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A review by susana82
Um coração simples by Gustave Flaubert
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
This is a book with 2 short storiew: "A simple heart", and "The legend of Saint Julian the Hospitalier".
We follow Felicité in "A simple heart" from a young age until her death. We get to see her falling in love, but also having her feelings betrayed, and once she was afraid to love again, she dedicates her life as a maid. She goes through life in a dedicated and humble way. She owns nothing of her own, but she is kind. She grows fond of the people in her surroundings, and faces loss after loss through the years until we finally lose Felicité.
It might seem a too much of a humble and insignificant life, but... it is not. Even simple lives as this matter.
The second story introduces us to Julian who seemed like he was going to have a brilliant life, but I couldn't care for him much during most of the story. He behaves like a psychopath killing every single wild animal around him. Always eager to spill blood and the end result is carnage around him.
Years go by, he ends up being afraid of engaging in such carnage as before, goes on adventures and finally he marries the daughter of a lord. He might have had a good ending, but he caves in again to his murderous cravings and without meaning it, commits the murders he was afraid to. Lives the rest of his days as an hermit and does one final good deed.
We follow Felicité in "A simple heart" from a young age until her death. We get to see her falling in love, but also having her feelings betrayed, and once she was afraid to love again, she dedicates her life as a maid. She goes through life in a dedicated and humble way. She owns nothing of her own, but she is kind. She grows fond of the people in her surroundings, and faces loss after loss through the years until we finally lose Felicité.
It might seem a too much of a humble and insignificant life, but... it is not. Even simple lives as this matter.
The second story introduces us to Julian who seemed like he was going to have a brilliant life, but I couldn't care for him much during most of the story. He behaves like a psychopath killing every single wild animal around him. Always eager to spill blood and the end result is carnage around him.
Years go by, he ends up being afraid of engaging in such carnage as before, goes on adventures and finally he marries the daughter of a lord. He might have had a good ending, but he caves in again to his murderous cravings and without meaning it, commits the murders he was afraid to. Lives the rest of his days as an hermit and does one final good deed.