have on me. I remember back then when I read it I finished felling: "wow"
I love the title of your channel. "Why read..." Because we need a good reason to read a book. A good book. A classic. If we know why we are reading a book, we are more likely to finish it.
Madame Bovary is a magnificent novel on many levels to me. I like to reread it from time to time. Bovary pursues her dreams and when she admits her failure, she acts as a hero. Flaubert doesn't spare either readers or himself. He fell ill when he wrote the part of Madame Bovary's dying... I enjoyed your review very much.
Thank you! I both read and listened to this in tandem, and I think I may have experienced two translators, the book being translated by Eleanor Marx Aveling, but unfortunately the audiobook does not include a note on the translator. I've emailed Audible about this, you can't find translator notes for most of their titles. However, I see the Lydia Davis translation recommended quite frequently.
If I may make so bold as to enter the conversation, I own an old copy of the Eleanor Marx Aveling translation which I find to be exceptional. It does particularly well in capturing Flaubert's descriptions of the mundane and the inner turmoil of Madame herself.
Emma is a shallow character. Her ideas of love are entirely fueled by cheap romance novels. She is lampooned by Flaubert as the silly, female reader. (Flaubert was quite the misogynist.) Charles is the only decent character in the novel. Emma is not capable of love. Charles is.
It was so interesting to hear your thoughts. I tried to read Madame Bovary last year and had to give up about halfway through. I just could not manage to like any of the characters. I think you put your finger on the reason when you said they are all idiots. Apparently, I do not suffer fools gladly, even in my fiction. I tend to struggle with 19th century fiction, although I did enjoy Anna Karenina, which also has its share of idiots. And I recently read and thoroughly enjoyed Pride and Prejudice. Obviously that is a much lighter book which tends to make sly fun of its idiots. Thank you for your insight into this classic.
Can't go wrong with Anna Karenina!
I love that book. One of my best reads ever. I think the topic of greed and personal decline is timeless and also avant-garde given the times when it was written.
@@milla411 Totally agree. Such a fantastic book. I am going to re-read it again after 10 years and pretty curious to see what impact it will have on me. I remember back then when I read it I finished felling: "wow"
I love the title of your channel. "Why read..."
Because we need a good reason to read a book. A good book. A classic. If we know why we are reading a book, we are more likely to finish it.
Thanks for the sum up, I never read this story but sounds interesting from your take,
Now I have to go through it.
Madame Bovary is a magnificent novel on many levels to me. I like to reread it from time to time. Bovary pursues her dreams and when she admits her failure, she acts as a hero. Flaubert
doesn't spare either readers or himself. He fell ill when he wrote the part of Madame Bovary's dying... I enjoyed your review very much.
Thank you so much! Great thoughts on a great book.
I got the book from the library today. I really hope I enjoy it.
Did you enjoy it? I live a block from the library let me know
So interesting. Do you have a preferred translation?
Thank you! I both read and listened to this in tandem, and I think I may have experienced two translators, the book being translated by Eleanor Marx Aveling, but unfortunately the audiobook does not include a note on the translator. I've emailed Audible about this, you can't find translator notes for most of their titles. However, I see the Lydia Davis translation recommended quite frequently.
Thanks!
If I may make so bold as to enter the conversation, I own an old copy of the Eleanor Marx Aveling translation which I find to be exceptional. It does particularly well in capturing Flaubert's descriptions of the mundane and the inner turmoil of Madame herself.
@@thepearlreview9236 The new translation by Raymond MacKenzie is the best. (And I have read and taught the novel in the original French.)
Emma is a shallow character. Her ideas of love are entirely fueled by cheap romance novels. She is lampooned by Flaubert as the silly, female reader. (Flaubert was quite the misogynist.) Charles is the only decent character in the novel. Emma is not capable of love. Charles is.