A review by jonmayb
Madame Bovary: Contexts, Critical Reception by Gustave Flaubert

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

I feel like I would have enjoyed this book more had I given myself more time to read it, but my copy came in frighteningly close to the date I had to read it by, so I had to cram it. I don't think this a bad novel by any means- I think Flaubert wrote an excellent novel, rich with subtleties and allusions. Rather, it just wasn't the book for me. Emma's boredom and dissatisfaction seemed to resonate too much with me as a reader, as most of the novel dragged on. Emma's desperate search for happiness became clearly in vain early on in the novel and relentlessly spiraled for the rest of it. I understand and respect Flaubert's authorial choices, but they did not produce an enjoyable read for me.