First LoT book club discussion: Madame Bovary - Page 7

Ghoulish Delight · 07-14-2006, 11:28 PM

To me, Emma didn't have enough of her own will to feel sorry for. I never felt that she had a dream that she never got. I felt that her dream was to dream, and that's exactly what she got.

As for it being about different pace or lack of subtlety, that's not it for me. I enjoyed the prose and the story telling. I just disliked the story. For a modern parellel, with plenty of modern pace and lack of subtlety, look to Chasing Amy. Written by Kevin Smith, of whom I'm an adoring fan who will happily eat up any drivel he produces, no matter how bad I know it'll be (Clerks II, here I come!). But Chasing Amy, which has the same "no redeming qualities" schtick, I hate. I'm loathe to spend my entertainment time with characters who aren't interesting to be around.

And, for the record, I don't just hate Elizabeth. I hate every character that played more than a set-piece part.

Not Afraid · 07-15-2006, 10:55 AM

If I was living the life Emma ws forced to live, I'd probably be boring too. As Chris pointed out, she attend only THREE cultural event in how many years? I would kill meysef before I got into as much trouble as Emma did. I can completely see myself becoming a shopaholic living in a romantic fantasy world if I lived her life. Heck, I have been know to partake in retail therapy when depressed. So, while I found Emma boring, it was more of my own fear of such boredom that I found repulsive. I related to her, I fear what my own life would be like living in her world. The horror aspects of the story are strong to me, but her boredom is more horrible than any Gothic monster.

wendybeth · 07-15-2006, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Not Afraid

If I was living the life Emma ws forced to live, I'd probably be boring too. As Chris pointed out, she attend only THREE cultural event in how many years? I would kill meysef before I got into as much trouble as Emma did. I can completely see myself becoming a shopaholic living in a romantic fantasy world if I lived her life. Heck, I have been know to partake in retail therapy when depressed. So, while I found Emma boring, it was more of my own fear of such boredom that I found repulsive. I related to her, I fear what my own life would be like living in her world. The horror aspects of the story are strong to me, but her boredom is more horrible than any Gothic monster.

Exactly what she said, and the older and more experiences go through the more I can relate with Emma- would never do what she did, but certainly can relate.

Ghoulish Delight · 07-15-2006, 07:14 PM

I can understand and appreciate all that. I still don't like her.

Actually, I'd ammend that to say, responding a bit to Chris's take, that I don't think it mattered what kind of life she led. Even if she had ended up with a socialite who took her to society events, she'd still find a way to be unhappy about what she didn't have. Flaubert went out of his way to show that that we her nature...that even though she thought she was going after exactly what she wants, when she got there, she'd convince herself it wasn't what she wanted.

07-14-2006, 11:28 PM	#61
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	To me, Emma didn't have enough of her own will to feel sorry for. I never felt that she had a dream that she never got. I felt that her dream was to dream, and that's exactly what she got. As for it being about different pace or lack of subtlety, that's not it for me. I enjoyed the prose and the story telling. I just disliked the story. For a modern parellel, with plenty of modern pace and lack of subtlety, look to Chasing Amy. Written by Kevin Smith, of whom I'm an adoring fan who will happily eat up any drivel he produces, no matter how bad I know it'll be (Clerks II, here I come!). But Chasing Amy, which has the same "no redeming qualities" schtick, I hate. I'm loathe to spend my entertainment time with characters who aren't interesting to be around. And, for the record, I don't just hate Elizabeth. I hate every character that played more than a set-piece part. __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ
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07-15-2006, 10:55 AM	#62
Not Afraid HI! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 17,108	If I was living the life Emma ws forced to live, I'd probably be boring too. As Chris pointed out, she attend only THREE cultural event in how many years? I would kill meysef before I got into as much trouble as Emma did. I can completely see myself becoming a shopaholic living in a romantic fantasy world if I lived her life. Heck, I have been know to partake in retail therapy when depressed. So, while I found Emma boring, it was more of my own fear of such boredom that I found repulsive. I related to her, I fear what my own life would be like living in her world. The horror aspects of the story are strong to me, but her boredom is more horrible than any Gothic monster.
	Submit to Quotes

07-15-2006, 07:14 PM	#64
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	I can understand and appreciate all that. I still don't like her. Actually, I'd ammend that to say, responding a bit to Chris's take, that I don't think it mattered what kind of life she led. Even if she had ended up with a socialite who took her to society events, she'd still find a way to be unhappy about what she didn't have. Flaubert went out of his way to show that that we her nature...that even though she thought she was going after exactly what she wants, when she got there, she'd convince herself it wasn't what she wanted. __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ
	Submit to Quotes