Sylvia’s Comments (group member since Jul 21, 2010)

Sylvia’s comments from the Classics-only book club group.

Is Emma Bovary a victim or an idiot? Flaubert seems to be saying both. He is brutal with his characters and makes fun of their middle class ways and cliched speech, but he does treat Emma with a certain amount of understanding. In the end, we realize she is delusional but also trapped as a female with higher aspirations and no real way to fulfill them. Men are her only option and they all prove to be scoundrels. Except, of course, for Charles who is one of the biggest losers in all of literary history.
The tension between Emma's fantasies and the clinical portrayal of everyday life is the best thing about this book. The scene at the Agricultural Fair where Emma and a lover are exchanging love talk is hilarious. It's been said Flaubert's style and techinique influenced Proust and a number of other writers. Some say The Great Gatsby is Emma Bovary with a change of gender

Yes, I picked White Noise--looks like you guys are picking Lavash which is fine with me. I will be very late because of my work schedule. Sorry.