by Emile Zola
The eighth novel in the Rougon Macquart series and featuring Helene Mouret and her daughter Jeanne. The novel is set around the Passy area of Paris and describes the love affair that Helene has with a neighbour and its disastrous consequences. One of the saddest books but almost Dickensian in its sentimentality at the end. Great depictions of Paris and the childrens ball is great writing 8/10
See www.emilezola.info
Monday, December 11, 2006
Seven Ages of Paris
Alistair Horne
This is one of the most fascinating and absorbing history books I have ever read. It brings Paris to life and makes you want to get back there as soon as possible to relive some of the pages from its history. I could not fault this book and is even better than Horne's great history of the Algerian war. 10/10
This is one of the most fascinating and absorbing history books I have ever read. It brings Paris to life and makes you want to get back there as soon as possible to relive some of the pages from its history. I could not fault this book and is even better than Horne's great history of the Algerian war. 10/10
The Maine Massacre
by Jan willem van de Wetering
One of our heros and the Commissaris go off to New England to solve this one. This adds to the humour as they try and decipher America and in particular the meaning of motherfucker. One of the best so far 8/10
One of our heros and the Commissaris go off to New England to solve this one. This adds to the humour as they try and decipher America and in particular the meaning of motherfucker. One of the best so far 8/10
The Japanese Corpse
by Jan willem van de Wetering
Another good yarn about the Dutch detectives but with a twist on the personal front that is a shock. Very enjoyable for those who, like me, like their crime served with a light touch and a sense of humour 8/10
Another good yarn about the Dutch detectives but with a twist on the personal front that is a shock. Very enjoyable for those who, like me, like their crime served with a light touch and a sense of humour 8/10
Monday, December 04, 2006
L'Assommoir
Widely acknowledged as one of the great novels from the Rougon Macquart series of novels by Emile Zola.
It is a very tightly structured book charting the rise and fall of Gervaise Macquart and a devastating comment on the effects of poverty. As ever with Zola some of the descriptive passages are suberb, the wedding walk and the huge feast in the shop for instance and the unforgettable death scene with Madame Coupeau. 9/10
I have some pictures from a modern day following of the wedding day walk on my web site at www.emilezola.info
It is a very tightly structured book charting the rise and fall of Gervaise Macquart and a devastating comment on the effects of poverty. As ever with Zola some of the descriptive passages are suberb, the wedding walk and the huge feast in the shop for instance and the unforgettable death scene with Madame Coupeau. 9/10
I have some pictures from a modern day following of the wedding day walk on my web site at www.emilezola.info
Time to catch up
It is July since I have posted anything so hopefully over the next few days I will catch up with my reading of the past few months.
Have done a reasonable amount of research around Zola and will -hopefully over christmas get to update the website at www.emilezola.info
Until then it is on with the books.
Have done a reasonable amount of research around Zola and will -hopefully over christmas get to update the website at www.emilezola.info
Until then it is on with the books.
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