woohoo

[Mopy Squid]

I think the problem is that you referred to the 1700s as "16th century." (What do I know?) And I strongly doubt a seven-year-old is capable of concluding that "life isn't perfect." But that's probably your fierce wit. Kudos!

[chris mon]

man this was a boring book. i'm sorry if that offends anyone, but i can't find any substance in it. maybe the eloquence was lost in the English translation or something, and you know 16th century was a long time ago so maybe that style isn't remarkable to me. This book does present some thought for philosophy, but the main point of the story is that life isn't perfect and the people that believe that everything happens for the best are fools. Come on, that's something I could have grasped when I was seven. If anything, this book is a very jumpy satire that has thousands of events happening with very little, if any, detail about them.<br> <br>if you're looking to become engrossed in a book and possibly become a little more intelligent, this book isn't for you. if you would like a terribly barefaced satire, an implausible and feeble love story, and more locales than a United States AAA Roadmap, then I highly recommend this book. enjoy!

[Clogg]

I disagree with this message. The book is a little more complex than a picaresque novel. The strength of Voltaire's Candide is in its compostition. By tackling philosophical material using literary resources a number of philosophiocal investigations are highlighted. The text isn't just about saying that philosophical optimism is wrong its an attack on systems, systems of optimism yes, but also politics, commerce, war, and religion. The central element of Candide's story is that when he begins his adventures he is a disciple of Pangloss' optimism, by the end it appears that he has a fuller understanding of the world and has become a rounded individual who doesn;t believe in the best of all worlds! But Voltaire's genius is in the undecidablitly of the ending. The conclusion where Candide, Pangloss and co. are all gardening in a kind of hippy commune actually seems to support Pangloss' attitude to life, everything has worked out for the best. Candide may be a satirical look at philosophy among other things but the ending allows for that assumption to be questioning ultimately leaving the text open to the reader's interpretation. A brilliant novel and hilarious to boot! I loved this book!