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Chrissie's Reviews > Bel-Ami
Bel-Ami
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This is a really good novel and I totally loved it.
I mean I LOVED it.
When you come across fiction that it this good you must stand up and clap. I am clapping.
OK now, Chrissie, explain why you loved it.
I loved it because I was laughing from start to finish. I loved it because it has a message that is oh so true. The message being that those who succeed, those who attain power, and position and money and fame very often do it by the least of admirable methods. This dire message is nevertheless achieved in a humorous fashion. No lectures are delivered. This is the way life is, but rather than moaning and complaining we laugh. This is achieved by the author throwing together a group of characters NONE of which are admirable so they all deserve each other and whatever happens to them. You cannot feel sorry for the loosers; they all chose to take part in this fashionable game for sex and power and money and fame. If they loose it is their own fault. That is how I see it.
The sex is tantalizing, alluring, seductive. No depictions of crude behavior. Hints are given that attract rather than repulse.
OK, what about the narration by John McDonough of this Recorded Books audiobook? The voice of this narrator is that of an elderly man. In the beginning I thought why have they chosen such a voice, given that the main character, journalist Georges Duroy, is a young man? Still it was wonderful. He is telling us a story of the goings-on in Paris in the latter half of the 1800s, so in fact this elderly voice works stupendously. The French pronunciation is spot-on. Yeah, even when the women ball and shriek, it all works. Oh the shrieking, the family eruptions and pissed-off men - I was laughing and laughing and laughing.
One more thing: the translation from French to English was marvelous. THIS is a story that is easy to follow, even if it was first published in 1885. The language used made you feel you were in Paris and it made you fully aware that what happened then could just as easily happen today. It is a wonderful translation. I do not know who the translator was! I loved the lines, I forgot to tell you how wonderfully Guy de Maupassant depicts people and places and events, such as marriages and duels and charity fencing competitions! So the translation was perfect too. I am sure Guy de Maupassant would be happy to hear the story being told in this manner. The translation makes this book feel relevant even today. We are delivered a piece of art that speaks to readers more than a century after it was written. This is a book that holds year after year after year, and that is what makes it a true classic. Why is it is still relevant today? Because unfortunately people do NOT change.
by
Chrissie's review
bookshelves: audible-us, classics, france, 2014-read, humor, love, philo-psychol, favorites
Jul 11, 2014
bookshelves: audible-us, classics, france, 2014-read, humor, love, philo-psychol, favorites
This is a really good novel and I totally loved it.
I mean I LOVED it.
When you come across fiction that it this good you must stand up and clap. I am clapping.
OK now, Chrissie, explain why you loved it.
I loved it because I was laughing from start to finish. I loved it because it has a message that is oh so true. The message being that those who succeed, those who attain power, and position and money and fame very often do it by the least of admirable methods. This dire message is nevertheless achieved in a humorous fashion. No lectures are delivered. This is the way life is, but rather than moaning and complaining we laugh. This is achieved by the author throwing together a group of characters NONE of which are admirable so they all deserve each other and whatever happens to them. You cannot feel sorry for the loosers; they all chose to take part in this fashionable game for sex and power and money and fame. If they loose it is their own fault. That is how I see it.
The sex is tantalizing, alluring, seductive. No depictions of crude behavior. Hints are given that attract rather than repulse.
OK, what about the narration by John McDonough of this Recorded Books audiobook? The voice of this narrator is that of an elderly man. In the beginning I thought why have they chosen such a voice, given that the main character, journalist Georges Duroy, is a young man? Still it was wonderful. He is telling us a story of the goings-on in Paris in the latter half of the 1800s, so in fact this elderly voice works stupendously. The French pronunciation is spot-on. Yeah, even when the women ball and shriek, it all works. Oh the shrieking, the family eruptions and pissed-off men - I was laughing and laughing and laughing.
One more thing: the translation from French to English was marvelous. THIS is a story that is easy to follow, even if it was first published in 1885. The language used made you feel you were in Paris and it made you fully aware that what happened then could just as easily happen today. It is a wonderful translation. I do not know who the translator was! I loved the lines, I forgot to tell you how wonderfully Guy de Maupassant depicts people and places and events, such as marriages and duels and charity fencing competitions! So the translation was perfect too. I am sure Guy de Maupassant would be happy to hear the story being told in this manner. The translation makes this book feel relevant even today. We are delivered a piece of art that speaks to readers more than a century after it was written. This is a book that holds year after year after year, and that is what makes it a true classic. Why is it is still relevant today? Because unfortunately people do NOT change.
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Bel-Ami.
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Reading Progress
July 11, 2014
– Shelved
July 11, 2014
– Shelved as:
to-read
July 11, 2014
– Shelved as:
wishlist-f
July 11, 2014
– Shelved as:
audible-us
July 11, 2014
– Shelved as:
classics
July 11, 2014
– Shelved as:
france
July 13, 2014
– Shelved as:
own-unlistened
July 13, 2014
– Shelved as:
2014-read
July 19, 2014
–
Started Reading
July 22, 2014
– Shelved as:
humor
July 22, 2014
– Shelved as:
love
July 22, 2014
– Shelved as:
philo-psychol
July 22, 2014
– Shelved as:
favorites
July 22, 2014
–
Finished Reading
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Tadiana ✩Night Owl�
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Jul 22, 2014 10:09AM
His short story "The Necklace" has stuck with me ever since I read it in a college literature class. It says so much about human nature in such few pages.
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Tadiana, I prefer longer works over short stories. I will keep you recommendation in mind though. I thought I would read Pierre et Jean next. Another friend told me Une vie was really good too. I have to see what I can get my hands on.Thank you for liking my review. I am merely speaking from my heart. I haven't found another reviewer who spoke of the humor!
I like your review, Chrissie! I always had a feeling that I would like Maupassant. Now I have to push Bel-Ami further up my to-read list! In fact, I've been shuffling my top ten on that list because of your reviews :)
Well, I am not too worried because so far you and I tend to like the same books. :0) FUN!I just wonder why other people don't mention the humor in this book. Is my head twisted? I simply have to read more by Guy de Maupassant!!!!! I was laughing from the start. My husband listened too. Not from the start, but by the end, he was laughing too. First he was kind of disgusted by the people, but you have to listen carefully to the lines - there is humor everywhere. At times even the wicked characters are laughing at their own antics.
I haven't read this book, but judging from what I've heard about it, you have to be able to appreciate the satire of a complete cad getting away with everything awful and wicked that he does. It probably isn't everybody's cup of tea!
I'm very glad that I could recommend something you liked, Chrissie. I read it in French (or rather listened to a French language audiobook) and I wasn't sure how the translation would hold up.
Oh kim, for me it was fabulous. Did you pick up on the humor in the French?Tadiana, you understands completely.
Yes, there was humour, but I think I found it more satirical than funny. The very modern feel of the work impressed me, as did the psychological portrait of Georges.
Well satire is a form of humor! And I thought these characters deserved each other.
A Woman's Life (and his short stories) isn't humorous but it is however really good! Maupassant is able to see inside a person and to write about it with simple words.
Dely and Kim, I certainly will be reading more Maupassant. He is just up my alley.
I'll have to try this, so far I've only tried his short fiction but your review has tempted me to add the book to Mt. TBR.
Gundula, and you like satire! What I loved was how Maupassant played one lousy character against another. Suzanne, the last girl is the only one I think one can feel sorry for, but then the book ends.
Chrissie wrote: "Gundula, and you like satire! What I loved was how Maupassant played one lousy character against another. Suzanne, the last girl is the only one I think one can feel sorry for, but then the book ends."I do enjoy satire, so another reason to try this.
Great review, Chrissie. I just finished Bel-Ami. I love Maupassant's style - it's so simple and he catches you unawares with his humor. I think i'll look into Pierre et Jean myself!
Thank you, Emma! I read Pierre et Jean, but unfortunately I couldn't connect with the characters.
What a glowing review! I can feel your joy from this book radiating out of you. I'll be adding to my to be read list.
Hmm. The nastiness of the character reminds me of Vanity Fair. I hated that book in high school (though I might like it now.) I might add this as I've just read several interesting reviews, yours included.
Paige and Lisa, the characters are truly wicked and some readers cannot laugh as I did. Some have read the book since I wrote the review so I wonder if it is just me that has a twisted humor. I can only express how the book struck me!
Chrissie, I did add it. I think I'll have to be in the mood. The characters might remind me too much about my neighbors and about my situation in general. I am intrigued though.
Lisa, for me the people were so wicked so all the bad things that happen are NOT upsetting in the least. They deserved what they got! That was how I saw it.
Chrissie wrote: "Lisa, for me the people were so wicked so all the bad things that happen are NOT upsetting in the least. They deserved what they got! That was how I saw it."My issue isn't the events; it's the people. If bad things do happen to them maybe that could be satisfying, but for me I've rarely enjoyed reading a book unless I like and can empathize with at least one of the characters.
I don't think I would recommend this book to you. I don't always have to like a character, if the writing is excellent.
Chrissie wrote: "I don't think I would recommend this book to you. I don't always have to like a character, if the writing is excellent."Well, excellent writing also goes a long way to me. I'll see. I don't mind it on my shelves for now. I want to remember it and my shelves is one way I keep books in mind. Before I actually read it I try to review what I and friends and others have already thought.
For me, if I read a book for pleasure (or for comfort), I need to be able to (like Lisa) identify with at least one of the characters. But if the writing is excellent, I often make an exception and readily so (especially for books considered classics, or books that are a tableau of a certain historical period).
Also, If I understand a creepy character it helps. Empathy is good too. You are in the hands of the writer.
Carol, :0)It was fun not giving a darn what terrible things happened to these creeps.Other people don't seem to react as I have.
Clap away Chrissie, I say! I just added this from a friends review. Excellent review. My friend also mentioned the relevance to current times. I'm looking forward to reading it.
Suzanne, have fun..... I would add this, one has to be able to see the humor to get the most out of the book. People have different kinds of humor.
Loved the review, Chrissie ! I've just enjoyed re-reading this wonderful rollicking romp through tawdry bohemian Paris and its timeless exposure of 'kiss and tell' and 'fake news' and 'spin' and the unscrupulous machinations of politicians and lovers, with plenty of illicit passion thrown in ! And as you say, ' a group of characters NONE of which are admirable so they all deserve each other' - I think Maupassant really enjoyed this depiction of demi monde Parisian society.
You have been reading some of my reviews for books which I have really, really liked tons. I want more books like these. Thank you for stopping by and chatting.
Great review. You can tell you really enjoyed the novel.
Cynda wrote: "Great review. You can tell you really enjoyed the novel."Thank you.
I really do try and save my five stars for those books that seduce me, tantalize me and totally blow me over.
I did not read the RFP group's only because reading on the computer is becoming harder for me. In any case, that story does not sound as good as this.
I also loved this book. The movie was good, too. Great review.
This is my favorite by the author. I haven't seen the movie. This doesn't bother me. I want to lea e my impression undisturbed, alone! Pug, do you get what I mean?
