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lalawoman416's review against another edition
5.0
So this is the classics version of Revolutionary Road. Emma Bovary is the depressed, bored housewife of a country doctor. She longs for more out of life and is deeply disappointed with the direction of her life. She wants to dance, wear the latest fashions, and mingle amongst the best of society. At first, she resigns herself to her sacrifice, thinking it will buy her a place in heaven. Her husband, the kindly, portly Doctor Charles Bovary is blind to all that is happening. He believes Emma to be happy and contented. This, of course, serves only to alienate Emma all the more. Emma quickly learns that martyrdom does not come naturally for her and chooses instead to indulge herself. She meets Rudolph and engages in a four year affair with him. She becomes clingy and desperate. She wants to leave to Paris with Rudolph and aggressively pursues that end. Rudolph leads her along but Emma was never nothing more than a passing diversion for him and he leaves her high and dry. Emma throws herself into her depression with the same passion she approaches everything and fall into ill health. Along comes Leon, a man she was attracted to back in her martyrdom days. This time around, she chooses to engage and in doing so, denies herself nothing. She makes extravagant purchases and even becomes so bold as to not come home on certain nights. She lives so lavishly and recklessly her creditors come knocking. Poor Charles has to come to terms with his wife's indiscretions.
On the one hand, this novel was frustrating because Emma is such an unlikeable character. She is weak of character and selfish. She cares nothing of her husband and child and cares only of her pleasures. On the other hand, the novel is so beautifully written and entertaining. Every sentence is like poetry. Flaubert's book is a classic for a reason.
On the one hand, this novel was frustrating because Emma is such an unlikeable character. She is weak of character and selfish. She cares nothing of her husband and child and cares only of her pleasures. On the other hand, the novel is so beautifully written and entertaining. Every sentence is like poetry. Flaubert's book is a classic for a reason.
callieswag17's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
katiescho741's review against another edition
4.0
One of the classic tragic french novels about love!
The fact that Flaubert wrote this in third person means we get both sides of the marriage: Emma's feelings of disappointment and ennui, and Charles' love. When Emma has conversations with people other then her husband you get a very obvious sense of ow much more lively they are. As if her husband is smothering her.
Our tragic heroine starts and affair and then acts foolishly out of desperation to be happy. Our modern perspective could get some very sour lessons from this novel, but personally, I love a tragic novel!
The fact that Flaubert wrote this in third person means we get both sides of the marriage: Emma's feelings of disappointment and ennui, and Charles' love. When Emma has conversations with people other then her husband you get a very obvious sense of ow much more lively they are. As if her husband is smothering her.
Our tragic heroine starts and affair and then acts foolishly out of desperation to be happy. Our modern perspective could get some very sour lessons from this novel, but personally, I love a tragic novel!
effloress's review against another edition
5.0
It is both grievous and ardent - certainly worth reading at least once!
chasejwise's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-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
2.0
hailin_10's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
sheilagarcia's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
sjstuart's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I love people-watching: observing passersby from a sidewalk café table, eavesdropping on loud conversations in a restaurant, that sort of thing. It's interesting to hear little snippets of other people's lives because, as ordinary as they usually are, they're a glimpse into some entirely different existence.
This book feels a little like that: a different world, and interesting, but quite ordinary. Everyone is flawed, but in realistic ways. No character is an idealized caricature. I'm sure we all know people just as blind to consequences as Emma when it comes to their own self interest; just as boring and clueless as Charles; as caddish as Rodolphe; as self-important as Homais. There is plenty of drama, but of the fairly prosaic sort that doesn't rely on incredible coincidences or extraordinary abilities.
As with eavesdropping on the street, there are a lot of trivial details: I didn't need that much detail on fabrics and carriages and plants and decor. But overall, it was fun to be a fly on the wall and observe all of the gossipy drama in Yonville and chez Bovary.
This book feels a little like that: a different world, and interesting, but quite ordinary. Everyone is flawed, but in realistic ways. No character is an idealized caricature. I'm sure we all know people just as blind to consequences as Emma when it comes to their own self interest; just as boring and clueless as Charles; as caddish as Rodolphe; as self-important as Homais. There is plenty of drama, but of the fairly prosaic sort that doesn't rely on incredible coincidences or extraordinary abilities.
As with eavesdropping on the street, there are a lot of trivial details: I didn't need that much detail on fabrics and carriages and plants and decor. But overall, it was fun to be a fly on the wall and observe all of the gossipy drama in Yonville and chez Bovary.
lonelyhyperion's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75