Never too Late to Read Classics discussion

Our author for January is the very prolific Émile Zola.
He wrote in the Naturalistic style, which meant that he got down to the real nitty gritty.
He was passionate about social justice and wrote the pamphlet J'accuse! in response to the blatant injustice of the Dreyfuss affair.
His novel cycle, the Rougon-Macquart deals with every aspect of the French society of his time, each in a different novel.

Which are you reading?

There is also his most famous stand-alone novel, Thérèse Raquin, if you want a smaller helping of Zola.

I have never read Zola, so this year I am starting the cycle according to Zola’s suggestion , like Steinbeck I will read him through the year.

Wish you all a very Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year.

Thank you, Nidhi.

And a happy new year to you as well!

I’ve started reading The Fortune of the Rougons. I’ve never read anything from Zola before. So far I’m enjoying it very much so I will probably continue to read the series.

That sounds promising, Chad.

I'll have to settle for Thérèse Raquin. A 20 novel long cycle wouldn't do for me. I'll not know which ones to pick, and I will not be able to read them all. It's just not in my temperament. :)

I'll start reading The Fortune of the Rougons in about 5 days. I bought a copy of it 2 years ago.
I've read 4 from the Rougon-Macquart series, Germinal, The Ladies’ Paradise, L'Assommoir and Nana. I probably enjoyed Germinal the least but I read it 7 years ago and I think I am better able to appreciate a Zola novel now. Also, I read the other 3 Zolas in GR group reads which tends to enhance my reading experience.

I've bought both Germinal and Thérèse Raquin, and can't decide which to read first.

Since January's challenges contain a few long books, I will probably opt for Thérèse Raquin.

I'll be reading Thérèse Raquin.

I am reading Therese Raquin

I need to read Nana for a few different reasons so I'll try to get to that one. I've read Therese Raquin and The Beast In Man. He does do nitty gritty!

I finished Thérèse Raquin. It was the first Zola that I have read since graduate school. I wasn't sure what to think of it because it was the first time I was reading Zola for the story and writing and not just subject matter for my research. I found the story suspenseful, and noted that at moments I was thinking about how parts of it may have influenced Ethan Frome or The Picture of Dorian Gray. I really "enjoyed" the book - if you can even say that about something that has such heavy subject matter and themes.

I know what you mean, Marie. It's a dark, well-written story.

The Fortune of the Rougons is my commuter book this week. That is, it’s tossed in my backpack and read on the train to and from work. That’s two solid hours of uninterrupted reading every day! Who says commuting sucks?! I read a decent amount of British Victorian literature and enjoy it. This has a much different feel than most in the time period that I’ve read. There are the family dynamics, the love stories, the inheritance messes, the poor. But it is delightfully raw. There are enormous worts that are discussed and elevated as part of the story. The characters (so far) are not given excuses for their bizarre or disrespectful behavior.

I'll do Rougon - Macquart #5: The Sin of Abbé Mouret

I haven't read any Zola before, but I've started Thérèse Raquin today and am about a quarter through.
I feel a little distant from the characters so far. The story is engaging, but I don't feel I'm getting the perspectives and feelings of the characters enough. Maybe it's just me and I may feel differently as the story progresses.
Did anyone else find this or is it just me?

Some time ago, I had started Zola's book "Nana" and maybe it's high time to finish it ;)

I am reading Germinal which is my first book by Zola. It starts off bleak and I am hoping that there are some uplifting moments in it. The story is very interesting and I feel already engaged with the main characters, especially Catherine. I chose this one because I grew up in a coal-mining village and can relate to some of the issues in the book. It was a hard job to do and even harder at the time of the book. I probably would never have read Zola without this group's nudge so thank you.

I'm glad you're able to join us, Tracey.
Have you read The Stars Look Down by A.J. Cronin? It's a wonderful novel about coal miners in England.

No I haven’t. Thanks for the recommendation.
A J Cronin is on my tbr list this year.

I knew Rosemarie really liked The Stars Look Down from a previous discussion, probably about other mining stories during the How Green Was My Valley group read. Funny, I was under the incorrect assumption that Tracey also had read and really liked it; maybe because of its northeast England setting.
I have looked for a reasonably priced copy and it's not that easy to find. The book is also a lot longer than I thought it would be. So I haven't read it yet but about a week ago decided to try to read it in 2022 after seeing a post with a rave review of it by prolific Goodreads reader/listener Chrissie: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Back to Emil Zola. I started The Fortune of the Rougons and was reminded to be careful when checking characters on a "helpful" family tree when it includes years of birth AND death.

I read and finished Thérèse Raquin and have mixed feelings. Zola has presented an age old story from a different angle, like a study of human physiology and psychology. The story was good, no denial there. But I couldn't form a real connection with it, nor with the characters. Zola writes well, but his choice of the subject matter, presented through his naturalistic style, is too dreary.

Brian wrote: "I knew Rosemarie really liked The Stars Look Down from a previous discussion, probably about other mining stories during the How Green Was My Valley group read. Funny, I was under th..."

Cronin's The Citadel is also about a mining village - this time a young Scottish doctor in a Welsh mining village, so presumably partly autobiographical (as well as a doctor and author, he was a medical inspector of mines).

Chrissie's review is outstanding.
I hope I can find this. I really enjoyed How Green is My Valley.
Thank you Rosemarie and Brian for the recommendation!

I remember reading Germinal when we first started the group and really enjoyed it. It reminded my so much of the stories I had heard growing up about Coal Mining in Southern Ohio with my family. Coal Mining goes back to my Great Great Grandfather.

It is one I will have to reread.

Piyangie, I think that Zola did that deliberately in Therese Raquin.
In his Rougon-Macquart series, he shows a wider array of characters and some with much depth and empathy. Others with cold descriptions.

John wrote: "Cronin's The Citadel is also about a mining village - this time a young Scottish doctor in a Welsh mining village, .."

I had 2 different editions of The Citadel in my Amazon cart waiting for a price decrease. and . Both have been over $15 but I recently found a new edition of the doctor's bag cover edition on Book Depository for $12.65 so I'll get it there.

Rosemarie wrote: "Piyangie, I think that Zola did that deliberately in Therese Raquin.
In his Rougon-Macquart series, he shows a wider array of characters and some with much depth and empathy. Others with cold descr..."

I felt so too, Rosemarie. Still, it's not easy to go through such unpleasant content and cold characters. Since you've brought up the Rougon-Macquart series, I'd like to ask if you could recommend a few interesting ones in the series which are not too dreary? I'm not a person who can go on reading a whole series, but I like Zola's writing enough to try a few.

Piyangie wrote: "I read and finished Thérèse Raquin and have mixed feelings...I couldn't form a real connection with it, nor with the characters.. "

I have much more trouble connecting with characters in 19th century French novels than with Victorian ones. I have read two novels each of Balzac, Sand and Flaubert and have found most of them completely self-centered and acting in complete disregard of others, more so than with the overly-restrained Victorians. These characters also inhabit Zola novels, but I prefer his writing style and how he handles his themes and characters. I have pictured myself in Victorian England but never in 19th Century France. (Or 18th Century France if I consider Les Liaisons dangereuses).

Brian wrote: "John wrote: "Cronin's The Citadel is also about a mining village - this time a young Scottish doctor in a Welsh mining village, .."

I had 2 different editions of The Citadel in my Amazon cart wait..."
I read The Citadel years ago, and remember liking it very much. Also, I've read his Keys of the Kingdom--a good read, too.

Brian wrote: "Back to Emil Zola. I started The Fortune of the Rougons and was reminded to be careful when checking characters on a "helpful" family tree when it includes years of birth AND death."

Good reminder, Brian. Learning the death dates detracts from the story. I remember that from reading the Forsyte Saga and studying the family trees.

A book that is completely different from the rest of the series is Le Rêve/The Dream.
It has a fairy tale dreamy atmosphere with two enchanting main characters. And it is relatively short.

I've been reading The Ladies' Paradise with my study group and I'm really enjoying it. Denise has to be the most sympathetic character I've ever read. I've also liked reading about workers in a retail store in 19th century Paris and how a lot of things haven't changed that much today. After I finish it, I'm definitely going back to read more in the series - maybe jumping back to the first book.

That's one of the more cheerful books, Melanie, and I agree with your opinion of Denise.

I also enjoyed The Ladies’ Paradise and did not think it was bleak. I thought the Oxford World's Classic translation by Brian Nelson was very smooth.

With my group we read one chapter a month and discuss it. I read the chapter first in French and then in English. That's another reason why I'm enjoying it so much. I agree, Brian, about the translation by Brian Nelson.

Back awhile, I read Zola's The Three Cities Trilogy,
Nana, The Fortune of the Rougons,
The Kill, The Belly of Paris, and The Conquest of Plassans.
Really enjoy his writing. Hopefully I'll get to a few more of the Rougon - Macquart series this year.

I liked the descriptions of the market in The Belly of Paris. And it had a good plot too.

The Fortune of the Rougons I am enjoying very much. I’ll finish it in the next few days. It’s gritty. It’s a mix of family fueds, the poor versus the rich and of 19th century French politics. Interestingly, there are also large sections of the book devoted to young love. Very young love.

I'm glad you're enjoying it,Chad.

This is my review of Thérèse Raquin for anyone interested. It contains spoilers, so not recommended to those reading it or intend to read. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

I chose J'accuse!. I decided a short work was better than none. I am about halfway - it is powerful.

(Edited to add link.)

Good choice, Annette.

I finished The Fortune of the Rougons. This was my first Zola. I can definitely see why Zola is not for everyone but I really enjoyed this. He seems dark and gritty. I don’t know that a background in 19th century French political history helps you enjoy it. But it wouldn’t hurt.

You're right, Chad. Some knowledge of French history helps when reading the Rougon-Macquart books, especially The Debacle, one of the last books in the series.

I finished The Fortune of the Rougons. While I liked the main story set in 1851, all the expository information on the origins of the Rougon-Macquart family, while necessary for an understanding of the Family, did not make the story that compelling for me.
It is the only one of the five Zolas I've read that I rated as 3 stars. I consider this book as serving as the vegetables of my Zola meal - necessary, enriching and rewarding, but not the most tasty.

This is my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I love your comparison to a Zola meal, Brian.
I wonder which book you consider dessert?

Rosemarie wrote: "I love your comparison to a Zola meal, Brian.
I wonder which book you consider dessert?"

The Ladies' Paradise

My Complete Zola Meal (so far)
The meat: Germinal
The wine: L'Assommoir
The starch: Nana
The veggie: The Fortune of the Rougons
The dessert: The Ladies' Paradise

Hahaha Brian. I also read The Fortune of the Rougons this month. I’m looking forward to reading others in the enormous series.

Ha, I guess I started with dessert. Typical!