_marco_'s review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
5.0
Maupassant, as always, is brilliant. Each and every one of these short stories present different characters in different settings, yet they are all connected by something — a certain angst, an implicit cynicism that’s difficult to place, yet abundantly apparent in the sardonic tone with which the author writes. Despite this, there is still an inherent beauty in each of the characters he presents, a humanity that demands sympathy from the reader and forces identification with them.
“The Earthquake burying a whole nation beneath the ruins of their houses; the river bursting its banks, drowning peasants and their cattle, tearing rafters from roofs and sweeping all away; the triumphant army slaughtering all who resist, making prisoners of the rest, pillaging in the name of the sword and giving thanks to God amid the roar of cannon: all alike are terrifying visitations which shatter our belief of eternal Justice and the confidence we have been taught to place in divine protection and human reason.”
There is plenty to say about these stories, not the least of which is the way with which Maupassant describes place. He doesn’t just state time and place, but paints landscapes and genre scenes with his words. While the settings are beautiful in and of themselves, the way in which they reflect the plight of the characters is even more potent: to spiral into neurotics during an all-encompassing mountain blizzard; to plead divine aid among a grove of olive trees; to wait for death in the dry debilitating heat of the summer; all of these stories punctuated and inflated by their milieu.
In many of the stories, the mundane themes are expounded by profound questions of the world, of culture versus nature, of humanity, and of God; which, at least in my opinion, was profoundly thought-provoking, whether I agreed with Maupassant’s conclusions or not. Additionally, the veracity of the emotions are exquisitely rendered: The longing for youth, the desire to return to the past, the internal debate between human’s biology and intellect, grief, loss, ire, ecstasy, and infinite others. One can imagine the author seated at his desk, quietly inscribing on paper what he would have wished to shout in the dark.
I also found interesting the characters that Maupassant had chosen to depict: prostitutes, peasants, widows, unhappy women — he gives them such dignity, such humanity that usually is not usually afforded to them. Especially women.
Overall, I deeply enjoyed all of these stories. My favourites were: Boule de Suif, the Vendetta, Maison Tellier, Moonlight, Miss Harriet, the Olive Grove, A Portrait, and Idle Beauty. I cannot recommend this book enough
Content Warnings
Considering that this is an anthology, it would be pretty difficult to put a content warning for each and every one. I will say that there are many, and are most often related to misogyny and death.
sarahlobster's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
jonsbooks's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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
4.75
miyane1606's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
More...