Madame Bovary is confusing me. How should I be reading this book?

[HardernTim]

Hello - I'll try and keep this short as it's my first post here and you never know if you're going to get taken down for not reading the rules properly.https://omegle.onl/ https://xender.vip/

Madame Bovary - about three quarters of the way through this classic novel and struggling. Problem I'm having is that I just don't like anybody, and I get the feeling Flaubert doesn't like them very much either. Emma is a narcissistic nightmare, her husband's an idiot, the neighbour is a pompous prat, the first lover a cad and the second just annoying. This reads like a satire - and it's hard to connect emotionally with satire. This is why satire is so often funny. Madame Bovary, however, while containing comic undertones, is far from comedy. I would describe it as a satirical romantic tragedy, and that's pretty confusing to me if I'm honest. My question is - why am I failing to connect with this story and these characters? I don't understand how I'm supposed to be reading this book. Should I be moved? Amused? Should I judge the characters for their failings? Confused.

Edit: Thank you for all the insightful and helpful comments! I return to Madame Bovary with a refreshed enthusiasm! Very useful indeed.

[Ari]

I have the same problem with this book :/ it's too boring, I even skip some lines that are randomly describing different environments. it's too hard for me to follow and feel attached to the story and characters with zero charisma... I feel bad that I can't feel any connections with such a famous book. what was the solution for you? I don't know if I should drop it or not?

[Didier]

This is an ode to verbiage and convulated storytelling that reflects poorly on the French language. That it continues to this day to be held as a paragon of literature boggles the mind.
I am French and read the original version. I waited a long time before making the effort to read this classic, with an open mind. I can't say I ever hated a book so much.

[Rocío]

Hi. You're absolutely right. Flaubert doesn't like Emma, he judges her. That's why we're here. We are not supposed to love her nor excuse her, we just have to understand her. She's just like El Quijote, they grew up eating unreal and fantastic stories like candy. He grew up thinking that the world should be a world full of Brave knights and she thinking that there was a perfect man out there, ready to treat her like a Queen. It's not the case and she is mad. She feels tricked, disappointed. And yes , she acts selfishly and childlish and makes the pettiest choices but She's finding her way and dealing in this really chaotic way with her broken ilussions and dreams. She grew up dreaming with a world that didnt really exist. She is angry, especially with herself. We just have to see the world through her eyes, that's how we love the story, because She's just a girl dying to be loved in a gigantic way. Of course it's boring, its XIX CENTURY REALISM, it can't help to be tedious, but it's wonderful cause we see, so clearly, how societies would break people, tear them, leave them alone, outcast. She is so lonely, we must give her a chance. We don't have to like her or agree with her, just understand her as best we can.

So, yes... But if You want to read something quite similar but better and where the author really loves his characters, those beautiful sinners, You should read Anna Karenina right now

[Maisa]

Ari wrote: "I have the same problem with this book :/ it's too boring, I even skip some lines that are randomly describing different environments. it's too hard for me to follow and feel attached to the story ..."
I feel exactly the same :(
Knowing I am not the only one feeling so, and because I am a slow reader, I think I shall stop where I am right now.
Thanks

[Carla]

I had to read it for class and I hated it. I understand it is a classic piece of literature and I kinda liked it a little bit more after my teacher explained that Madame Bovary was a character enamored with literature and that she's similar to Don Quixote. Just as he wants to be a knight, she wants to be the hero of a romantic novel. Hope that somehow helps you.