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mediaevalmuse 's review for:
Thérèse Raquin
by Émile Zola
I picked up this book for two reasons: 1. I have a special place in my heart for 19th century novels about women having affairs, and 2. I've been hearing a lot about it since Keira Knightley's play opened on Broadway. It's a relatively short novel that goes by rather quickly, but all the turmoil packed in its pages makes the reading experience feel as if I've stepped into a TARDIS - it's bigger on the inside.
Things I Liked:
1. Psychology: Don't go into this novel expecting a sweeping romance. It's no Anna Karenina, but the romance is hardly the point of the plot. Instead, the majority of the focus is on the emotional and psychological state of Therese and her lover, Laurent, following their affair and a criminal act. Without giving too much away, I think it's fair to say that this novel is an exploration of guilt, which manifests itself in so many different ways. My absolute favorite parts were when It's a perfect exercise in showing instead of telling, and I think readers with interests in psychology will really enjoy this novel.
2. Imagery: Zola claims his style to be rather matter-of-fact, and it is, but the imagery in this novel is so vivid and grotesque that reading at times felt like looking into a carnival mirror. Especially for the descriptions of paintings and the look of, Zola's language evokes a lot of emotional responses from the reader, from disgust to frustration to feeling on-edge.
Things I Didn't Like
1. Style: I'll admit, I'm not a huge fan of matter-of-fact style or naturalism in general. I like a little bit of artistry and metaphor in my prose, especially when the plot engages with high-emotion or climactic events, but Zola gives us none of that (at least not consistently). If you're a reader who enjoys books that are like reading a statement of facts, this book will be fine for you, but if not, it might feel like reading an academic journal.
2. Pace: Because this book largely revolves around psychology and the emotions of the characters, there isn't much in terms of major plot points. Expect over half the novel to be devoted to exploring the manifestation of guilt. It's a fine way to go about writing a book, but for me, reading felt a bit sluggish.
Recommendations: Definitely pick this book up if you're a fan of psychology or crime, especially when set in the 19th century. Though Therese Raquin isn't a mystery, readers will enjoy it if the main interest lies in exploring the human psyche. Also, I'd recommend it for fans of naturalism and realism as a style or literary movement, as Zola's prose definitely falls into these classifications.
Things I Liked:
1. Psychology: Don't go into this novel expecting a sweeping romance. It's no Anna Karenina, but the romance is hardly the point of the plot. Instead, the majority of the focus is on the emotional and psychological state of Therese and her lover, Laurent, following their affair and a criminal act. Without giving too much away, I think it's fair to say that this novel is an exploration of guilt, which manifests itself in so many different ways. My absolute favorite parts were when
Spoiler
Therese and Laurent imagine Camille sitting between them or when they imagined Camille's ghost to be following them and smiling.2. Imagery: Zola claims his style to be rather matter-of-fact, and it is, but the imagery in this novel is so vivid and grotesque that reading at times felt like looking into a carnival mirror. Especially for the descriptions of paintings and the look of
Spoiler
the bodies in the morgueThings I Didn't Like
1. Style: I'll admit, I'm not a huge fan of matter-of-fact style or naturalism in general. I like a little bit of artistry and metaphor in my prose, especially when the plot engages with high-emotion or climactic events, but Zola gives us none of that (at least not consistently). If you're a reader who enjoys books that are like reading a statement of facts, this book will be fine for you, but if not, it might feel like reading an academic journal.
2. Pace: Because this book largely revolves around psychology and the emotions of the characters, there isn't much in terms of major plot points. Expect over half the novel to be devoted to exploring the manifestation of guilt. It's a fine way to go about writing a book, but for me, reading felt a bit sluggish.
Recommendations: Definitely pick this book up if you're a fan of psychology or crime, especially when set in the 19th century. Though Therese Raquin isn't a mystery, readers will enjoy it if the main interest lies in exploring the human psyche. Also, I'd recommend it for fans of naturalism and realism as a style or literary movement, as Zola's prose definitely falls into these classifications.