You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Scan barcode
whanthataprille's review against another edition
University of Saint Thomas' Graduate English - The Rise of the Novel
bookbelle5_17's review against another edition
The narrator's arrogant, condescending attitude toward the reader made this unpleasant read. I also didn't enjoy the meandering plot and the writing style was confusing. On the one hand, it reads like a play, but other times the narrator addresses the reader in proses.
lauli's review against another edition
4.0
I was really surprised at how modern this book is for the time when it was written. The use of the narrator Diderot makes is almost postmodern, as he keeps interrupting the telling of the story and addressing the reader, revealing the deus ex machina mechanism behind it. I found it most amusing and witty. A real jewel.
edders's review against another edition
4.0
This book is wonderfully overblown, rambling and self-conscious. Jacques and his master wander France trying to tell one another the stories of their loves, all the whilst constantly being interrupted by an unnamed narrator who is themselves harangued by the reader. The pair of them are very funny and all-knowing, and the depth and breadth of reading behind this creation quite surprising. Ranging from the incredibly popular Don Quixote to the shitpost pre-cursor The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman, I feel there are plenty of knowing winks left in this book that sailed straight over my head - but since this doesn't detract from the simple joy of Jacques's delivery of his meandering tale, this is not a problem.