Funny. Candide means ‘optimism’

It’s interesting your young self thought he was so stupid.

thanks for your review on candide. i read that in high school and i remember thinking it was very funny but somehow most of my classmates didn’t get the jokes. and then when we discussed the book in class, i realized that there were even more jokes that i didn’t get! guess it’s one of those books that gets better as you age.

i also remember being very depressed by it at the time- at how stupid candide is and how the world is really screwed up. but i suppose that could be more of a 17-year old missing out on irony. so i think i’ll read it again. i could always use a good laugh.

Lord! I think I gave that to you and Moonbeam when you were going on tour. Hahaha! I hadn’t read it, but I liked a lot of the authors, so I thought it might be good. But yeah, I hadn’t even considered the John Updike influence (duh). Actually, now you’ve mentioned it, I tried to read a John Updike book at the behest of an old flame, who was really into him. I couldn’t see it. It was one of those Rabbit books. AWFUL! I couldn’t even finish it. He did give me appreciation for Vonnegut, though. Not a perfect love for Kurt, but some good times. :)

So, I’m glad you’re reading. I’m on three non-fiction books right now, but I’ve just started “French Lieutenant’s Woman”, (Fowles). So far so good. I read The Magus, and really enjoyed it, and found it somewhat challenging (reality constructs and all).

Ya know what’s a good read, that just popped into my head? Have you read “The
Talented Mr. Ripley”? (Patricia Highsmith). It’s a thrill ride, a fascinating character study. Creepy city.

Anyway, I’m motivated to reread Voltaire (been so many years) after your mention. So much to read, I must step-away-from-the-computer. I can do it!