I just finished Germinal last night, it was also my first Zola, and I am completely in awe of the genius of the author. I completely agree with your review and I don’t understand why we don’t read him more often in USA. Thank you for your videos.
The edition I read provides a explanation how Zola wrote the novel: He gets inspiration from the famous gréves that took place in Anzine mines which took place in the North of France in 1866. He begins the studies of this novel in 1872 and publishes it in 1885, working completely on it for 13 years! He even experienced going down the mine 800 meters...
This review was very well-balanced. I am glad you’ve found Zola and I would encourage you to read more. I look forward to reviews of more of his books. He is often compared to Balzac but personally I think he’s far better.
I'm so glad you enjoyed Germinal! One of Zola's best works in the Rougon-Macquart saga is L'Assommoir. Also, his first novel Thérèse Raquin is dark and amazing.
Good review. I am Australian and have read a number of Zola’s novels. Germinal is my favourite, but not far behind, La Bete Humaine, The Earth, The Masterpiece, L’Assommoir,…….Interesting real characters, good descriptions of the way of life of a particular industry, eg train operators, small business owners,….and good plot momentum.
Merci for your review! I just finished reading Balzac's The Black Sheep - another 19th-century French novel criticizing what society considers "admirable". I look forward to reading Germinal and other French novels from the time period that seem as relevant today as they did when they were written. 🌱🌻
Zola is a great writer. I regard him as someone who develops Balzac's "literary paradigm" in new ways, and actually surpasses him from a stylistic point of view. Whereas Balzac has a sort of "fury" in his writing, Zola's descriptions are so hyper-realistic to the point of becoming "psychedelic".
Zola is my favourite French author. Germinal is one of my favourite novels of his Rougon-Macquart book series. My all time favourite Zola novel is Au Bonheur des Dames (The Ladies Paradise) I highly recommend it
I just read Germinal for the first time as well. Zola's language is beautiful (I read an English translation) but the story was so bleak that I, too, had to take some breaks. It sure makes you appreciate what you have.
Ho finito Germinal ieri stamattina alle 6. Bellissimo. Mi ha colpito molto la negativita', cruda, realista. Le parti piu' interessanti, almeno secondo il mio gusto, erano quelle politiche, in cui Etienne studia, dibatte, discute. La traduzione italiana ha reso questo romanzo estremamente piacevole e per nulla noioso. Ovviamente trattandosi di un romanzo dell'800, ne ho apprezzato la struttura e le descrizioni e la conseguente lunghezza, che lo rende ricco di dettagli interessanti. Mi e' piaciuto molto e lo consiglio caldamente.
Thank you for the review! I feel regret that I've just un-haul the book a few days ago, that is, in Indonesian translation. Would def re-buy it in English since I can't read French. 😂 Cheers.
To me the best part of this book was how the characters, and in some way their situation (often miserable), highlighted the conflicts and poltics. Towards the end however there were some blows that seemed self- or un-motivated. It wasn't as bad as A Little Life, which I find just misantropic. But it did seem a bit out of place and like it was included for shock value. Funnily enough, this book is listed as an influence by the creators of Disco Elysium. You can definitely see the similarity in how conflicting factions and fates are pit against each other. Regardless, an absolutely amazing book. Thanks for putting it on my radar!
Like Victor Hugo Emile Zola sympathizes with the downtrodden while understanding the flaws in human character … they are the most prolific complex literary sociological minds in literature … genius really
I like the Barnes and Noble classics (which I think until recently was the only translation, so any edition would do) but be careful of that edition specifically because it does unfortunately contain major spoilers in the footnotes and endnotes.
i played disco elysium and loved the atmosphere and writing, so i looked into a thread where they outlined a bunch of their inspirations, from books like this one and 'the city and the city' to shows like the wire or the shield. honestly this has got to be the most depressing and wrenching book ive read yet of the bunch. i never want to read it again but think everyone should read it. just to read what kind of horrible shit there is in life. just to know its there and that people are goin through it. much like goodnight punpun i would whole heartedly recommend this book and also just not recommend it at all, especially if your depressed. for people who really like this book, how do you read stuff like this? do you read it often? do you have big palette cleansers or is it like a passive interest? i think im the kind of person who gets really into the characters and seeing them suffer hurts so much, even chaval the bastard, i was sad for his end, thinking that just maybe this shared struggle might distract him from his horrible personality :( Catherine was a perfect person, perfect for the world she was in, but it was all the slime and grit that kept pulling her back into that disgusting pit that ruined her whole life. still gotta digest this book and mourn the passing of some great characters
I just finished Germinal last night, it was also my first Zola, and I am completely in awe of the genius of the author. I completely agree with your review and I don’t understand why we don’t read him more often in USA. Thank you for your videos.
The edition I read provides a explanation how Zola wrote the novel: He gets inspiration from the famous gréves that took place in Anzine mines which took place in the North of France in 1866. He begins the studies of this novel in 1872 and publishes it in 1885, working completely on it for 13 years! He even experienced going down the mine 800 meters...
Just started reading Germinal myself as my 4th Zola and this review reassured my expectations of the devastating realism I love of his so much!
I’m about to dive in! Thank you for this video 😊🎉
I started Germinal last week after reading Therese Racquin and enjoying it immensely. I predict this will become one of my top books of the year.
This review was very well-balanced. I am glad you’ve found Zola and I would encourage you to read more. I look forward to reviews of more of his books. He is often compared to Balzac but personally I think he’s far better.
I'm so glad you enjoyed Germinal! One of Zola's best works in the Rougon-Macquart saga is L'Assommoir. Also, his first novel Thérèse Raquin is dark and amazing.
Thank you! I was thinking of L'Assommoir as my next Zola novel :)
@@TheBookchemistyou must read Nana also by Zola it's his best one ever.
L'Assommoir and Nana are definitely my two favourite Zola novels!
Good review. I am Australian and have read a number of Zola’s novels. Germinal is my favourite, but not far behind, La Bete Humaine, The Earth, The Masterpiece, L’Assommoir,…….Interesting real characters, good descriptions of the way of life of a particular industry, eg train operators, small business owners,….and good plot momentum.
Germinal was one of Andrè Gide’s favorite 10 novels in the French language.
Awesome. Thanks for the review.
Thanks for the review. Currently reading his, the masterpiece
Merci for your review! I just finished reading Balzac's The Black Sheep - another 19th-century French novel criticizing what society considers "admirable". I look forward to reading Germinal and other French novels from the time period that seem as relevant today as they did when they were written. 🌱🌻
May I recommend you "la Bête Humaine" (the Human Beast)
Zola is a great writer. I regard him as someone who develops Balzac's "literary paradigm" in new ways, and actually surpasses him from a stylistic point of view. Whereas Balzac has a sort of "fury" in his writing, Zola's descriptions are so hyper-realistic to the point of becoming "psychedelic".
one of the most devastatingly moving novels ever
Hell yeah. I haven't read anything from Zola yet but this sounds very interesting and promising indeed.
You always have the best book editions!
Zola is my favourite French author. Germinal is one of my favourite novels of his Rougon-Macquart book series. My all time favourite Zola novel is Au Bonheur des Dames (The Ladies Paradise) I highly recommend it
Duly noted!
I just read Germinal for the first time as well. Zola's language is beautiful (I read an English translation) but the story was so bleak that I, too, had to take some breaks. It sure makes you appreciate what you have.
Ho finito Germinal ieri stamattina alle 6. Bellissimo. Mi ha colpito molto la negativita', cruda, realista. Le parti piu' interessanti, almeno secondo il mio gusto, erano quelle politiche, in cui Etienne studia, dibatte, discute.
La traduzione italiana ha reso questo romanzo estremamente piacevole e per nulla noioso. Ovviamente trattandosi di un romanzo dell'800, ne ho apprezzato la struttura e le descrizioni e la conseguente lunghezza, che lo rende ricco di dettagli interessanti.
Mi e' piaciuto molto e lo consiglio caldamente.
Thank you for the review! I feel regret that I've just un-haul the book a few days ago, that is, in Indonesian translation. Would def re-buy it in English since I can't read French. 😂 Cheers.
Fully agree with your analysis
To me the best part of this book was how the characters, and in some way their situation (often miserable), highlighted the conflicts and poltics. Towards the end however there were some blows that seemed self- or un-motivated. It wasn't as bad as A Little Life, which I find just misantropic. But it did seem a bit out of place and like it was included for shock value.
Funnily enough, this book is listed as an influence by the creators of Disco Elysium. You can definitely see the similarity in how conflicting factions and fates are pit against each other.
Regardless, an absolutely amazing book. Thanks for putting it on my radar!
Disco Elysium has been on my list of games to try for a while - thank you for flagging this!
Like Victor Hugo Emile Zola sympathizes with the downtrodden while understanding the flaws in human character … they are the most prolific complex literary sociological minds in literature … genius really
hey could anyone recommend a good english translation?
I like the Barnes and Noble classics (which I think until recently was the only translation, so any edition would do) but be careful of that edition specifically because it does unfortunately contain major spoilers in the footnotes and endnotes.
i played disco elysium and loved the atmosphere and writing, so i looked into a thread where they outlined a bunch of their inspirations, from books like this one and 'the city and the city' to shows like the wire or the shield. honestly this has got to be the most depressing and wrenching book ive read yet of the bunch. i never want to read it again but think everyone should read it. just to read what kind of horrible shit there is in life.
just to know its there and that people are goin through it. much like goodnight punpun i would whole heartedly recommend this book and also just not recommend it at all, especially if your depressed.
for people who really like this book, how do you read stuff like this? do you read it often? do you have big palette cleansers or is it like a passive interest? i think im the kind of person who gets really into the characters and seeing them suffer hurts so much, even chaval the bastard, i was sad for his end, thinking that just maybe this shared struggle might distract him from his horrible personality :( Catherine was a perfect person, perfect for the world she was in, but it was all the slime and grit that kept pulling her back into that disgusting pit that ruined her whole life. still gotta digest this book and mourn the passing of some great characters
Thanks ❤
You read it from its original French text?
No, I read it in the Italian translation.
There were 2 scenes in germinal that literally made me nauseous. I thought it was an incredible book
Please do more DeLillo and McCarthy.
First?