Elective Affinities (1809) (edit title/settings)

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Most Helpful Reviews

Liked It Rated 5 stars “Quite interesting.” see full review » see other reviews »

Didn’t Like It Rated 2 stars “Maybe it's the translation, but the dialogue and pace are forced in this book.” see full review » see other reviews »

Newest Reviews

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  • Rated 5 stars

  “Quite interesting.”

  Manuela G wrote this review Tuesday, July 12, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
  
  • Rated 5 stars

  “ Elective Affinities was charged with being an immoral book. A couple called Charlotte & Edward are a rich couple who plan landscaping of their estate and gardens, including a church. They fall out of love with eachother and in love with others, hence "Elective Affinities" laws of attraction. About education: "Ability is presumed, the point is to turn it into performance ...." Needs another reading, superficial on the outside, deep inside. ”

  Victoria J wrote this review Friday, January 21, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
  
  • Rated 5 stars

  “I think this is a better Goethe than The Sorrows of Young Werther. The characters are denser, the style more controlled and the storyline more complex. Obviously that's also because the aim is different. ”

  Clementine B wrote this review Friday, September 3, 2010. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
  
  • Rated 2 stars

  “Maybe it's the translation, but the dialogue and pace are forced in this book.”

  Sarita wrote this review Saturday, August 7, 2010. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
  
  • Rated 5 stars

  “The work has an amazingly modern feel, despite the 18th century setting. Shrewd analysis of the mutability of human relationships, and the messiness of romantic entanglements. One might even see Goethe's frank portrayal of human behavior as a precursor to realism. It's not at all surprising that Goethe's contemporaries were shocked by Goethe's unsentimental analysis of the vagaries of the human heart. I would love to know to what extent Tolstoy was familiar with Goethe, and what Goethe's impact may have been on Tolstoy's thinking. ”

  Mark F wrote this review Sunday, February 1, 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
  
  • Rated 4 stars

  “For me this book is the finest of all Goethe's literature. This clear and simple story gives an insight into the workings of relationship like nothing before or since.”

  Molly B wrote this review Friday, November 14, 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
  
  • Rated 3 stars

  “Oh, Goethe, would that I could read you in your native German. I'm sure your lyricisms would make up for all the topiary trimming and garden planning and ludicrous lusting.”

  ~katie. wrote this review Sunday, March 2, 2008. ( reply | view 1 replies | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No