Madame Bovary, with eBook Audiobook

" Amazing novel! Very keen psychological insight that's just as relevant today as it was when written over 160 years ago. "

" Beautifully written/translated but the story itself bored me. Madame Bovary is rather irritating and unlikeable. I just could note get into the story but finished it because the writing was that good. "

" Beautifully written sad story--with a central character that I wanted to shake into reality numerous times. I can see why this novel was considered to be shocking, not just because of the adultery but because of the dim view of the church articulated by some characters. I'm so glad that I read this because of the gorgeous descriptive passages and the view of life in provincial France at that time. "

" It was a decent book and I can understand why it was scandalous in its time but it was difficult making myself read it. What a whiner Emma was. I wanted to strangle her myself. "

" It was quite easy to read, I realy enjoyed the naturalistic style, and the interplay in the some of the scenes, the seduction scene at the fair in particular. It did rather seem as if Flaubert was writing a novel about a woman from a novel who got stuck in real life, and as she was in real life and not a novel ended up suffering horrendously for it. I got the impression if she were in Jane Austen, or Thackery she would have enjoyed herself much more. As it was she was a woman in a time, without any freedom or hope. She also reminded me a little of what I dislike about "modern" women, with her obsession with fashion magazines, society and fashion. So I managed to quiet enjoy the book, without caring much about the characters in the story. It some ways it reminded me quite a bit of Hardy or Zola. "

" I was not a fan. I don't care to read "for my own good", and there was no particular pleasure in either plot or characters. It came across much more as an extended expression of the author's own prejudices than anything else. "

" I was assigned this book for a college class and it made me realize why I love reading so much. The story is so tragic, and yet the writing is so beautiful. There is much in here about the French class system too, but at its heart it's a story about Emma. "

" All I could think while reading this book was, "I cannot wait for this girl to die." "

" Quite an interesting story. A woman who has affairs and spends all of her husband's money. And yet, he loves her unconditionally. Dummy!! A good classic overall. "

" I was not a fan. I don't care to read "for my own good", and there was no particular pleasure in either plot or characters. It came across much more as an extended expression of the author's own prejudices than anything else. "

" Felt too old. I could not get attached to her. "

" Beautifully written sad story--with a central character that I wanted to shake into reality numerous times. I can see why this novel was considered to be shocking, not just because of the adultery but because of the dim view of the church articulated by some characters. I'm so glad that I read this because of the gorgeous descriptive passages and the view of life in provincial France at that time. "

" This book left me thinking one thing "be happy with what you have." "

" With beauty spilling from ever page it's easy to understand why Madame Bovary is a classic. That said, with so many tragedies paving the passage of time it would be nice to have more books where the female, doesn't, die at the end. This issues aside Madame Bovary is a believable portrate of a woman suffering from her dreams and cravings. "

" Am I the only one who felt for Charles? I swear I felt like diving into the book and giving Charles a big hug and Emma a BIG SLAP "

" That was probably the most painful bit of reading I've ever done. It took a little over a year for me to push through this book. :( "

" Extremely Boring! I couldn't even finish this book. "

" Definitely not one of my favorites... I felt as it was lacking real substance - trying to make a statement without really saying anything at all. And too much of a soap-opera. "

" I hated this book when it was assigned to me my senior year of high school. Assuming I'd changed since then, I gave it another go. Turns out I had good sense as an 18-year-old. I'm putting it down after 170 unsatisfying pages. "

" Read it in my teen years. A masterpiece and a model of brilliant writing and composition. Each sentence is polished to perfection. "

" This is one of the most depressing and annoying books I've read in a long time. I'm sure there are some themes here that I'm supposed to appreciate, but I'm not sure how this one has stood the test of time. "

" A woman ahead of her time! You go, Emma! "

" I just remember reading this in college and thinking, "UGH. Mme. Bovary, WHY DO YOU SUCK SO MUCH. Also: everyone else: you're kind of lame too." Not love-inspiring. "

" Absolutely masterful. Brilliantly sardonic and satirical, Flaubert is a true master of writing and really proves that less is more. "

" I could not finish this book. Flaubert is good at describing landscapes but for every 10 pages you're lucky to get a page of plot. Maybe he should have spent his time describing picture books to the blind. At least his writing would have purpose. "

" This is the third time I have read this book and each time I find something else out about the book. A masterful piece of writing. "

" Decided I better read this after watching the TV adaptation. "

" Art that warns you about the evils of art. message received, flaubert. also this translation by lydia davis is superb. "

" I have read this many times at different stages of my life. It still has the same impact. "

" ~ my favourite book ~ "

" Flaubert gave the girl the shaft. Well written, (though I have not read it in French) but really, only Mrs. Robinson had to take it harder than this. "

" Elegantly cruel, Flaubert creates a near perfect novel, a magnificent blueprint for what is to follow. "

" Kept waiting for some redemption - nope "

" ACK! So depressing. I'm done with foreign classics! Even harder to stay with than Anna Karenina! "

" a bit boring with all unnecessary side stories. or maybe it's just me. "

" I read this for my Great Books discussion group. I was happy to have this motivation to read an important classic I had missed and would probably not have gotten around to reading otherwise. I'm looking forward to our group discussion. "

" Nothing to write home about! "

" "Castigat ridendo mores . . ." "

" Finally finished it. Sigh, poor Emma. She really just needed a job. "

" I'm sure this issue has been discussed at length, but why is this a book about adultery? It was her financial debt that brought about her downfall. That and her complete self-absorption. "

" I had to fight my way through to the end of this one. Perhaps something was missing in the translation? "

" We read this classic for our book club. What a great read! "

" She should have suffered more. "

" I had some trouble getting through part 1, but it was worth it as it sets the stage for part 2. My favorite character in the story is Monsieur Homais who is very amusing and a bit of a quack. "

" Not very used to Flaubert's impersonal style, I'm afraid, since this is my first time reading something of his. "

" This book sucked. Do NOT read LOL "

" I swear this chick is bi polar or something. "

" currently rereading after many years after seeing the restored lewat djam malam. emma bovary is laila, both longing to transcend their world but failing because they pin the wrong things on their pinterest ancien's boards. "

" found it boring after a few pages "

" Fascinating. Full of perfect, clear prose, some funny/ironic set-pieces and of course a lot of l rather melodramatic hysterics, the Madame slowly drew me in...I positively inhaled the last 150 pages. Next: Flaubert's Parrot! "

" Classic French novel - I listened to this on audiobook rather than read it. Richly composed setting and masterful characterization. "

" A not entirely convincing case for adutery. "

" Felt too old. I could not get attached to her. "

" What a heinous slut! Glad to see the back of her. Beautifully written. "

" I didn't really enjoy this book, because I had absolutely no sympathy whatsoever with the main character and instead felt very sorry for her husband! "

" One of only two books I didn't finish in high school English classes. "

" One of only two books I didn't finish in high school English classes. "

" One of only two books I didn't finish in high school English classes. "

" The book is written beautifully-- just the way he uses words to describe everything from feelings to nature is really lovely to read. The actual story part of it was just ok for me. "

" The book is written beautifully-- just the way he uses words to describe everything from feelings to nature is really lovely to read. The actual story part of it was just ok for me. "

" The book is written beautifully-- just the way he uses words to describe everything from feelings to nature is really lovely to read. The actual story part of it was just ok for me. "

" It was an awful book! But the county fair scene was hilarious. "

" It was an awful book! But the county fair scene was hilarious. "

" It was an awful book! But the county fair scene was hilarious. "

" Beautiful translation...but is it bad that I was looking forward to the death scene for most of the book? Good grief is Emma a horrid person... "

" Beautiful translation...but is it bad that I was looking forward to the death scene for most of the book? Good grief is Emma a horrid person... "

" Beautiful translation...but is it bad that I was looking forward to the death scene for most of the book? Good grief is Emma a horrid person... "

" Very good read, very enjoyable. "