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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Alcohol
Beware, reading the "Assommoir" can cause drunkenness!
Bending to turn the pages; drunk to know what hides the social violence. Black intoxication is painful, raising the discomfort and returning to the brain.
Why is this tome one of the most famous of this author? Every reader who has appreciated it can bring their answer to this question. For my part, I explain this success by the fascination with the worst it generates in the reader. This one was the case for me.
As always with Zola, human nature is naked, crudely. The absolute master of naturalist literature reveals in this novel all the darkness of souls who know neither moderation nor charity and even less reason.
In this 7th volume of Rougon-Macquart, the main character that the reader will follow (and which he is likely to attach) is Gervaise Macquart, the granddaughter of Adelaide Fouqué's root-strain of the family. All action of the novel takes place in Paris, in a working environment uncompromisingly described. This book has caused a stir in public opinion at its publication!
Gervaise is a washerwoman, a brave hard-working girl, yet the archetype of the one "who never has luck", so expect a Zola "black from black". Mistreated by men who share her life, her goodness and endurance make them go through many trials. Even lead her on the road to success. Still, it is not counting on the "vices" to which man has so much ease in slipping: idleness and laziness, alcoholism, egoism and waste. Gervaise's energy and patience will not succeed; it is towards the social abyss that all her family directs her steps.
Well, I'll stop there. You will understand the tone of the novel.
I will finish giving you my opinion. Stunning "piece" of literature, work that "stirs the guts" in-depth, "l'Assommoir" remains for me a staple of Zola, one of his most exceptional writings, in his likeness: challenging, realistic and moving.
Bending to turn the pages; drunk to know what hides the social violence. Black intoxication is painful, raising the discomfort and returning to the brain.
Why is this tome one of the most famous of this author? Every reader who has appreciated it can bring their answer to this question. For my part, I explain this success by the fascination with the worst it generates in the reader. This one was the case for me.
As always with Zola, human nature is naked, crudely. The absolute master of naturalist literature reveals in this novel all the darkness of souls who know neither moderation nor charity and even less reason.
In this 7th volume of Rougon-Macquart, the main character that the reader will follow (and which he is likely to attach) is Gervaise Macquart, the granddaughter of Adelaide Fouqué's root-strain of the family. All action of the novel takes place in Paris, in a working environment uncompromisingly described. This book has caused a stir in public opinion at its publication!
Gervaise is a washerwoman, a brave hard-working girl, yet the archetype of the one "who never has luck", so expect a Zola "black from black". Mistreated by men who share her life, her goodness and endurance make them go through many trials. Even lead her on the road to success. Still, it is not counting on the "vices" to which man has so much ease in slipping: idleness and laziness, alcoholism, egoism and waste. Gervaise's energy and patience will not succeed; it is towards the social abyss that all her family directs her steps.
Well, I'll stop there. You will understand the tone of the novel.
I will finish giving you my opinion. Stunning "piece" of literature, work that "stirs the guts" in-depth, "l'Assommoir" remains for me a staple of Zola, one of his most exceptional writings, in his likeness: challenging, realistic and moving.
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Toxic relationship
Moderate: Death, Violence, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Infidelity, Religious bigotry
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Devastating and depressing yet quite brilliant. Zola shows working classes lives in all their highs and lows (mostly lows). Hard work, poverty, alcoholism, starvation, domestic violence (it’s impossible to read about poor little Lalie without tears), and so much cruelty and crudity. As usual, there’s lots of detail. You can smell the filthy laundry and feel the heat as the women do the washing and ironing in Gervaise’s laundry. Coupeaus dangerous work as a roofer above the streets of Paris. The forge and the making of bolts by hand gradually being replaced by machine. It’s a vivid picture of a city as it changes over 20 years and the gradual degradation of the lives of Gervaise and Coupeau.
dark
slow-paced