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A review by lexsven
Candide by Voltaire
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I bought this book for $1 at a used book store in a cute town that sells apple pie. I know Voltaire was a famous writer and the cover of this book (the cover I see is much different with wavy purple lines) was so lovely (and the price so low) I decided to buy it.
I really enjoyed this addition for it's footnotes. They were not too abundant, but did definitely add to my understanding of the story. They were also very witty notes that I felt matched Voltaire's tone.
The story fo this short book was all over the place. Most of the chapters themselves were no longer than 3 pages and every chapter was on a very different subject. They all seemed to have their own plot line. None of the chapters got very in depth on any of the happenings and so it felt like the story was flying by. Most of the chapters were hard for me to get into except one.
Chapter 24 really spoke to me. Paquette's narrative and the short section that tells of her backstory (many character's got to tell of how they came to be where they meet with Candide) struck me very hard. I'm sure her words resonated with women than as they did with me now. Voltaire must have been a very interesting man of the time to understand the plight of women and be able to portray it so well on paper.
There was also a funny quote in this chapter where naive Candide says "You aver very hard of belief" and his companion responds "I have lived". This part I found very funny. I have definitely been both people myself before. Some days I really want to be the glass half full and hopeful, and other's there is no convincing me of the natural good of people.
This book overall makes very interesting social commentary of society and people at the time, but reading it now, it is still clearly very applicable. Many of the scenarios Voltaire describes and satirizes could very well happen today. The issues he touched on were also very revolutionary for the time and I see why Catherine the Great of Hulu would love him so much. His criticisms are very cutting but well phrased and dynamic. I also think it was very funny that he might make a jab at one of his critics in this book.
Another thing I found very fun about this book is that the characters are all a little quirky in their own ways. I find most of them at least a little bit lovable. Even our silly Candide who sees all is so well in the world and things happen to work out in a way that will benefit him at the end. And the end of this book seems quite silly, but also like a nice way to live life, even if Voltaire is satirizing the situation.
If someone has not read this book, I would recommend it. It is short, funny, and dynamic, but you might need to be in the right mood to read it as it did take all my focus when reading it.
I really enjoyed this addition for it's footnotes. They were not too abundant, but did definitely add to my understanding of the story. They were also very witty notes that I felt matched Voltaire's tone.
The story fo this short book was all over the place. Most of the chapters themselves were no longer than 3 pages and every chapter was on a very different subject. They all seemed to have their own plot line. None of the chapters got very in depth on any of the happenings and so it felt like the story was flying by. Most of the chapters were hard for me to get into except one.
Chapter 24 really spoke to me. Paquette's narrative and the short section that tells of her backstory (many character's got to tell of how they came to be where they meet with Candide) struck me very hard. I'm sure her words resonated with women than as they did with me now. Voltaire must have been a very interesting man of the time to understand the plight of women and be able to portray it so well on paper.
There was also a funny quote in this chapter where naive Candide says "You aver very hard of belief" and his companion responds "I have lived". This part I found very funny. I have definitely been both people myself before. Some days I really want to be the glass half full and hopeful, and other's there is no convincing me of the natural good of people.
This book overall makes very interesting social commentary of society and people at the time, but reading it now, it is still clearly very applicable. Many of the scenarios Voltaire describes and satirizes could very well happen today. The issues he touched on were also very revolutionary for the time and I see why Catherine the Great of Hulu would love him so much. His criticisms are very cutting but well phrased and dynamic. I also think it was very funny that he might make a jab at one of his critics in this book.
Another thing I found very fun about this book is that the characters are all a little quirky in their own ways. I find most of them at least a little bit lovable. Even our silly Candide who sees all is so well in the world and things happen to work out in a way that will benefit him at the end. And the end of this book seems quite silly, but also like a nice way to live life, even if Voltaire is satirizing the situation.
If someone has not read this book, I would recommend it. It is short, funny, and dynamic, but you might need to be in the right mood to read it as it did take all my focus when reading it.