Reading 1001 discussion

This short novella is about a young English gentlemen traveling through France. His voyage is filled with various anecdotes including romantic encounters. Filed with satirical comments and literary comparisons, it shows a clear influence of Cervantes, Shakespeare and Goethe.
Overall, nice afternoon reading. My rating: 3 stars.

Finished March 11, 2019

Well, this little story is equivalent to an amuse-bouche! Or perhaps an amuse-cerveau…..

Although, calling it a story is glorifying it. It is a silly amusement, and (apparently) a satire on travelogues of the time. Of course, the time is 1768 so the language is flowery, the inferences delicate, and the sentences long. I did find it funny, although the convoluted way of expressing things almost defeated me at times. Initially, I thought I would be pleased when we finally got to the end of Vol. 2; but by the time it arrived I was invested and would liked have heard about his ‘adventures’ in Italy. It is a short book and worth the detour back to the 18th century! 3.5*

Pre-2016 review:

** 1/2

Probably the first travel blog in history, Sterne's unfinished novel traces the steps of Yorick as he undertakes some travels throughout France and Italy. Initially planned as a four-part book, the story ends at a somewhat crucial and potentially saucy point of the narration as Yorick was about to cross into Italy. While the narrator focuses more on describing the people he encounters than the places he visits, the writing style is heavily influenced by Don Quixote and Rabelais. However, this being: 1- British humour; and 2- in the eighteenth century, it pales in comparison to its influences. A resounding "meh"!