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dyerra 's review for:
Old Goriot
by Honoré de Balzac
challenging
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
If you are not a fan of The Giving Tree, you will also dislike this book. At this point, I would believe that this book is inspiration for The Giving Tree. The father (Pere Goriot) gives of himself to his daughters until he dies, with little to no appreciation until it's too late. At least in this book there is a character (Rastignac) trying to talk sense into one of his daughters (Delphine). But, it really does no good.
This book was a very challenging read for me. I had to consistently consult with Cliffs Notes to make sure I understood what was happening (and often I did not). I also struggled with the pace, especially the plethora of exposition at the beginning. I continually was wishing I was reading this with a university class with a professor who could answer all of my questions.
That being said, I understand why it is a classic, I have read about the impact of this novel on literature, and I understand how Balzac's writing was different and brilliant. It was just also a lot of work, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. My main issue with the book was more how painful the relationship between Goriot and his daughters was - much like The Giving Tree. However, if you are someone who finds The Giving Tree poignant and beautiful, you'll probably love this book.
So in summary - I see the brilliance of the work, but it's also a hard read and wasn't for me.
This book was a very challenging read for me. I had to consistently consult with Cliffs Notes to make sure I understood what was happening (and often I did not). I also struggled with the pace, especially the plethora of exposition at the beginning. I continually was wishing I was reading this with a university class with a professor who could answer all of my questions.
That being said, I understand why it is a classic, I have read about the impact of this novel on literature, and I understand how Balzac's writing was different and brilliant. It was just also a lot of work, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. My main issue with the book was more how painful the relationship between Goriot and his daughters was - much like The Giving Tree. However, if you are someone who finds The Giving Tree poignant and beautiful, you'll probably love this book.
So in summary - I see the brilliance of the work, but it's also a hard read and wasn't for me.