When I first read it on my own volition in 1995-1996, when I was 21, it was one of my favorite novels and Julien Sorel was one of my favorite characters (which might say some rather uncomfortable things about me and my personality then 
). Re-read it in late 1997 for a grad class on the Cultural History of the French Revolution and I used it as part of my 20 page paper.
But it's been too long since I last read to write my thoughts in full, other than to note that I disagree with the PUA reference.
I would also note that your chronology is off a bit; Thackeray wrote Vanity Fair in the late 1840s and I believe Madame Bovary was written soon afterward; the period of Charles X would have been likely a distant memory for those two There's more to the novel, but I think I shall re-read it shortly before weighing in.
And since I found a used French edition a couple of weeks ago, I might just read it for the first time in French to see if that'll change my opinion on Stendhal's writing (also found several other novels by him at the same used bookstore, all for 15¢ each
)
). Re-read it in late 1997 for a grad class on the Cultural History of the French Revolution and I used it as part of my 20 page paper.But it's been too long since I last read to write my thoughts in full, other than to note that I disagree with the PUA reference.
I would also note that your chronology is off a bit; Thackeray wrote Vanity Fair in the late 1840s and I believe Madame Bovary was written soon afterward; the period of Charles X would have been likely a distant memory for those two
There's more to the novel, but I think I shall re-read it shortly before weighing in.And since I found a used French edition a couple of weeks ago, I might just read it for the first time in French to see if that'll change my opinion on Stendhal's writing (also found several other novels by him at the same used bookstore, all for 15¢ each
)
Illusions fall like the husk of a fruit, one after another, and the fruit is experience. - Narrator, Sylvie
Je suis méchant.
Je suis méchant.
Stendhal - Le Rouge et le Noir (The Red and the Black)
- 28/04/2012 10:26:21 PM
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I think the most frustrating part of the novel is attempting to understand Sorel's motivations.
- 28/04/2012 11:37:33 PM
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I last read it a few years ago
- 02/05/2012 03:38:02 AM
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Yeah, that does make me wonder about you at 21, I must admit.
- 02/05/2012 06:57:17 PM
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- 02/05/2012 06:57:17 PM
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A couple of my friends called me a "socially deviate asshole" back then
- 02/05/2012 08:05:03 PM
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- 02/05/2012 08:05:03 PM
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