Photo by me.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Oh Zola how I love thee, but you're bringing me down
It took me a little more than a month to finish reading L'Assommoir by Emile Zola. Life in general got in the way of my reading time, plus starting the semester while moving is not conducive to leisurely reading.
L'Assommoir was fantastic. If you want to read about the seamier side of Parisian life in the 19th century then this book is for you. This novel was extremely controversial when it came out, accusations of pornography were rampant from the critics at the time. Zola is a writer that tells it like it is, there is no sugar coating in a Zola novel. The effects of alcoholism on the working class was of great interest to Zola. As the drinking of the characters becomes heavier, the quicker the downfall of each character. I found myself feeling this downward spiral physically while reading the novel. The filth, squalor, and hunger of the characters were almost too much to bear at the end. I felt horribly for Gervaise, the main character. I can't wait to read Nana, about Gervaise's daughter, but I think I need something slightly less depressing for now.
L'Assommoir was fantastic. If you want to read about the seamier side of Parisian life in the 19th century then this book is for you. This novel was extremely controversial when it came out, accusations of pornography were rampant from the critics at the time. Zola is a writer that tells it like it is, there is no sugar coating in a Zola novel. The effects of alcoholism on the working class was of great interest to Zola. As the drinking of the characters becomes heavier, the quicker the downfall of each character. I found myself feeling this downward spiral physically while reading the novel. The filth, squalor, and hunger of the characters were almost too much to bear at the end. I felt horribly for Gervaise, the main character. I can't wait to read Nana, about Gervaise's daughter, but I think I need something slightly less depressing for now.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
New Books!
These are the last batch of books I recently purchased. I had promised myself that I wouldn't buy books for a while seeing as I had recently purchased books on Amazon, but Barnes and Noble was having a fantastic sale on their bargain books. I couldn't pass up the chance to buy these! The total cost for all twelve books was $42...who can say no to that?
Tuesday, July 06, 2010
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Tissues Please!
Truman Capote made me cry. Please read "A Christmas Memory" and you'll see why. A tissue is definitely needed.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
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