Has anyone read Madame Bovary?

Mrs.Hizzo · February 2011

I just finished it for my book group this month and wondered if anybody remembers it well enough to discuss. Is it just me, or it the entire thing made up of completely unlikable characters?

Stacyc625 · February 2011

Totally unlikeable.

I read that 2x in college. Was NOT a fav of mine.

Mrs.Hizzo · February 2011

Stacyc625:
Totally unlikeable.

I read that 2x in college. Was NOT a fav of mine.

OK, thank you. I was wondering if there was someone I was supposed to find sympathetic. But they're all either selfish and conniving, or totally contemptible.

Stacyc625 · February 2011

Have you ever read the book Clarissa ? by samuel richardson

It is the longest real novel in the English language- I read it and did my undergrad thesis on it. Its obviously a long read- but the characters are really well done.

Mrs.Hizzo · February 2011

Stacyc625:
Have you ever read the book Clarissa ? by samuel richardson

It is the longest real novel in the English language- I read it and did my undergrad thesis on it. Its obviously a long read- but the characters are really well done.

No. In fact, I've never heard of it. To be honest, I normally only read classics if it's somehow required. So, book group, a class, or if it's the one my dad gives me for Christmas every year.

Speaking of which, this year he gave me volume one of Mark Twain's autobiography. Have you heard of it? I haven't started it yet and it looks pretty daunting, but people keep telling me it's supposed to be wonderful. (Not that anyone who tells me this has actually read it themselves.)

Stacyc625 · February 2011

Mrs.Hizzo:
Stacyc625:

Have you ever read the book Clarissa ? by samuel richardson

It is the longest real novel in the English language- I read it and did my undergrad thesis on it. Its obviously a long read- but the characters are really well done.

No. In fact, I've never heard of it. To be honest, I normally only read classics if it's somehow required. So, book group, a class, or if it's the one my dad gives me for Christmas every year.

Speaking of which, this year he gave me volume one of Mark Twain's autobiography. Have you heard of it? I haven't started it yet and it looks pretty daunting, but people keep telling me it's supposed to be wonderful. (Not that anyone who tells me this has actually read it themselves.)

yes I read it. My opinion is a tad skewed though- i am not a big fan of MT. I was longwinded, very pompous and constant complaining about people/things that just don't have any real importance. I wasn't a fan. However, i have heard that tons of people liked it.

Mrs.Hizzo · February 2011

Stacyc625:
Mrs.Hizzo:
Stacyc625:

Have you ever read the book Clarissa ? by samuel richardson

It is the longest real novel in the English language- I read it and did my undergrad thesis on it. Its obviously a long read- but the characters are really well done.

No. In fact, I've never heard of it. To be honest, I normally only read classics if it's somehow required. So, book group, a class, or if it's the one my dad gives me for Christmas every year.

Speaking of which, this year he gave me volume one of Mark Twain's autobiography. Have you heard of it? I haven't started it yet and it looks pretty daunting, but people keep telling me it's supposed to be wonderful. (Not that anyone who tells me this has actually read it themselves.)

yes I read it. My opinion is a tad skewed though- i am not a big fan of MT. I was longwinded, very pompous and constant complaining about people/things that just don't have any real importance. I wasn't a fan. However, i have heard that tons of people liked it.

Hmmm, good to know. I'll have to get back to you after I read it. Could be a while, the thing is so huge, I'm not sure if my dad gave to me to read or to use for home protection.

Stacyc625 · February 2011

lol @ home protection. That is like MOST of the books I read. Sadly- my reading time right now is just pathetically short. I have like four books sitting on my nightstand and they just sit and tease me.

Totally let me know what you think- I just found it rather pompous in tone.

almostjennifer · February 2011

Why did we all have to read that book in school anyway? I just finished Jane Eyre. Much better.

gatogrrl · February 2011

I just read it about 2 years ago. I thought it was hilarious. There's a scene where Flaubert weaves an over-the-top love scene between Rodolphe and Madame Bovary with an agricultural speech about various crops and manure -- it's so funny. My impression was that Flaubert was a very cynical guy, and mostly making fun of the characters, while still, on some level, believing in Mme. Bovary. She wants to be better, but she's pretty clueless, and there's nowhere to look for inspiration in society. They're all stupid. The real stuff is the basic stuff -- eating, drinking, sleeping. Everything else is empty rhetoric.

So I liked that aspect; I guess I'm pretty cynical myself so all this went over well with me.

mrsfirefly · February 2011

I agree. It's been a couple of years, but when I read it I had a Norton edition, and I recall some of the criticism saying that it's noteworthy because it's considered the first "modern" novel. One of the characteristics of a "modern" novel can be having entirely unlikable characters. I thought this was interesting because I find it difficult to find books that I enjoy because of this. While I did like Madame Bovary, I prefer novels that have one primarily good, sympathetic character.

mrsfirefly · February 2011

almostjennifer:
Why did we all have to read that book in school anyway? I just finished Jane Eyre. Much better.

I love Jane Eyre. I was teaching it in my 3rd tri with DD and my students always teased that it would be DD's favorite book. So many of my students (all girls) thought Rochester was a big hunk and couldn't see what a jerk he was. We paired it with Wide Sargasso Sea which is Bertha's story (by Jean Rhys and written maybe a hundred years after JE). I highly recommend WSS if you liked JE.

almostjennifer · February 2011

mrsfirefly:

almostjennifer:
Why did we all have to read that book in school anyway? I just finished Jane Eyre. Much better.

I love Jane Eyre. I was teaching it in my 3rd tri with DD and my students always teased that it would be DD's favorite book. So many of my students (all girls) thought Rochester was a big hunk and couldn't see what a jerk he was. We paired it with Wide Sargasso Sea which is Bertha's story (by Jean Rhys and written maybe a hundred years after JE). I highly recommend WSS if you liked JE.

I never heard of WSS! I will have to get that. Thanks!

aspade · February 2011

MB may be my very favorite novel of all time--or at least top five. I like to read it every few years. There are bad translations, however (same is very true of some of the Russian novels).

I agree that ultimately none of the characters are likable, but it's kind of what's interesting about the novel. It's like watching a train wreck--you know it's about to end badly, but you cannot look away. I do get caught up a bit in Emma's fantasies and wanting a different, more exciting life. I mean, who can blame her with that booby for a husband?

Plus Flaubert is a master. The scene the pp mentioned with the agricultural fair, the scene in the woods, etc. etc. etc.

Now I want to go read it AGAIN!!

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