Le Rouge et Le Noir (The Red and the Black), Critique

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I started reading this book by Stendhal a long time ago. After a while, my parents were bribing and blackmailing me just to read one chapter. I eventually explained why it was so hard for me to get captivated by this book, and why I couldn't finish it. I have read up until chapter 12, out of 30 chapters. So far, what I understood of the story, is a peasant boy who knows the bible off by heart and can speak Latin is hired by the Mayor of the town to teach his children. This boy named Julien is fervent admirer of Napoleon and likes to read 'forbidden books' about the leader's success and life. He falls in love with the Mayor's wife, and she falls in love with him, but he hates people of the higher class because they act snooty. He likes to read while amidst nature, and also writes down his ideas about the world, promptly burning the papers afterwards. After a while, he becomes so angry with the Mayor, and other higher class people that he demands a holiday to visit a friend in a neighbouring village. Apparently, he doesn't really like this friend he is going to visit, but it is still a break from his own surroundings. He delays his arrival at his friend's house and sleeps in a cave in the mountains, liking it there. I stopped reading just as he was waking up to head over to his friend's.
The most predominant reason why I dislike this novel is because of Julien. He is the main character, and the story is from his point of view, although it does sometimes switch to other characters. I find his opinions really frustrating, and his constant lectures about social class differentiation are tiring. Furthermore, he is always going on about the bible and sins, and it really makes the story bland. I think Julien is not nice or sharing, but he is rather selfish, ignorant and single minded.
He is not the only character I dislike, I was also put off with the Mayor's wife. She was naive, stupid, and she spoilt her children to a point that will cause them to be spoilt and demanding all their lives.
Overall, I just disliked the characters, and I didn't like where the story appeared to be headed. And that is why I could not and probably never will finish The Red and The Black (Le Rouge et le Noir) by Stendhal.

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