My summer reading book this year was Voltaire's Candide (not summer reading for school, summer reading for FUN). Candide is a satire mocking religious and philosophical outlooks Voltaire found distasteful, mainly Leibnizian optimism. It is a hilarious book- if you understand what Voltaire is mocking. Candide's adventures are so melodramatic it is unbelievable. During all his hardships, Candide attempts to hold onto the belief that everything happens for the best. Too bad that outlook does not always work in life- as Voltaire shows us. My favorite part of the book is when Candide's teacher, Pangloss, is trying to track the source of his syphilis and he finds that the virus originated with Christopher Columbus' first voyage. Go figure! There are many other memorable moments- like when Candide gets a chamber pot dumped on his head because he refuses to say that the Pope is the antichrist. I will not share anymore- just read the book!
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Candide
My summer reading book this year was Voltaire's Candide (not summer reading for school, summer reading for FUN). Candide is a satire mocking religious and philosophical outlooks Voltaire found distasteful, mainly Leibnizian optimism. It is a hilarious book- if you understand what Voltaire is mocking. Candide's adventures are so melodramatic it is unbelievable. During all his hardships, Candide attempts to hold onto the belief that everything happens for the best. Too bad that outlook does not always work in life- as Voltaire shows us. My favorite part of the book is when Candide's teacher, Pangloss, is trying to track the source of his syphilis and he finds that the virus originated with Christopher Columbus' first voyage. Go figure! There are many other memorable moments- like when Candide gets a chamber pot dumped on his head because he refuses to say that the Pope is the antichrist. I will not share anymore- just read the book!
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You are a first - I have never met a student who has read Candide (insert applause here)! I'll have to look through my book case at home and find other intellectually stimulating prose you might enjoy:-)
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