If you're looking for a fast-paced plot, this isn't it. 'A Simple Heart' is a quiet portrait of a life spent in service.

The Story

We follow Félicité from her youth into old age. For fifty years, she works for a middle-class widow, Madame Aubain. Félicité pours all her love and devotion into the household: caring for Madame Aubain's children, running the home, and weathering life's disappointments. She faces heartbreaking losses—people she loves move away or die. In her loneliness, her affection focuses on a vivid green parrot named Loulou. After the parrot dies, she has it stuffed, and this odd relic becomes the center of her spiritual world in a way that is both strange and beautiful.

Why You Should Read It

This book sneaks up on you. Félicité could easily be a flat character, just 'the servant.' But Flaubert makes you feel the weight of her daily sacrifices and the depth of her quiet love. Her life is small in scope but huge in feeling. The way she transfers her need to love onto a stuffed parrot is bizarre, funny, and then suddenly incredibly poignant. It made me think about all the unseen emotional worlds of people we pass by every day. It's a masterclass in finding the extraordinary in the ordinary.

Final Verdict

Perfect for readers who love character studies and don't mind a slower, reflective pace. It's a brilliant choice if you want to try a classic but feel intimidated by huge, dense novels. This is a short, concentrated dose of Flaubert's genius. You'll finish it in a sitting, but you'll think about Félicité for much longer.