Three Tales (Penguin Classics)

by Gustave Flaubert
Three Tales (Penguin Classics)  
published 2005 by Penguin Classics
binding Paperback
isbn 0140448004   (isbn13: 9780140448009)
pages 144
description First published in 1877, these three stories are dominated by questions of doubt, love, loneliness, and religious experience—together they confir...more
date added
10-12-06



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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 175)



Raymund
Raymund rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
04/24/08

Read in January, 2008
Flaubert's narrative is absolutely incredible. His attention to the details of a life, his attention to the details of a story give so much weight to the character in these stories. You know and understand Felicite so well in a "Simple Heart" and you know so well what she has gone through in life as well as the fact that you know what ends are in store for her but you will cry anyway, and I do not believe that my tears were for sentiment alone. Or in other words, not for my experiences...more
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Sunshine
bookshelves: fiction, french, literature
Has a copy to sell/swap — Read in February, 2007
Of course, the language was way beyond me and I had trouble getting a feeling of the flow since I was reading it so slowly. keeping that in mind...

I admire Flaubert for "la recherche de la mot juste" - he would write and rewrite each line until it was perfect before going on to the next. meticulous. a man after my own heart, in that sense, but stylistically, I just don't like his decisions. I don't really like Realism in general, a...more
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Moses
Moses rated it: 1 of 5 stars1 of 5 stars1 of 5 stars1 of 5 stars1 of 5 stars
02/06/08

bookshelves: readandhated
Read in February, 2008
This book was, frankly, awful. I only got through the first tale, but it was clear that the rest would not improve. This is supposed to be Flaubert's "light-hearted" work. Yeah. Right. It's as cross and old and dreary as "The Tell-Tale Heart." It's basically a fast-forwarded life story of a simple servant maid who does nothing special and is specifically stated as being very stupid. She has a stuffed parrot that reminds her of the Holy Spirit. Eventually, she dies, all alone.
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Antoine
Antoine rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
01/29/08

bookshelves: school-books, waring-canon
Read in January, 1987
recommended to Antoine by: Peter Smick
I disliked this book pretty intensely, when I read it in high school. I must admit that it has stayed with me, however, and I realize now that it was almost certainly better than I gave it credit for being. Nonetheless I have no urge to revisit it.
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Molly
Molly rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
03/09/07

Read in November, 2005
Quirky stories that are sometimes gripping and sometimes not. I hated the stupid parrot--that story was ridiculous. But the other two stories were unique, filled with powerful images that are still stuck in my head.
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Cynthia
Cynthia rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
02/12/08

bookshelves: waring-canon
Read in January, 1987
It's all about the parrot.
I don't think it matters just what you read by Flaubert, but read something. I find his short stories wonderful and still remember these ones fondly.
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Nathan
Nathan rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
08/26/07

Read in August, 2007
recommends it for: Humans
I'm rewriting this review two days later. The greatness just hit home. Can you write better short stories than these? I feel like people have been trying in vain for the last 120 years.
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Mickey
Mickey rated it: 2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars
03/14/07

bookshelves: classiclit
Read in March, 2007
Flaubert's style is a lot steadier than most of the authors I've read. Couldn't really hold my attention... probably because I'm not used to the genre. (Classlit; 120 pages)
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Emmanuèle
Has a copy to sell/swap — Read in April, 2008
Superb piece of work. "Un coeur simple" served as a model for Joyce's "Clay" in Dubliners. To be read and re-read regularly. Delectable writing.
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David
David rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
04/16/08

Short and fascinating. It was sitting on the book vendor's table just down the street, and I picked it up a whim. Worth the time to re-read it.
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Dave
Dave rated it: 2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars
12/29/07

I picked this up because I admire Maupassant, and read that he studied under Flaubert. But, I just couldn't get into it. It left me flat.
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Sasa
Sasa rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
08/09/07

Read in July, 2007
I like this old fashioned and descriptive writing style. It's like a thatched cottage, pleasing and simple.
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K' Lati
K' Lati rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
02/29/08

bookshelves: classics
Read in February, 2008
Great stories I especialy loved "The legend of saint Julian" The entire thing was painted so beautifuly.
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Brandy
Brandy rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
03/04/08

Read in March, 2005
I like the story about the maid. Light and easy reading
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Gregory
Flaubert in French = beautiful.
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Miki
Miki rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
09/07/07

 

Clancy
Clancy rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
08/31/07

 

Michael
Michael added it
01/11/08

 

Marcos
Marcos marked it as to-read
04/17/08

bookshelves: to-read
 

CMN
CMN rated it: 2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars
04/18/07

bookshelves: french
 


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book data (includes all editions)

avg rating (all editions): 3.94 (167 ratings)
avg rating (this edition): 3.98 (111 ratings)
number of reviews: 18






other editions

Trois Contes (Paperback)
Trois contes (Broché)
Trois Contes (Mass Market Paperback)