May / France Reading Poll

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Originally Posted by Antiquarian

My vote's currently up for grabs, but I am leaning toward three books - Hunchback, Candide, and Papillon.

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Let's see...Candide is a refreshingly short read (~120 pages, I think). :D Convinced yet? :p

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Originally Posted by Antiquarian

My vote's currently up for grabs, but I am leaning toward three books - Hunchback, Candide, and Papillon.

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Any chance on The Red and the Black? It's a famous world class novel. ;) It's a must read for literture people. :D

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Originally Posted by Antiquarian

Well, there's a chance for all the books. :) I'm just leaning toward the three I mentioned.

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You're so hard to get. :p :lol:

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Originally Posted by Antiquarian

Candide has the advantage that I just bought a hardcover copy not too long ago, and I've never read it (!). I should have, but have to be truthful. I haven't.

But, to be fair, the other two sound interesting as well. ;)

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Does this convince you? :D

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Candide, ou l'Optimisme (1759) is a French satire by the Enlightenment philosopher Voltaire, the title of which has been translated into English as Candide: Or, All for the Best (1759); Candide: Or, The Optimist (1762); and Candide: Or, Optimism (1947). This novella tells the tale of a young man, Candide (meaning "ingenuous"), who has been indoctrinated with Leibnizian optimism but becomes disillusioned after witnessing and experiencing many great hardships. With a plot similar to that of a more serious picaresque novel or bildungsroman, Candide parodies many adventure and romance clichés, and the plights of the characters are described in a tone which is mordantly matter-of-fact. Through the allegory of Candide, Voltaire pokes fun at religion and theologians, governments and armies, philosophies and philosophers; most visibly, Voltaire rails against Leibniz and his Optimism.

Candide, Voltaire's magnum opus, is a literary work which, for its biting wit and insightful portrayal of the human condition, has often been mimicked by later authors and adapted for the stage (the most notable of which is Leonard Bernstein's 1956 comic operetta). For these qualities, Candide is often listed as part of the Western canon and is taught perhaps more than any other work of French literature. As expected by Voltaire, Candide has enjoyed both great success and great scandal. Immediately after its secretive publication, the book was condemned by authorities and banned numerous times because of its religious blasphemy, political treason and academic hostility hidden under a thin veil of naïveté. (Wikipedia)

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I can't decide :(

The choice is easy. Just do as Niamh, Pseudōnumos, thelastmelon, and myself. Vote for Candide! :D

If not Candide, then go with Hunchback. It is a very good book (my second favorite). :)

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Originally Posted by Antiquarian

The only one I've read is Madame Bovary, Dori, and I loved that one. I'm looking forward to reading most of the others.

Candide is in the lead! :)

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Haven't you considered Gargantua and Pantagruel? :(