Never too Late to Read Classics discussion

Published in 1869 is this novel by Gustave Flaubert.
Considered one of the most influential novels of the 19th century,

The story focuses on the romantic life of a young man at the time of the French Revolution of 1848.

I'll join the read.

I’m juggling so many books right now. But this sounds too good to pass up as a group read (is that grammatically correct?). Maybe I can forego reading one of my current books...🤔

I’ll read this too.

I'm in too.

Frances wrote: "I’m juggling so many books right now. But this sounds too good to pass up as a group read (is that grammatically correct?). Maybe I can forego reading one of my current books...🤔"

Sounds fine Frances! Hope you can join in.

Flaubert based many of the protagonist's experiences (including the romantic passion) on his own youth. He wrote L'Éducation sentimentale (Sentimental Education), an effort that took seven years. This was his last complete novel.

"I want to write the moral history of the men of my generation—or, more accurately, the history of their feelings. It's a book about love, about passion; but passion such as can exist nowadays—that is to say, inactive."

I'm also reading this book since my most often read novel is Mme Bovary (followed by Jane Eyre). I've finished the 1st part (the first 6 chapters).

I am planning to start it after I finish The Vivisector by Patrick White, I'll read it in the silent book club :)

I hope you enjoy it, Jazzy. I will be reading it once I finish Tristana, in about 8 days or so.

I'll join in too around mid month.

Dinou and Piyangie glad to have you with us on this read.

Please let us know your opinions when you get a chance!

I'd forgotten how slow paced 19th century French literature was. Not that I mind; it's very descriptive and relaxing.

Dinou I enjoy descriptive writing too

Flaubert was a painstaking writer who chose each word carefully. Maybe that's why his descriptions are so detailed and at times, beautiful.

Gustave Flaubert Tells His Mother Why Serious Writers Shouldn’t Bother with Day Jobs (1850)

http://www.openculture.com/2018/04/gu...

Also in these days we are bombarded with images in a way that people weren't at that time.

Can anyone please tell me how many chapters there are in this book? The two editions I checked seem to have different numbers.

The version I have, A Sentimental Education, has three parts. Part One, six chapters; Part Two , also six chapters; and, Part Three, seven chapters.

Gilbert wrote: "The version I have, A Sentimental Education, has three parts. Part One, six chapters; Part Two , also six chapters; and, Part Three, seven chapters."

Thanks, Gilbert.

I started and read the first four chapters. I agree with Dinou about the slow pace. I thought so my self and was a little impatient with Frédéric for his inaction. God! I've been reading too many detective novels. :)

About half way through Part I, Chapter V, mention is made of a Madame de Stael. She was a famous writer/critic of the late 18th, early 19th century. I mention her because she has been mentioned, in passing, in maybe a dozen or more other novels from this period that I've read.
So I've ordered her Corrine; or, Italy and Delphine.

Piyangie wrote: "I started and read the first four chapters. I agree with Dinou about the slow pace. I thought so my self and was a little impatient with Frédéric for his inaction. God! I've been reading too many d..."

Ha!Ha! I too read quite a lot detective stories but I prefer Agatha Christie so I wouldn’t call that too fast paced... We just have to bear in mind that « Sentimental Education » was very much inspired by Flaubert’s own youth.

Found this from Wikipedia.

"I want to write the moral history of the men of my generation—or, more accurately, the history of their feelings. It's a book about love, about passion; but passion such as can exist nowadays—that is to say, inactive."

The book is beginning to make more sense to me now. :)

Piyangie wrote: "Found this from Wikipedia.

"I want to write the moral history of the men of my generation—or, more accurately, the history of their feelings. It's a book about love, about passion; but passion su..."

Well, Part 3 has a fair share of action... No, I’m not spoiling. I’m just encouraging you to continue.

Dinou wrote: "Well, Part 3 has a fair share of action... No, I’m not spoiling. I’m just encouraging you to continue..."

I finished part 1 and just started on part 2. The story is beginning to move now. I've decided to go slow from now on. I think my hurrying through it kind of made me less connected with the story.

Piyangie wrote: "Found this from Wikipedia.

"I want to write the moral history of the men of my generation—or, more accurately, the history of their feelings. It's a book about love, about passion; but passion su..."

That's funny! I posted that on message 7 with the same thought.

Lesle wrote: "Piyangie wrote: "Found this from Wikipedia.

"I want to write the moral history of the men of my generation—or, more accurately, the history of their feelings. It's a book about love, about passio..."

I'm sorry, Lesle. It looks like I've not followed the messages, carefully.

Piyangie- I'm sure Lesle would agree with me - you two just proved that "great minds think alike". 😉

Rosemarie wrote: "Piyangie- I'm sure Lesle would agree with me - you two just proved that "great minds think alike". 😉"

😊. Thanks, Rosemarie.

Piyangie no worries!

Rosemarie wrote: "Piyangie- I'm sure Lesle would agree with me - you two just proved that "great minds think alike". 😉"

I thought that too! Funny we picked the same quote 😊

Lesle wrote: "Piyangie no worries!

Rosemarie wrote: "Piyangie- I'm sure Lesle would agree with me - you two just proved that "great minds think alike". 😉"

I thought that too! Funny we picked the same quote 😊"

😊

After a torturous start, the book settled on me half way through. It was a pleasant read then on. Flaubert's writing is truly masterful. It helped me to hang on during the trying chapters. 😊

His writing style held you in for the read. That is pretty amazing really. Cannot wait to read your review.

Lesle wrote: "His writing style held you in for the read. That is pretty amazing really. Cannot wait to read your review."

It sounds funny, right? But it is so. I wouldn't say his writing is beautiful in a poetic sense, not in the beginning anyway. It had a descriptive beauty of its own, of course, but more of a force that said "keep on reading, hang on, you'll eventually understand what I'm saying". 😊

I've posted my review now if you want to read it, Lesle. Hope you'll enjoy reading it.

I have not found a copy yet that I want to purchase. Have a couple on my wish list so hopefully soon.

Will check out your review this evening.

FINISHED PART TWO, Ch. IV
I'm just over half way through. 19th Century French society always seems a bit meaner and less constrained than Victorian. It still surprises me how a woman's marriage is often viewed more as an attraction than a bar to a seduction. Everyone's supposed to have a lover besides a spouse. But it was that way with the Three Musketeers back in the late 17th Century too.

The book is well written but there are a few things that slow my reading down a bit. First, some of the location changes seem abrupt and I have to double check where the characters are. Second, I have trouble with the names of characters and wish there was a list as in Russian novels. It doesn't help that there are characters named Dambrouse, Deslauriers and Dussardier or that certain characters are referred to by both name and title such as viscount, baron and Citizen.

FINISHED SENTIMENTAL EDUCATION - SPOILERS
My feelings on this one fluctuated. Ultimately, it was a 3+ star read. Some comments:
1) As mentioned, I felt a bit adrift at times as I was unsure of the locale, who was speaking, and what the politics involved were. But I was able to adequately sort it out and managed to enjoy the book, especially during the second half.
2) I had just read Zola’s L’Assommoir and, together, the books added to my lack of regard for the character of both working class and middle/upper-class mid-19th century French society. I never considered myself a prude before, but these characters are a bit much at times. However, their attitudes do make their antics quite interesting to read about and I did get more interested in the book as Freddy’s romantic life got more complicated
3)I can’t really say much in favor of the quality of Freddy’s “education in the sentiments/feelings.” The book ultimately is about Freddy’s romantic relations with 4 different women; Louise, Madame Arnoux, Rosanette and Madame Dambreuse, often at the same time or overlapping. (view spoiler)[ My advice to Freddy would have been that he had too large of a caseload and if he didn’t drop a few classes he might flunk out. As Freddy ends up with none of the four and instead just pursues a series of insipid love affairs, I see the book’s ending as Freddy not following this advice, failing all his ‘courses’ and flunking out. It appears to be a hollow life as a result of his own self-miseducation. (hide spoiler)]
4) The baby scenes creeped me out more than the LeFanu stories I've been reading.

Finished. Very enjoyable.
On to the next!

I feel quite verbose compared to Gilbert.

Brian, I'm not much on reviewing, just reading. You, on the other hand are not verbose, but quite to the point of knowing how to get more out of a story and report your honest feelings.

Gilbert wrote: " I'm not much on reviewing, just reading."

That is definitely a better use of your time as you certainly have read a lot of books, and enjoy many of the stylistically challenging classics, such as Henry James'.
They have talked about reading the The Forsyte Saga as a Hefty Classic next year and I was thinking it might be time for a re-read.

I first read The Forsyte Saga in the early 70's. I reread the entire ten volume saga just a couple of years ago.
You're going to enjoy it.

Gilbert wrote: "I first read The Forsyte Saga in the early 70's. I reread the entire ten volume saga just a couple of years ago.
You're going to enjoy it."

i read the first 6 books many years ago but never read the third series, which I do own. I don't have On Forsyte 'Change which I presume is the 10th book. How was it?

Rather nice, actually. Tidbits about the earlier generation, the aunts and uncles. Really added, I felt, to the whole substance of the Saga, sort of a bit more humanized the Forsytes.