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Liked It “This is my second novel by Julian Barnes -- if one could consider either Arthur and George or Flaubert's Parrot a novel. The first was a slightly fictionalized history; this is essentially a series of essays or meditations on Flaubert, with a fictional narrator. The concern is with...” see full review » see other reviews » |
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“Variously described as "metafiction" or an "anti-novel," this unusual book, disguised as a memoir, is in truth an abbreviated biography of Gustave Flaubert. The book pretends to be the first-hand account of a Flaubert hobbyist's investigation to identify which of two stuffed parrots now on display in Rouen is the parrot that Flaubert actually had on his desk as he wrote one of his greatest works. Mixing fiction and biography, Barnes addresses many of the controversies surrounding Flaubert including his relationship with Louise Collette, his bi-sexuality, his iconoclasm, his affliction with syphilus and how he acquired his reputation as the father of realism in modern fiction. This is a short but very satisfying book even if your interest in Flaubert is only casual.”
Brad Lyerla wrote this review Monday, January 21, 2013. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“intre 2 si 3 stele, cand cum.”
alex wrote this review Friday, May 4, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“This is my second novel by Julian Barnes -- if one could consider either Arthur and George or Flaubert's Parrot a novel. The first was a slightly fictionalized history; this is essentially a series of essays or meditations on Flaubert, with a fictional narrator. The concern is with how we as readers or scholars relate to the writings and biography of a famous author. The book has been compared, according to the blurb on the back, to Joyce and Calvino; I didn't note any resemblance to Joyce but it did remind me very much of Calvino's If on a winter's night a traveler in it's use of fictional form to discuss literary questions. If you have a knowledge of Flaubert's life and works, this is a fun and interesting book; if not, it would probably not be something to read.”
James F wrote this review Wednesday, April 4, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Cruel Panda God said: 5 stars
1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die Shelf wrote this review Monday, January 30, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Even though I'm not a huge fan of Flaubert, the book was a wonderful read, witty and instructive.”
“I appreciated the genuine fun that Barnes must have had in his crafting of this short novel. It must have been an intellectual, historical quest to find...Flaubert? his parrot? ”
Mark V wrote this review Wednesday, December 7, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Interestingly written, easy to read and fun.”
Kinjal D wrote this review Wednesday, October 5, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Even though I'm not a huge fan of Flaubert, the book was a wonderful read, witty and instructive”
Cruel Panda God wrote this review Wednesday, July 13, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“1990. Barnes's obsession with Flaubert fictionalized. great read”
B wrote this review Sunday, May 22, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Una de las biografías más originales, interesantes y divertidas que he leído. Dotada del arsenal posmodernista en pleno, la incesante búsqueda del loro de Flaubert nos lleva - como efecto secundario - por la vida del destacado autor. Las divagaciones de Braithwaite, matizadas con las imprecisiones, críticas a la crítica, medias certezas y mucha comicidad terminan por brindarnos un retrato dinámico de este polémico escritor. Al final, se convierte en un manual completo del más puro posmodernismo.”
Enrique V wrote this review Friday, May 6, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
