hiddeninbooks's review against another edition
sad
slow-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? It's complicated
3.75
Stimulating read, with interesting language.
I wish the first Madam Bovary hadn't been so quickly and neatly killed off. I think the doctor's emotional affair is treated softly relative to the two affairs of his second wife, quickly overshadowed by the first Madam Bovary's lack of forthrightness with regards to the mortgages on her properties, and all of it set aside as she conveniently dies shortly thereafter. Were the first Madam Bovary to live, it would have left the doctor longer to contend with being in the position his second wife finds herself in.
The fact that the doctor dies of a broken heart, while his second wife, the presumably titular Madam Bovary, dies from suicide, and all the disgrace therein, again points to their disjointed treatment. I also wish that there might have been some sort of reflective comment on the fact that Madam Bovary underwent a minor (though perhaps not experienced as such given the time period) sexual assault by a man she sought aid from just prior to her suicide.
The fact that the doctor dies of a broken heart, while his second wife, the presumably titular Madam Bovary, dies from suicide, and all the disgrace therein, again points to their disjointed treatment. I also wish that there might have been some sort of reflective comment on the fact that Madam Bovary underwent a minor (though perhaps not experienced as such given the time period) sexual assault by a man she sought aid from just prior to her suicide.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Body horror, Suicide, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Child abuse, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Racial slurs
vincef's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Death, Blood, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Religious bigotry, Misogyny, Classism, Suicide, Sexism, Racial slurs, Murder, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Mental illness, Infidelity, and Ableism
Moderate: Medical trauma, Medical content, and Gaslighting
Minor: Pregnancy
mala_and_the_spirits's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Um, ok.
Tbh, I listened to this audiobook because the novel was on my tbr and actually I have much more books I want to read/listen to currently so I really do not know why I even picked this up. But I liked it.
I feel like 2/3 of the book was just discribtion of the environment but I was kind of nice that way. To me personally, this also had a great message: Live your own life, no one will come and save you and be grateful for what you have. Feeling gratitude and accepting your current situation does not mean that you can not or will not change it. To myself, this was a important and dramatic reminder to live in presence and not (completly) in dreams. And it is funny because this was what I just needed right now.
And I hated the pharmacist!
If you want to listen to the German audiobook, the WDR 5 published a good and ad-free version on spotify.
Tbh, I listened to this audiobook because the novel was on my tbr and actually I have much more books I want to read/listen to currently so I really do not know why I even picked this up. But I liked it.
I feel like 2/3 of the book was just discribtion of the environment but I was kind of nice that way. To me personally, this also had a great message: Live your own life, no one will come and save you and be grateful for what you have. Feeling gratitude and accepting your current situation does not mean that you can not or will not change it. To myself, this was a important and dramatic reminder to live in presence and not (completly) in dreams. And it is funny because this was what I just needed right now.
And I hated the pharmacist!
If you want to listen to the German audiobook, the WDR 5 published a good and ad-free version on spotify.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Pregnancy, Panic attacks/disorders, and Medical content
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