Adina (way behind on reviews, some notifications) 's Reviews > Madame Bovary
Madame Bovary
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Adina (way behind on reviews, some notifications) 's review
bookshelves: classics, w-the-european-novel, 1001, w-mwl-alternative, france, the-literature-book-pre1900s
Oct 23, 2020
bookshelves: classics, w-the-european-novel, 1001, w-mwl-alternative, france, the-literature-book-pre1900s
Although it took me a while to finish and I read it in two languages and the same number of formats I can award it no less than 5 stars. When I was a teenager I avoided anything classic and this book was specifically on my black list. I thought that one book about an adulteress who does not end well is enough. I was wrong about running away from classics and also wrong about this being another Anna Karenina. While in this one Emma Bovary takes not one but two lovers, the drama is more around wanting too much from life, more than your condition or abilities and not being able to be content. It is also an excellent cautionary tale of execrable management of money. Oh, and against building an imaginary life from books.
By reading this novel in Romanian and listening to it in English I realized how important a good translation that resonates with the reader can be. I thought the Romanian translation to be rough and peasanty (not a word, I know) while the English one a bit more elevated and flowing. I very much preferred the latter and I am sure that my rating would have been lower had I continued to read it in Romanian. So, in case anyone doubted, TRANSLATORS ARE IMPORTANT and they can make or break the reading experience. Praised are the good ones. I also decided to read as much as possible in the original languages even if I am not an expert in that idiom.
By reading this novel in Romanian and listening to it in English I realized how important a good translation that resonates with the reader can be. I thought the Romanian translation to be rough and peasanty (not a word, I know) while the English one a bit more elevated and flowing. I very much preferred the latter and I am sure that my rating would have been lower had I continued to read it in Romanian. So, in case anyone doubted, TRANSLATORS ARE IMPORTANT and they can make or break the reading experience. Praised are the good ones. I also decided to read as much as possible in the original languages even if I am not an expert in that idiom.
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Reading Progress
August 18, 2016
– Shelved as:
to-read
August 18, 2016
– Shelved
August 18, 2016
– Shelved as:
classics
August 18, 2016
– Shelved as:
w-the-european-novel
January 29, 2018
– Shelved as:
1001
October 6, 2018
– Shelved as:
w-mwl-alternative
October 8, 2018
– Shelved as:
france
May 29, 2020
–
Started Reading
October 20, 2020
– Shelved as:
the-literature-book-pre1900s
October 23, 2020
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-39 of 39 (39 new)
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Sonia
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Oct 23, 2020 02:28PM
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Excellent review.
I thought Emma was a big innocent all the way through in spite of her reputation among readers of being the greatest adulterer in literary history. Perhaps Flaubert was just having a big joke at readers who, like Emma, 'read too much' and may not live enough in the real world. In the real world, Emma is just another casualty.
Excellent review." Yes, it was. It is not the first time I compare translations but it was the most noticeable because of the differences.
No need for regret. You're still young, so you should have plenty of time to explore books your younger self didn't want to read.
No need for regret. You're still young, so you should have plenty of time to explore books your younger self didn't wan..." Not enough if I am to finish my ever growing TBR.
You will never finish your TBR, nor should you want to, imo. You want to have things to look forward to!