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bill_chamberlin's review against another edition
3.0
I finally made my way through them all!
Some amusing, some ponderous, some outrageous, most bordering on offensive to some sensibilities...it was all there. Self-righteous piety, fart humor, unrequited love, faithfulness, beauty, love and many other aspects are all woven together to represent the eclectic group of pilgrims and their various backgrounds.
I was really struck by the inclusion, positive and negative, of overt Christian references; I just wasn't expecting that. I have not compared this to other translations, but the it seemed odd the last "tale" was actually a synopsis of the last tale. Then, there was "Chaucer's Retractions" at the end, something else I didn't quite expect.
Likely, very few of the tales will stick with me over the long haul. Still, for the most part this is worth taking the time to consume. I'm not sure my reading style was consistent with the rhythm, meter and intended flow of the writing (I'm not well-read in verse/poetry). Unless it is a manipulation of the translation, I was very impressed by Chaucer's seeming wealth of knowledge on a variety of topics.
I will credit the [i]Amy Farrah Fowler[/i] character from [u]The Big Bang Theory[/u] and her excerpt of "The Miller's Tale" for being the impetus behind my pulling this off the shelf after all the years I have owned it and committing to reading.
Some amusing, some ponderous, some outrageous, most bordering on offensive to some sensibilities...it was all there. Self-righteous piety, fart humor, unrequited love, faithfulness, beauty, love and many other aspects are all woven together to represent the eclectic group of pilgrims and their various backgrounds.
I was really struck by the inclusion, positive and negative, of overt Christian references; I just wasn't expecting that. I have not compared this to other translations, but the it seemed odd the last "tale" was actually a synopsis of the last tale. Then, there was "Chaucer's Retractions" at the end, something else I didn't quite expect.
Likely, very few of the tales will stick with me over the long haul. Still, for the most part this is worth taking the time to consume. I'm not sure my reading style was consistent with the rhythm, meter and intended flow of the writing (I'm not well-read in verse/poetry). Unless it is a manipulation of the translation, I was very impressed by Chaucer's seeming wealth of knowledge on a variety of topics.
I will credit the [i]Amy Farrah Fowler[/i] character from [u]The Big Bang Theory[/u] and her excerpt of "The Miller's Tale" for being the impetus behind my pulling this off the shelf after all the years I have owned it and committing to reading.
ntrodebe's review against another edition
3.0
Opened my print copy to find out it was in Middle English and immediately downloaded a modern translation audiobook. Surprisingly entertaining for several tales, but also some major clunkers included the drawn out sermon of a final tale
coleridgegirl's review against another edition
5.0
I’m kind of obsessed with the Middle Ages and Chaucer. There’s a reason this is one of the most significant works of literature.
micholas's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
It’s a real pleasure to have been shared a joke from across so many years. Pretty much liked all of the stories but Chaucer is at his best when he’s giving free rein to viciousness and vulgarity. Read a translation; anxious to try again in Middle English.
stevont's review against another edition
Honestly just didn't enjoy the plots of the Tales themselves, found them frustratingly dull. Loved the concept and the language and the exposure to history
marc129's review against another edition
Not really a relaxed reading. No surprise there: it's more than 600 years old. It's a very uneven book: some stories are very amateuristic, others are gems. I enjoyed the nice psychological sketches of the knight, woman from Bath, clerk, landowner, drainage gobbler, and the nun priest (!).
chilotte's review against another edition
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5