tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post484242269268216906..comments2023-10-10T20:43:00.969-04:00Comments on Books and Chocolate: Pot Luck (Pot Bouille) by Emile ZolaKaren K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13483190930383406559noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-11252720730960610062011-08-04T01:55:59.618-04:002011-08-04T01:55:59.618-04:00I've only read The Kill by Zola and I have mor...I've only read The Kill by Zola and I have more of his books that I'd like to read (Nana, The Ladies' Paradise and The Belly of Paris) because I love the Second Empire that he writes about, but I've noticed that sometimes he uses a sexually corrupt woman as a symbol for what's wrong with France under Napoleon III (in The Kill a rich spoiled woman sleeps with her stepson) and I'm not really comfortable with that, since it's really the men who are causing all the problems! So that's why I haven't read more of him, but The Kill certainly presented a vivid and glamorous picture of the nouveau riche of Paris in the 19th century.Carolynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11538459607519844826noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-62526393936880263352011-07-29T19:44:40.508-04:002011-07-29T19:44:40.508-04:00I'm in the midst of reading Snowdrops by AD Mi...I'm in the midst of reading Snowdrops by AD Miller, which is totally different from Zola, but similar in that most of the characters are reprehensible and savage and it is making me slightly depressed. I think I need to have at least one character who "does the right thing" in my reading!<br />BTW, congrats on your new job! Working in public libraries is very challenging, yet rewarding. I hope you love it!Anbolyn (Gudrun's Tights)http://gudrunstights.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-77199977776463199312011-07-28T17:40:00.476-04:002011-07-28T17:40:00.476-04:00Amanda -- I was able to keep the characters in Ger...Amanda -- I was able to keep the characters in Germinal straight by the end but this one was harder for me. Probably because I stopped reading it for about a week. I also had trouble remembering which servants went with which apartment. I got the gist of it by the end, which is the important thing. <br /><br />How many Zolas have you read so far? I'm up to four, hope to read another one soon.Karen K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13483190930383406559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-28223646869577738742011-07-28T08:37:17.128-04:002011-07-28T08:37:17.128-04:00Lots of the books of his I've read did that sa...Lots of the books of his I've read did that same thing with the characters - throwing them all out at the beginning and letting you sort through them. But what I like about Zola is that he gives each one of those characters such personal attention that by the end of the book, you know every single one. Germinal and Nana were the exact same way. I'm glad this one turned out to be good.Amandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07026099426503180472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-62233693167745243542011-07-27T16:50:39.929-04:002011-07-27T16:50:39.929-04:00Col -- that's so cool that we both posted on Z...Col -- that's so cool that we both posted on Zola today! I'm glad that it was still an enjoyable book. I've found older editions of Zola at the library sales, so I hope they're as good as the new translations. <br /><br />Eclectic reader -- it's definitely lighter than Germinal but Zola's making serious statements about the hypocrisy of the bourgeois and their morality. Not nearly as dire as reading about starving coal miners, however.<br /><br />JoAnn -- The Ladies' Paradise will be my next Zola. I've heard that the BBC is adapting it into a drama (set in England, not France) and will air sometime in 2013. I don't think you need to read the series in order though it seems these two are fairly close together.Karen K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13483190930383406559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-14990408920694232402011-07-27T13:49:39.586-04:002011-07-27T13:49:39.586-04:00I loved The Ladies' Paradise and now it sounds...I loved The Ladies' Paradise and now it sounds like Pot-Luck needs to be added to my list, too. Am seriously wondering if I should just start reading the whole series in order!!JoAnnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13691864361197071517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-61514152723992037762011-07-27T11:14:19.934-04:002011-07-27T11:14:19.934-04:00I've never heard of this series by Zola but it...I've never heard of this series by Zola but it seems funny, and way more light that Gremial. I usually enjoy book with social satire, that's way I love Dickens so much.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-60972759736550882682011-07-27T11:00:49.920-04:002011-07-27T11:00:49.920-04:00This is so funny, Karen. Your Germinal review insp...This is so funny, Karen. Your Germinal review inspired my post today, on The Fortune of the Rougons! It was amazing, and I heartily recommend it. I have heard the current translation is not great, but I still thoroughly enjoyed the book, and plan to read more!Col (Col Reads)https://www.blogger.com/profile/03136923310179832040noreply@blogger.com