Candide (Bantam Classics)

Hilarious. If ever you are depressed, read it. Although there are some sad parts (like when Candide rejects the Duke's daughter because she is ugly) even though they are 'sad' they are hilarious too, (like when the woman claiming to be the Pope's daughter recounts how she had to cut off her butt cheek to survive, right as she and other slaves are rescued) plus it is like the French Enlightenment...more

Hilarious. If ever you are depressed, read it. Although there are some sad parts (like when Candide rejects the Duke's daughter because she is ugly) even though they are 'sad' they are hilarious too, (like when the woman claiming to be the Pope's daughter recounts how she had to cut off her butt cheek to survive, right as she and other slaves are rescued) plus it is like the French Enlightenment version of a soap opera. No matter how many times you kill some one, they never die!   hide

This piece was .. I don't even know how to describe it without giving credit where credit is due! I don't want to spoil it for the ones who haven't read it yet. I guess if I had to describe it in one word it would definitely be "BIZAR"! I'm not very familiar with satires, so I'm not sure if this is the standard. It is kind of tragic, but also not. Candide went through a mess of trouble (to...more

This piece was .. I don't even know how to describe it without giving credit where credit is due! I don't want to spoil it for the ones who haven't read it yet. I guess if I had to describe it in one word it would definitely be "BIZAR"! I'm not very familiar with satires, so I'm not sure if this is the standard. It is kind of tragic, but also not. Candide went through a mess of trouble (to say the least) to be with his lover,Cunegonde, but after he was finally reunited with her, he realized he wasn't satisfied. Even though, he wasn't satisfied anymore .. he stayed with her and learned that "Il faut cultiver notre jardin" in other words "We must cultivate our own garden". I would love to be able to read it in french because it would probably be a whole new perspective!   hide

Interesting. VERY interesting!

I would give it more than 5 stars, but it will not let me! It's hard to name ONE book as your favorite, but something as classic as a Voltaire novel is hard to beat! Besides, this is a comical Voltaire. I have never laughed outloud so hard as I did while reading this book. My roommate at the time kept coming into my room and asking me what I was reading. As soon as I finished, I passed...more

I would give it more than 5 stars, but it will not let me! It's hard to name ONE book as your favorite, but something as classic as a Voltaire novel is hard to beat! Besides, this is a comical Voltaire. I have never laughed outloud so hard as I did while reading this book. My roommate at the time kept coming into my room and asking me what I was reading. As soon as I finished, I passed the book on to her, ... now it is her favorite book too!!! READ IT!   hide

Good

What a way to have started a genre...A bit more difficult than your modern sciene fantasy/fiction

This is positively the best book you will ever have the opportunity to be forced to read in high school. Seriously. Voltaire has completely reinvented the 'dead white guy' genre. Although this book is one of the shorter classics, there isn't any wasted space - so much happens that you can't possibly put the book down or you might miss something! Through it all, Voltaire's wickedly French sense of...more

This is positively the best book you will ever have the opportunity to be forced to read in high school. Seriously. Voltaire has completely reinvented the 'dead white guy' genre. Although this book is one of the shorter classics, there isn't any wasted space - so much happens that you can't possibly put the book down or you might miss something! Through it all, Voltaire's wickedly French sense of humor adds a double level to those who are clever (or dirty-minded) enough to see through to it. A definite must-read for anyone with a brain AND a sense of humor.   hide

This is the best of all possible worlds.

Everyone should read this. Voltaire was a super hippie. I mean, the story ends with them all living in a happy little fraternity "cultivating their gardens". This ending is the medium in which Martin claims there none- he says that we either live in a crazy violent life or a dreadfully boring one. Voltaire's conclusion that we should all live TOGETHER making use of our God given talents is genius...more

Everyone should read this. Voltaire was a super hippie. I mean, the story ends with them all living in a happy little fraternity "cultivating their gardens". This ending is the medium in which Martin claims there none- he says that we either live in a crazy violent life or a dreadfully boring one. Voltaire's conclusion that we should all live TOGETHER making use of our God given talents is genius and makes me happy. Well worth the 100 page read.   hide