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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
dark
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
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
J'ai adoré celui-là... quel personnage... et quelle époque!
http://moncoinlecture.com/2017/05/nana-emile-zola/
http://moncoinlecture.com/2017/05/nana-emile-zola/
I have been going through a lil bit of literature malaise and reading Nana certainly did not help. I am writing this review more than 3 months after I read it and I can't recall that many details, but I do remember being in a bookshop with a couple of my friends, pointing at it and telling them not to read this book.
The thing is, yes, when reading a book you do need to remember the social milieu it was written in in order to properly appreciate the impact it had, especially when it's SUCH a classic. And I certainly appreciate Émile Zola's involvement in the Dreyfus affair.
I find it hard, however, to enjoy the naturalist writing style. The attention to trivial details is tedious and tiring. I appreciate it when it comes to the overarching values, but I do find them a bit lacking when it comes to the titular character. It seems like he detests Nana, detests her heritage and finds her not worthy of redemption.
Of course, most of it may stem from the fact that wanted to treat it as an allegory of the French society, of which he was also a product. A certain kind of snobbishness might be inescapable. To top it off, he might have wanted to picture of force of destructiveness and chaos that in the end always leaves the upper classes somewhat unscathed. At that point in time, it was unlikely that people like me would read this book and see themselves not in the artistes or the privileged upper strata but in the lucky outsider like Nana herself. Just like Zola and Nana, I am the product of my society and I can't help but see this book from my own selfish lenses.
The thing is, yes, when reading a book you do need to remember the social milieu it was written in in order to properly appreciate the impact it had, especially when it's SUCH a classic. And I certainly appreciate Émile Zola's involvement in the Dreyfus affair.
I find it hard, however, to enjoy the naturalist writing style. The attention to trivial details is tedious and tiring. I appreciate it when it comes to the overarching values, but I do find them a bit lacking when it comes to the titular character. It seems like he detests Nana, detests her heritage and finds her not worthy of redemption.
Of course, most of it may stem from the fact that wanted to treat it as an allegory of the French society, of which he was also a product. A certain kind of snobbishness might be inescapable. To top it off, he might have wanted to picture of force of destructiveness and chaos that in the end always leaves the upper classes somewhat unscathed. At that point in time, it was unlikely that people like me would read this book and see themselves not in the artistes or the privileged upper strata but in the lucky outsider like Nana herself. Just like Zola and Nana, I am the product of my society and I can't help but see this book from my own selfish lenses.
dark
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
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:
Yes
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
dark
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
one of the most frustrating books I’ve read in a while. too long and convoluted, with too many characters and plot lines to really enjoy all of them, but incredibly well written and has really successful moments. hesitating to give this three or four stars, this is where the damn half star would be useful.
read for class.
read for class.
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated