French Classics in French and English: French Classics in French and English: Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert (Dual-Language Book) (Paperback)

from cranmergirl

While I enjoyed the writing and was entertained by the story, I could not relate to the protagonist of this classic novel in any way. If Flaubert was truly Emma Bovary, as he famously said, that is quite sad for him! There was not much to like about her. She was shallow, pretentious and totally s...

from jennyo

Well, I'm glad I can finally say I've read this book now, but I can't say I was particularly wild about it. I did think it was very well written, and remarkably easy to read (I'm not sure why I always think Classics are going to be difficult...), but I found all the characters irritating and didn...

from Cecrow

I came to Madame Bovary bearing in mind two quotes: author Dan Simmons' claim that it "separated the history of novels into two categories - Before Madame Bovary and After Madame Bovary"; and what Henry James said, that this novel "has a perfection that not only stamps it, but that makes it stand...

from dazzyj

How could a book in which nearly every character is contemptible be so compelling? Two reasons: it is faultlessly constructed, and it is heartbreakingly true. Easy to see why many people call it the perfect novel. (PS: Francis Steegmuller's transaltion is very good, being unobtrusive but not blan...

from LisaMaria_C

I was assigned this in high school--and remember being decidedly unimpressed--bored. Well, I don't think I can blame that on the translation, I just think that there are some books you're incapable of appreciating, if not because you're too young, then maybe because you just haven't read enough. ...