Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert

Translated into English by Merloyd Lawrence

There’s a simple modern term that aptly describes Emma Bovary, the title character of this novel: drama queen. Whether it’s her fanatically religious sentiment in the convent or passionate (if disappointed) expectations in her marriage to Charles, Emma doesn’t hold back.

I read Madame Bovary many (many) years ago for a World Novels class in college. One of my classmates declared it “the most boringest book” he’d ever read. Even back then I didn’t see it that way. Sure, there’s not much action and adventure in this novel, but I was caught up in the language, the very luxurious style in which this simple story was told. Those wonderful words were what I was looking forward to in this re-read, and I was not disappointed.

Emma’s rich and dramatic inner life is up to Flaubert’s skill with language, but her husband, Charles, strongly contrasts with his relative dullness. Of course he worships his young, beautiful wife and provides well for her, “But wasn’t it the role of a man to know everything, to excel in a variety of skills, to initiate a woman into the heights of passion, the refinements of life, into all the mysteries? Not this one. He taught her nothing, knew nothing, desired nothing.”

And the languid Charles is not the only ironic juxtaposition in this story. Emma’s fantasy expectations and boldly dramatic actions are constantly contrasting with the simply dull or even harsh realities of the actual world. When she attends the equivalent of a county fair with her soon-to-be new lover, she devotes herself to her sweet desires, caught up in her madness for passion while the rest of the town loudly carries on with their more down-to-earth business. “Manure!” shouts the master of ceremonies as he doles out awards for practical accomplishments, while Emma coyly flirts with a man more exciting than her unsatisfactory husband. It’s hard to not find her a bit silly.

The young Madame Bovary is doomed to debilitating disappointment and most of the novel is an account of her dramatic throes of personal passion and her search for even more passion. I couldn’t help imagining her throwing herself around, hot and bothered, barely controlling herself in her need for a more satisfactory reality. I won’t spoil the story by telling you whether she finds any relief in for her aching desires. I will say that I mostly enjoy the ironies, the flow of Flaubert’s beautiful language (although I read it in English…if only I could read French!!), and roll my eyes and shake my head at Emma Bovary’s misguided fantasies. As I read, I feel like Flaubert is rolling his eyes and shaking his head, too.

 

 

 

A Year of Books I’ve Read Before

Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke

Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell is the story of two nineteenth century English magicians. Strange and Norrell are not illusionists or stage performers. They actually practice magic, casting spells, bending nature to their will, and consorting with the occasional faery.

This is a wonderful novel, and I loved it the first time I read it. It was one of those books that I knew I wanted to read again before I even came near the last page. The writing is engaging and brisk. The characters are all interesting even in their flaws. And the setting is marvelous. The setting is marvelous because it’s simply nineteenth century England and a bit of Europe… with plenty of magic. The structure of what seems to be the real historical world is so complete that it’s easy for the enthusiastic reader (ie, me) to suspend her disbelief in this alternate version of events.

The revival of English magic at the hands of Strange and Norrell (first Norrell, who is the elder, and then Strange), is embraced by the nation. Norrell is favored in Parliament and Strange aids Wellington oversees. They get themselves into all sorts of interesting jams through their own arrogance, curiosity, and general extraordinariness. Other characters with whom they interact at various levels are also wound up in strange magic and spend the novel in their own connected trials and tribulations. Really, however, for all these interconnected adventures, the story is largely about the rise and fall of Norrell and Strange themselves and their relationship with each other.

Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell is really a delightful work of fantasy fiction. It is structured as a long string of episodes, but each aids in the building of the characters and is supported by the rich history of English magic (often in the form of footnotes, some of which tell entire strange tales.) All of Clarke’s creative additions to the historical setting seem natural and not as if they have been forced in with a sledge hammer. And those creative additions are wonderfully fantastic, mysterious, spooky, and above all, fun to read.

This novel is as great as I remembered it. The parts that I hadn’t remembered very well (like about the last quarter of the book!) were just as wonderful and before I finished reading this rather long novel the second time, I just knew that someday I wanted to read it again!

So many books, so little time…and so many distractions!!

 

 

Coming soon: Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert

 

 

A Year of Books I’ve Read Before

Favorite Lines Friday

From Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke:

    "Can a magician kill a man by magic?" Lord Wellington asked Strange.
     Strange frowned. He seemed to dislike the question. "I suppose a magician might," he admitted, "but a gentleman never could."




A Year of Books I've Read Before

July Reading Adventures

I wish I could be escaping reality by reading for hours at a time at the beach, but such was not meant to be. At least not this year. Here are the books I hope to re-read for exciting repeat adventures in July:

 

The Quest for Arthur’s Britain edited by Geoffrey Ashe, where archeological evidence meats the legend of king Arthur

Daughter of Fortune by Isabel Allende, the first novel I read by Allende, which made me a big fan

The Uplift War by David Brin, the sequel to Startide Rising

 

Hope you’re having great summer reading adventures of your own!

 

 

Coming soon: Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke  



A Year of Books I've Read Before