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"Emma Bovary, the beautiful young wife of a French country doctor, yearns for romance with such fervor that she is willing to risk anything for its magic. Bored by her provincial life and the clumsy attentions of her husband, she is drawn toward a more sophisticated world, developing desire that will ultimately command a terrible price." (From the CD container)
Madame Bovary
reminded me a lot of Anna Karenina
, even though it's been many years since I read the latter. Like 20 or there about. I would be willing to bet there have been reams of scholarly papers produced comparing Emma and Anna. I'd like to go back and read Anna Karenina again with Madame Bovary in mind.That little observation aside, I have to say I was not bowled over by Madame Bovary. Somewhat like when I read Wuthering Heights, I thought Flaubert's writing was absolutely gorgeous, but I didn't care for a single character. I didn't detest them all the way I did Heathcliff and company. I simply didn't have any feelings for them, good or bad. Except maybe for Emma. I thought she was a whiny simpleton whom I badly wanted to slap on numerous occasions. (I am detecting anger management issues. Hmmmm . . . ) Yes, I am aware that I completely lack that girl-bonding thing that drives women to feel empathy with Emma Bovary and many other classic heroines. I need to work on that.
