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lucylag's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
mollyofearth's review
adventurous
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
sarahheidmann's review
adventurous
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
galaheadh's review against another edition
94 pages of story and 35 pages of end notes makes for a pretty disjointed read, i did enjoy and appreciate a lot about the book but also feel like i've been studying. not all 18th century books can be tristram shandy i suppose
i think i would like to read it in french some time
i think i would like to read it in french some time
uncertaintyismyspecialty's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.5
I get that its supposed to be a critique against society, but holy shit is it boring. Boring and so. goddamn. repetitive.
bpdd's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-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
3.25
tini25's review
adventurous
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
sydtravis's review
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
amesish's review
5.0
"What is this optimism?" [...] "It is the madness of maintaining that everything is right when it is wrong."
"It is demonstrable that things cannot be otherwise than they are [...] Consequently they who assert that all is well have said a foolish thing, they should have said all is for the best."
"Candide" remains one of my favorite reads for the simple fact that amid the greatest range of horrors life can present, Pangloss (and eventually Candide) embraces an unflinching optimism generally reserved for the overwhelmingly naïve and characters in musicals. However, Pangloss' particular brand of madness is not the result of naïveté, but the result of a Buddhist-like acceptance of what is. For Pangloss, "que sera, sera" is not the "throw the hands up, throw the towel in" mantra of one who no longer cares or relinquishes any desire for control. Instead, Pangloss' optimism is an existentialist exercise in reinterpreting one's personal history to suss out purpose and promise. Genius. It's the only way to live without regrets--because "all is for the best."
"It is demonstrable that things cannot be otherwise than they are [...] Consequently they who assert that all is well have said a foolish thing, they should have said all is for the best."
"Candide" remains one of my favorite reads for the simple fact that amid the greatest range of horrors life can present, Pangloss (and eventually Candide) embraces an unflinching optimism generally reserved for the overwhelmingly naïve and characters in musicals. However, Pangloss' particular brand of madness is not the result of naïveté, but the result of a Buddhist-like acceptance of what is. For Pangloss, "que sera, sera" is not the "throw the hands up, throw the towel in" mantra of one who no longer cares or relinquishes any desire for control. Instead, Pangloss' optimism is an existentialist exercise in reinterpreting one's personal history to suss out purpose and promise. Genius. It's the only way to live without regrets--because "all is for the best."