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A review by hammard
Pot Luck by Émile Zola
4.0
This book is very much the middle of the Rougon-Macquart series. It's the 10th book written and about the 9th book chronologically. It's neither considered a classic like Germinal or Bonheur De Dames nor a turkey like Page D'Amour or Eugene Rougon and it incorporates many of the themes present throughout the series.
I would agree with this assessment although it is slightly different from those I have read so far. Firstly, it is much more an ensemble piece with a large cast of characters. In this way it has more the feel of early Upstairs Downstairs than Zola's usual laser-like focus. Secondly, he largely uses the apartment complex as a metaphor than a feature to be explored in it's own right. We do not get a reason why this represents a new mode of living, merely it is symbolic of the nature of middle class life.
Whilst it is still a great a satire these elements limit it from becoming consider among Zola's essential pieces.
I would agree with this assessment although it is slightly different from those I have read so far. Firstly, it is much more an ensemble piece with a large cast of characters. In this way it has more the feel of early Upstairs Downstairs than Zola's usual laser-like focus. Secondly, he largely uses the apartment complex as a metaphor than a feature to be explored in it's own right. We do not get a reason why this represents a new mode of living, merely it is symbolic of the nature of middle class life.
Whilst it is still a great a satire these elements limit it from becoming consider among Zola's essential pieces.