Reviews

Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert

rileyblundellwriter's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

remmslupin's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

maximum_moxie's review against another edition

4.0

Say what you will about the conclusions he draws and where his sympathies lie, but Flaubert is one of the few male writers who really captures the ideas and idle fancies of a woman. Of course, this isn't to say all women are like Emma--willing to throw away everything for fantasy. But all of us have thought like her at some point, and a man expressing female thought accurately is a rarer thing indeed.

notasilkycat's review against another edition

5.0

There was something special about re-reading Madame Bovary while traveling around Normandy. I started reading it while we were staying in Rouen, a hometown of Flaubert himself. I read Madame Bovary for the first time in my twenties and for years remembered it as a novel of significance. And it is exactly the case. 

This novel can be easily set in our time, there are endless parallels a reader can draw. I love this novel in all its complexity and layers but appreciate the most its psychological aspect.  

englishmajorsurvivor's review against another edition

challenging sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Never been more frustrated at a protagonist in my life, which in this case isn't a bad thing.  Flaubert's language kept me turning the pages.

aceface's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

headinthebooks's review against another edition

3.0

3 stars!

I liked this! I just didn't like Emma Bovary and her actings. But the ending did ruin me! I am now in tears! The story was fine, I just had to have an audiobook on the side to really made me read some cause this was a slow read for me! I like the relationships that happened, I liked the characters! It's great! But the pacing just not for me! It's slooooow.. so take that in mind before reading this!

I might read this one when I get older, I think I might have read this book too early in my life. I might be too young to really appreciate it!

nothing7's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.75

howtoreadmore's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

gmmaria's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5