tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post4489504083440881724..comments2023-10-10T20:43:00.969-04:00Comments on Books and Chocolate: The Ladies' Paradise by Emile ZolaKaren K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13483190930383406559noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-37418286496470874952013-08-03T07:16:35.353-04:002013-08-03T07:16:35.353-04:00I plan to read Zola one day, but have yet to read ...I plan to read Zola one day, but have yet to read any, it's always good to see someone these classics. They always sound so interesting. I just spent a month living a few hundred metres from Le Bon Marche, so that is appealing too. I don't know that The Paradise or Mr Selfridge has played in Australia yet, I'll keep an eye out for them. Louisehttp://astrongbeliefinwicker.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/busmans-holiday.htmlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-46023502792650768642013-07-28T22:05:41.257-04:002013-07-28T22:05:41.257-04:00I bought this almost exactly a year ago, particula...I bought this almost exactly a year ago, particularly for the setting, which sounded both fun and interesting - and it's still on the TBR shelves. Funny, Trollope's women don't usually bother me, but if I keep reading Victorian women writers like Broughton & Braddon, that might change! (I agree completely about Dickens' women, though).Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17782561487396697870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-26594976857735333642013-07-28T21:38:35.764-04:002013-07-28T21:38:35.764-04:00I have just finished re-reading this book and thor...I have just finished re-reading this book and thoroughly enjoyed it. You are right about the character development though. I have worked as both a shop assistant and a stock taker and it did bring back a lot of memories.<br /><br />The TV series "The Paradise" was telecast here in Australia earlier this year and I have to confess I found it disappointing. There are a lot of differences to the book. The setting was moved to Britain (I have no problem with that), but they changed a lot of the characters. The series also ends on a cliff hanger and there going to be a second series which I probably will not watch.Ednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-2064363944447540302013-07-28T17:26:23.526-04:002013-07-28T17:26:23.526-04:00I'm a complete pushover for a British period d...I'm a complete pushover for a British period drama! I just finally finished Mr. Selfridge and I really enjoyed it. The sets and costumes were amazing, especially those hats!Karen K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13483190930383406559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-67022883747902800392013-07-28T17:25:34.382-04:002013-07-28T17:25:34.382-04:00I think it was just because I'd also recently ...I think it was just because I'd also recently read two books by Trollope with these selfless, long-suffering heroines. Definitely better than Dickens' wimpy ingenues, but I still saw a pattern. I should get around to writing those reviews too!Karen K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13483190930383406559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-42355154461856787252013-07-28T15:23:19.126-04:002013-07-28T15:23:19.126-04:00I really enjoyed this book and am happy to learn a...I really enjoyed this book and am happy to learn a BBC series is coming soon... gotta love those British period dramas! JoAnnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13691864361197071517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-65708520737513033012013-07-28T15:21:09.522-04:002013-07-28T15:21:09.522-04:00Vicki - The Ladies' Paradise definitely stands...Vicki - The Ladies' Paradise definitely stands alone! I'd only read Therese Raquin prior to picking it up and had no problem. I really need to get back to Zola and this series.JoAnnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13691864361197071517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-64888016724627626412013-07-28T09:42:08.982-04:002013-07-28T09:42:08.982-04:00Reading the entire series sounds like a great idea...Reading the entire series sounds like a great idea. I wasn't as bothered as you were by the conventional 19th century morality intruding on a good story.Mae Travelshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13328946930935633113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-52002307673707714942013-07-27T20:45:16.005-04:002013-07-27T20:45:16.005-04:00I still haven't read Nana, but I've heard ...I still haven't read Nana, but I've heard it's excellent. I really loved La Bete Humaine which is the story of one of her brothers, and L'Assommoir which is about her mother Gervaise. It's really good.Karen K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13483190930383406559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-8500817085076161402013-07-27T20:16:40.465-04:002013-07-27T20:16:40.465-04:00I am a bit more than half done with The Ladies Par...I am a bit more than half done with The Ladies Paradise. I find the accounts of the business aspects of the store fascinating and yes it does remind of Wal Mart. My favorite Zola novel of the five I have read is Nana. Mel uhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08714473754458914681noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-66753681349187724602013-07-27T19:29:40.781-04:002013-07-27T19:29:40.781-04:00I'm reading them completely out of order, but ...I'm reading them completely out of order, but I don't know how much it matters -- some of them are still not available in good English translations. Brian Nelson, a professor from Australia, has done a lot of good recent translations, so I'm hoping that eventually he'll fill in the gaps with the ones that aren't available in English. Or I'll have to take up French!Karen K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13483190930383406559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-72899732199584726162013-07-27T18:34:00.434-04:002013-07-27T18:34:00.434-04:00I am about 1/3 of the way through the Fortune of t...I am about 1/3 of the way through the Fortune of the Rougons. You have inspired me to pick up Zola and I thought I would start at the beginning. However, I decided I would read them the suggested reading order I found on Wikipedia, rather than in order of publication. So lucky me, Pot-Bouille and Au Bonheur des Dames are 7th and 8th on the list. I will also try and check out the PBS series. I love literary adaptations when they are done well.Ruthiellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03871834571645928819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-48022729668006746922013-07-27T16:53:35.858-04:002013-07-27T16:53:35.858-04:00It's definitely a better shopping novel than, ...It's definitely a better shopping novel than, say, The Shopaholic series. And when people see you reading it they'll be all impressed that you're reading a French novel. Karen K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13483190930383406559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-87470155328898448352013-07-27T15:43:54.426-04:002013-07-27T15:43:54.426-04:00This is the only Zola I own and I'm not ashame...This is the only Zola I own and I'm not ashamed to say I bought it because of the shopping theme! In all seriousness though, I do like a good satire so hopefully it will work for me.Sam (Tiny Library)https://www.blogger.com/profile/16375434438465319913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-58125433686443069332013-07-27T12:31:15.593-04:002013-07-27T12:31:15.593-04:00I think it's fine as a stand-alone -- Mouret&#...I think it's fine as a stand-alone -- Mouret's the only character that shows up in a previous book and his past is mentioned, it isn't necessary to have read Pot-Bouille beforehand. I think all the works are distinct enough to stand on their own -- and I'm certainly not reading them in order! <br /><br />If you have time, though, Pot-Bouille is pretty funny. It's kind of a really sordid Upstairs, Downstairs, set in a French apartment building with a bunch of hypocritical bourgeois French people. Karen K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13483190930383406559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-26744967108581863212013-07-27T00:41:32.184-04:002013-07-27T00:41:32.184-04:00I have this to read - I'm hoping it stands alo...I have this to read - I'm hoping it stands alone OK, as the only other one I've read is Germinal and that was back in uni in the late 80s (and I can't remember ANYTHING about ANYTHING I was forced to read!). ;-)skiourophilehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08200877834536477400noreply@blogger.com