Madame Bovary

By: Gustave Flaubert, Lydia Davis - translator

Narrated by: Kate Reading

Length: 13 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's summary

Now a major motion picture starring Mia Wasikowska, Paul Giamatti, Laura Carmichael, Ezra Miller, and Rhys Ifans, and directed by Sophie Barthes.

Emma Bovary is the original desperate housewife. Beautiful but bored, she is married to the provincial doctor Charles Bovary yet harbors dreams of an elegant and passionate life. Escaping into sentimental novels, she finds her fantasies dashed by the tedium of her days. Motherhood proves to be a burden; religion is only a brief distraction. In an effort to make her life everything she believes it should be, she spends lavishly on clothes and on her home and embarks on two disappointing affairs. Soon heartbroken and crippled by debts, Emma takes drastic action with tragic consequences for her husband and daughter.

When published in 1857, Madame Bovary was deemed so lifelike that many women claimed they were the model for its heroine. Today the novel is considered the first masterpiece of realist fiction. In this landmark translation, Lydia Davis honors the nuances and particulars of a style that has long beguiled readers of French, giving new life in English to the book that redefined the novel as an art form.

Public Domain (P)2010 Penguin Audio

Prose exquisitely mines a range of emotions

Some may not like the nature of the story (and/or its ending). This is no feel-good story, not a "David Copperfield" (which I love). Perhaps, by now, many people realize the basic substance of the story but do not expect its ending. Lydia Davis' prose is exquisite though there are times the audible version differs from the written book.

The novel was ground-breaking in any number of ways, not the least of which is the well of human emotions that surge through one while reading it. The clunky translations of the past took away from the novel and the experience of all of the sadness, anger, disgust, contempt, pity and shame accentuated in this edition.

The narrator does an excellent job both in portraying the pathos of Emma Bovary and in stoking the listener's contempt for her.

Superlative

Madame Bovary lives up to her reputation as a book for the ages. Shocking still and exquisitely written with the detail worthy of a pointillist painting.

My, my what a tragic story!

This book is truly a literary piece of art. The word structure and expressions are beautiful and create pictures in the reader's mind weaving an intricate story of the characters thoughts and actions.

Though the book is excellent in execution and substance, I wouldn't want to reread it because of the sad tragic content.

I realize that much of the story is realistic, however I prefer to think and hope that humans will recognize the value of making better decisions resulting in happier outcomes.

Lessons learned: Selfishness, greed, lack of contentment and haughtiness are poison to our existence and overall health.

Ms Reading's narration was exceptional!

Excellent reading of the newest and best translation

I loved this novel even with the earlier imperfect translation, but this Audible version has the recent improved translation by Lydia Davis, and it sings. The narrator does an excellent job, and the whole effect is as if it was written in English. The one caveat: this Audible version unfortunately does not seem to offer Ms. Davis’s introduction. I will probably buy the Kindle edition to be able to read that. I will want to read it again in a few years anyway.

Beautifully Narrated Classic

Well, revisiting this novel was more enjoyable than I expected. I remembered it being very depressing and difficult to get through when I was a good deal younger and less tolerant. I am so glad that I was encouraged to get the audible. It really brought the characters alive for me and elicited greater understanding of Flaubert's masterpiece. Although Emma is a very frustrating character, I found her character to be extremely well crafted. Never dull, always held my attention. An audible that I believe would engage many listeners, as a new experience or as a reawakening to this classic. Thanks for this winner!

Oh what a tangled web we weave

Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practiced to deceive. Amazing on how totally oblivious some people can be and how others totally detached from reality. A truly good book for psychoanalysis review. Kate Reading (narrator) was excellent as always. I wished that one of the main characters would have awaken up from their delusions. Yet they only saw what they wanted to see; rather letting their mind avoid deeper issues which lead them to their Fate. This reads more like a Greek tragedy. Interesting though. You want to feel sorry for the main characters, but after sitting back and looking at it again from a distance, you begin to realize they caused all of it on themselves. Life & Love can be bitter teachers with the choice you make. Choose wisely

Nothing good or bad

This was just ok, the story is vapid and I did not bond or like any of the characters. I am trying to listen to all the classics, but not sure i would recommend this story.

Amazing Narrator

Madame Bovary gets better every time I read or listen to it. Flaubert’s matter of fact approach to Emma’s weaknesses and insatiable passions are, at times, funny, but also tragic. Flaubert does not judge her, instead allows the reader to study her. The narrator is so good that she made me appreciate the book in new ways. I am going to listen to any other classics she has done.

Ironic, humorous, and restrained

This is one of Kate Reading's better narrations, and the material could not be more compelling. Translated by Lydia Davis (master short story writer!), the book is both light and tragic, humorous and disturbing, emotional and cerebral. Flaubert is one of the few who can do that. The tragedy of Emma and the triumphs of Homais are delicately rendered in this smart translation.

Reading reads with perfect inflections, making Emma sound airy and "arty," Charles slow and pitiful, Leon slippery, etc. No silly attempts at trying to sound male; just excellent infusions of the character's personality into his/her voice to make him/her sound believable. The speed is just right. I've heard other narrations by Kate Reading and some don't match up in quality or direction.

The writing style seems so effortless and light that you almost think Flaubert knocked it out with the wave of a hand, but as you keep listening, you realize what a brilliantly composed, tightly plotted piece this is. Also superb is Davis's introduction in the print version. It's not in the audio version, but if you can get your hands on a print (or digi) copy, by all means, read!

Just too long winded

The story is not bad, but Flaubert goes into sometimes excruciating detail over some pretty inconsequential aspects of the story. I was really aching for it to be over about 4 hours before it ended. If I had been reading this, I would certainly have skipped though a lot of the detail.