tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-927098956199060247.post8608028345212820295..comments2023-11-05T19:08:10.849-08:00Comments on Booked for LIfe: Back to the Classics Challenge 2021 - His Excellency, Eugène RougonRuthiellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03871834571645928819noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-927098956199060247.post-79568121445371551922022-01-03T04:17:12.871-08:002022-01-03T04:17:12.871-08:00It is sad, definitely on par with The Grapes of Wr...It is sad, definitely on par with The Grapes of Wrath (which may have been influenced by Germinal, actually!). However it is SO GOOD. It was the third novel by Zola that I read and that's when I understood what all the fuss was about. It is an absolute masterpiece, though he wrote many wonderful novels.Karen K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13483190930383406559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-927098956199060247.post-21070774552041294992021-09-07T03:44:07.456-07:002021-09-07T03:44:07.456-07:00Mmmm - sad endings - maybe not right now!Mmmm - sad endings - maybe not right now!Carolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06820925595506920754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-927098956199060247.post-75564862136854759972021-08-31T16:30:17.759-07:002021-08-31T16:30:17.759-07:00I read Germinal back in college - so decades ago! ...I read Germinal back in college - so decades ago! I remember that it was very frank about sex and had a sad ending. It is about miners and the terrible conditions they worked under at the time. If you don't mind that drama, go for it, Ruthiellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03871834571645928819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-927098956199060247.post-36186227446528634532021-08-29T15:18:38.412-07:002021-08-29T15:18:38.412-07:00A formidable goal! I only have one Zola book - Ger...A formidable goal! I only have one Zola book - Germinal, which I haven't read yet. Would you suggest it as a good one to start with?<br />Carolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06820925595506920754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-927098956199060247.post-14501575933133012162021-08-29T10:20:55.547-07:002021-08-29T10:20:55.547-07:00Indeed! Slow progress, but progress nonetheless. :...Indeed! Slow progress, but progress nonetheless. :D <br /><br />Ooh! I will look forward to reading your review of the Zola title you chose for your fall TBR. Ruthiellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03871834571645928819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-927098956199060247.post-21980376708027400532021-08-22T12:10:45.163-07:002021-08-22T12:10:45.163-07:00Well, at least you are making progress on meeting ...Well, at least you are making progress on meeting your goal! :)<br /><br />I like Zola, and have one on my own classics list for this fall, and I like reading him as a way of educating myself about French history.<br /><br />Clorinde de Babi does sound interesting and intriguing. JaneGShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11094501834387622997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-927098956199060247.post-78565883328888243152021-08-19T13:02:36.755-07:002021-08-19T13:02:36.755-07:00At least you'll never run out of things to rea...At least you'll never run out of things to read! :)Lark https://www.blogger.com/profile/13777891312147377769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-927098956199060247.post-4727081761089308162021-08-18T18:23:26.966-07:002021-08-18T18:23:26.966-07:00Hi Kathy! I have also toyed with the idea of readi...Hi Kathy! I have also toyed with the idea of reading Proust's Remembrance of Things Past but not yet gotten up the nerve. I have the idea that Zola is more approachable, though I could be wrong. Ruthiellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03871834571645928819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-927098956199060247.post-40734285041467921042021-08-17T22:50:09.979-07:002021-08-17T22:50:09.979-07:00Hi Ruthiella, Certain great authors I have missed ...Hi Ruthiella, Certain great authors I have missed out on reading and Emile Zola is one of them. I must read him and I'm thinking his novel Nana may be the way to go A 20 book series. Reminds me of Marcel Proust's multi-volume Rembrance of Things Past. I need to give that a try too.Kathy's Cornerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03967595794483824444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-927098956199060247.post-20097491441167908252021-08-16T13:47:19.864-07:002021-08-16T13:47:19.864-07:00I am hoping to get my mojo back with these and not...I am hoping to get my mojo back with these and not leave such gaps between the books. Otherwise I will forget too much between each entry. Ruthiellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03871834571645928819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-927098956199060247.post-50889634596262337392021-08-16T13:45:14.218-07:002021-08-16T13:45:14.218-07:00I am looking forward to getting to Nana (No. 17) a...I am looking forward to getting to Nana (No. 17) and The Ladies' Paradise (No. 8). Just a few more books in between, however, that I need to get to. I may never finish this project, I have so many lists of books. We'll see!Ruthiellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03871834571645928819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-927098956199060247.post-4621291954606211362021-08-16T13:42:41.300-07:002021-08-16T13:42:41.300-07:00I think the next book in reading order - The Kill ...I think the next book in reading order - The Kill - will be right up your street. It is supposed to be take down of the decadent nouveau riche under Napolean III. Let's just see if I can manage to read it in less than seven years from now. :) Ruthiellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03871834571645928819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-927098956199060247.post-59964220874461475872021-08-16T09:02:07.115-07:002021-08-16T09:02:07.115-07:00I haven't any of Zola's novels, but I don&...I haven't any of Zola's novels, but I don't believe I'd begin with such a long series. :) On the other hand, it would be an intriguing look at French history through a fictional perspective. jenclairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06046532245054911248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-927098956199060247.post-54413951127140871262021-08-15T12:29:51.674-07:002021-08-15T12:29:51.674-07:00I've only read two of Zola's novels: Nana ...I've only read two of Zola's novels: Nana and The Ladies' Paradise. And I liked them both. But reading all twenty of his books? Probably not going to happen. ;DLark https://www.blogger.com/profile/13777891312147377769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-927098956199060247.post-16163179233980180872021-08-15T09:01:05.722-07:002021-08-15T09:01:05.722-07:00I know Zola so little and it is a fascinating peri...I know Zola so little and it is a fascinating period. I suspect I'd like these more than his novels of beaten-down and impoverished he's better known for. Criticism of high society feels like more my thing. So thanks for this! I'm also tempted by the idea of reading them all in order, but you're now two books ahead of me on that. ;-)<br /><br />I don't think anybody's ever accused Zola of subtlety though...reesehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15818057262934008241noreply@blogger.com