Including writing a cheesy fanfic-like story. If I didn’t know Voltaire’s Candide was satire, this book would not have been finished.
But alas, I excused the cheesiness of the characters and the plot and let out more than a few laughs. I don’t really know much about the time that Voltaire was satirizing, so I cannot really comment on anything to do with that. But I can say that the few notes the translator/editor person gave that discussed how Voltaire basically took his enemies names and put them in not-so-flattering characters… Man, I wish I had the guts to do that (though it probably doesn’t help that the US is a sue-happy nation where even a hint of libel and you lose your arm, your leg, and your last pair of clean pants).
Who says we can’t put money on happiness? Those who sue seem to think we can. Voltaire, you lucked out in that regard. In other ways, not so much.
And what is it with all the books I’m reading lately where people suddenly realize they don’t actually love the person? I know that’s real life but geez… I’m already getting a healthy enough dose of it!
