tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3694427406934260419.post7003247822084660036..comments2023-10-31T13:07:05.461+00:00Comments on Park Benches & Bookends: Madame Bovary Part 1Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08861424110678889637noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3694427406934260419.post-55981593842582532222010-10-17T06:37:24.324+01:002010-10-17T06:37:24.324+01:00Emma Bovary's status as a reader makes me hope...Emma Bovary's status as a reader makes me hope/think I'd feel some sort of a connection with her if I ever met her, Jessica, but she's so self-absorbed in part one that I felt much closer to her boring, "unambitious" husband Charles instead. I think this is part of Flaubert's shtick: not taking sides and making the reader decide which of the two characters deserves more empathy at the end of the day. In any event, I enjoyed reading your post and agree that this novel is much more "realistic" than I might have anticipated beforehand. Nice to meet you and your blog, by the way!Richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01746599416342846897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3694427406934260419.post-6973182649245760672010-10-16T18:19:52.213+01:002010-10-16T18:19:52.213+01:00Hello there! Just popping by to say that I love yo...Hello there! Just popping by to say that I love your blog, and that I've given it an award!<br /><br />Take a peek, and thanks for blogging:<br />http://subtlemelodrama.blogspot.com/2010/10/i-say-shotgun-you-say-wedding.html<br /><br />Bethany x<br /><br />P.S I LOVED Madame Bovary!Bethanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14467655046379247950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3694427406934260419.post-51697987406648373052010-10-16T17:08:18.617+01:002010-10-16T17:08:18.617+01:00I was really surprised by how normal Emma was too....I was really surprised by how normal Emma was too. I had a preconceived notion that she was a horrible person too. <br /><br />By the way, if you'd like to participate, I've tagged you. Check it out here... <br /><br />http://avidreader25.blogspot.com/2010/10/tagged-one-year.htmlMelissa (Avid Reader)https://www.blogger.com/profile/02119628715475021774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3694427406934260419.post-87722451384910060342010-10-16T02:02:57.033+01:002010-10-16T02:02:57.033+01:00I think Emma is quite bored before she gets marrie...I think Emma is quite bored before she gets married. I thnk that's part of why she marries him. Even going back to her convent days, she was turning to books to shake up her world a little bit. So, dull as Charles is, I don't ascribe any blame to him at this point; he really loves her. I think it's very hard to get to know Emma -- she's so detached, it's like she was born bored.Isabella Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10735198478395875257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3694427406934260419.post-66373649868248235892010-10-16T00:56:42.332+01:002010-10-16T00:56:42.332+01:00It's funny how some books take on that tinge o...It's funny how some books take on that tinge of "being difficult"; if you miss them in school, it can be hard to take them on again. And, yet, this particular story seems so relevant.Buried In Printhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00808249065026802365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3694427406934260419.post-14583787294742310572010-10-15T21:22:38.644+01:002010-10-15T21:22:38.644+01:00Shelly - I think ppl can have unrealistic expectat...Shelly - I think ppl can have unrealistic expectations but I suppose in those days it was far worse and certainly for Emma since she didnt really have a choice on her marriage partner.<br /><br />LindyLouMac - it is quite modern so far, whether my opinion changes remains to be seen.<br /><br />Anthony - I didnt mean that Madame Bovary was chicklit of its day, just that the novels that Emma reads (romance novels) have given her unrealistic expectations and this reminded me of the chicklit article I read years ago. I've read my fair share of modern chicklit and Madame Bovary is far too realistic to fit anywhere near that catogory. Your comment has got me really courious about Don Quixote so I think I'll check that out.<br /><br />JoAnn - I have tried to find the original article but unfortunately I have been unable to.<br /><br />Jillian - The above was only the first 58 pages, should be interesting to see how it develops.Jessicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08861424110678889637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3694427406934260419.post-66373785810065181842010-10-15T20:16:49.987+01:002010-10-15T20:16:49.987+01:00This story sounds really good!This story sounds really good!*ೃ༄ Jillianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14139487177036647728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3694427406934260419.post-23584561625342087392010-10-15T19:07:42.319+01:002010-10-15T19:07:42.319+01:00Unrealistic expectations does appear to be a timel...Unrealistic expectations does appear to be a timeless topic, doesn't it? Interesting that the BBC cites chick lit though...JoAnnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13691864361197071517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3694427406934260419.post-22085616661515307092010-10-15T19:04:08.574+01:002010-10-15T19:04:08.574+01:00I am enjoying the implication you don't quite ...I am enjoying the implication you don't quite make, that Flaubert was writing the chick lit of his day. Without the style and technique, I guess the plot of <i>Madame Bovary</i> would fit into the darker end of the chick lit genre.<br /><br />In her love of romantic novels, and the trouble it gets poor Emma into, there are clearly parallels with the madness of <i>Don Quixote</i>.ABhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00424190778506425886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3694427406934260419.post-56672570753611546002010-10-15T17:19:22.112+01:002010-10-15T17:19:22.112+01:00It is a long time since I read this but I do recal...It is a long time since I read this but I do recall thinking that things were not all that different in her time compared to ours after all!LindyLouMachttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12282788551449445133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3694427406934260419.post-30120751308678330742010-10-15T15:45:02.263+01:002010-10-15T15:45:02.263+01:00This book does seem rather timeless in that a lot ...This book does seem rather timeless in that a lot of people still do have unrealistic expectations about romantic love and marriage. I'm just glad that nowadays we have better ways of dealing with it.Shelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18408471966661831444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3694427406934260419.post-89814250179556436442010-10-15T08:57:24.334+01:002010-10-15T08:57:24.334+01:00Zara - haha exactly
Amanda - so far I'd say i...Zara - haha exactly<br /><br />Amanda - so far I'd say its a 3/5 based on part one - its ok. We will see if that goes up or down over the next couple of days LOL<br /><br />irisonbooks - yes so far she just seems abit disillutioned and depressed.<br /><br />pickygirlfoodfilmfiction - I agree completely, this is also my first reading of this book so its interesting we agree <br /><br />Frances - so far there arent likeable characters at all! but perhaps they are just realistic?<br /><br />Frl. Irene Palfy - I agree, its quite glamorous I think<br /><br />Emily - yes so far I can't blame Emma (I think this may change as a child comes into it)I many ways she is lucky that her husband does take an interest in her but she doen't know this.<br /><br />Bellezza - yes, I can easily see a new modern adaptation of this so far, its quite modern in many waysJessicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08861424110678889637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3694427406934260419.post-47745953009027954232010-10-15T01:28:02.696+01:002010-10-15T01:28:02.696+01:00Flaubert blames too many romance novels, I blame D...Flaubert blames too many romance novels, I blame Disney today. In a very real sense, I think they have created a feeling for little girls that 'someday my prince will come", and what if he does? What if he's a huge disappointment? No one can fulfill another's expectations, or fully make someone else happy, and it's such a pity that Emma cannot see what she has to rejoice in. She can only see the darkness and disappointment, no hope anywhere.Bellezza https://www.blogger.com/profile/18073864187188953633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3694427406934260419.post-65531874419057638892010-10-15T00:49:49.237+01:002010-10-15T00:49:49.237+01:00I, too, was surprised how long it takes for Emma&#...I, too, was surprised how long it takes for Emma's truly "bad behavior" to come on to the scene.<br /><br />For me, part of what ameliorates Emma's poor choices is that she basically has no training or agency in choosing the life she ends up in. She hardly knows Charles at ALL before agreeing to his (indirect) proposal, and she has so little life experience, having only lived on her father's farm. Just as it seems unsurprising that Emma finds life less glamorous than she anticipated, it seems entirely unsurprising to me that structuring society like this (women cosseted at home until they're married off in what amounts to a brokered financial deal) would result in unhappy housewives and women who "act out."Emilyhttp://www.eveningallafternoon.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3694427406934260419.post-49574614944643786692010-10-14T21:48:25.078+01:002010-10-14T21:48:25.078+01:00"The original desperate housewife"--oh, ..."The original desperate housewife"--oh, I love that! I do think it's interesting to see this in a book written so long ago. It wasn't just 1950s America that had an abundance of it.Amyhttp://www.newcenturyreading.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3694427406934260419.post-9664119019036175632010-10-14T21:47:24.318+01:002010-10-14T21:47:24.318+01:00No very sophisticated comment but: I LOVE this cov...No very sophisticated comment but: I LOVE this cover! :")Irene Palfyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13271957738785829189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3694427406934260419.post-64160524630951186102010-10-14T21:41:30.021+01:002010-10-14T21:41:30.021+01:00Remarkable that something so fine can be crafted o...Remarkable that something so fine can be crafted out of such a cast of dislikable characters. Find it so funny that many are calling the book "The Original Desperate Housewife" and likening Emma to a current day reality tv star. Gauche in the same way as many of you have suggested. Her boredom is understandable. He reaction to that boredom is ... well, uh... let's keep reading. :)<br /><br />Thanks so much for reading along!Franceshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12597485569740436880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3694427406934260419.post-33044444587618010602010-10-14T18:15:47.700+01:002010-10-14T18:15:47.700+01:00I really didn't know much about this novel goi...I really didn't know much about this novel going in, and so far I'm liking it.<br /><br />I agree - yes, Emma is selfish, but at the same time, I sort of feel for her. She's bored. She has no real control over her situation. She feels trapped. Charles, though sweet, is just so darn dull. <br /><br />We shall see...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3694427406934260419.post-14852887311156914252010-10-14T15:55:12.743+01:002010-10-14T15:55:12.743+01:00The one thing I remember most clearly about my fir...The one thing I remember most clearly about my first experience of Madame Bovary was that I thought Emma very selfish. I have not experienced that as strongly in this reread of the first part, but I do agree with you, she is wishing for too much in a very realistically described world. (Although I admit, I do wish my future husband to not be like Charles).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3694427406934260419.post-15000354642927047692010-10-14T14:36:28.767+01:002010-10-14T14:36:28.767+01:00Good luck with this one. I admit it's one of m...Good luck with this one. I admit it's one of my least favorite novels ever. :/Amandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07026099426503180472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3694427406934260419.post-86988427034128411712010-10-14T13:46:31.059+01:002010-10-14T13:46:31.059+01:00I quite enjoyed this, but I did keep thinking &quo...I quite enjoyed this, but I did keep thinking "join the club."Zarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03351228605553052771noreply@blogger.com