GERMINAL - PARCOURS DE LECTURE

by Bertrand

Genres: Historical Fiction, Classics, France, Fiction

127 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Sam Rennick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not only Emile Zola's best book, and he wrote a fistful of great novels, this is a novel that belongs with the world's classics. Zola is considered the father of the school of naturalism, of whom Frank Norris, out California-way, was a chief disciple. This is probably important, but I'm not sure why, since I can't quite persuade myself the various schools of writing mean much of anything. What is postmodernism, other than the sequel to modernism, whatever that is. Well, back to Zola. He wrote a 20-volume series of novels which, according to Britannica, are the "natural and social history of a family under the Second Empire." Each novel focuses on a single aspect of life. "Nana" is about a prostitute, "L'Assommoir," his best-known title, zeroes in on alcoholism among the working classes, "La Debacle" is concerned with the French fiasco in the 1870 war with Prussia, "La Terre" depicts rural depravity, "La Bete Humaine" is even more depraved, but the subject is the railroad industry. There's a book about a doctor, but I don't remember the title, and ditto a story about the department store industry in Paris. "Germinal" is about the struggle between capital and labor in the French mining industry. There's a love story, too. I won't tell you how it ends, but you've doubtless realized by now there aren't a lot of laughs in Zola. So, if you are counting, I have named eight of the twenty titles. That leaves 12 to read! Zola is uneven, like any writer who produces a large volume of work. If you were to ask me which of the above titles are masterpieces, and which to skip, the masterpieces are "Germinal," "L'Assommoir," "La Terre," and "La Bete Humaine." Pass on the rest. I give "Germinal" five stars, and as for the other three, five stars, five stars, five stars.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am french and i had to read Germinal for school.

I'm anti french classic literature but that one was a real surprise.

The underline criticism was really hard for me to pick up at 13 but when confronted during our french course, i became to re-read the book with new eye and quite enjoy the story.

It is also a like opening a window in cold mining french era. It is always interesting to know what happen behind close doors, cause history manual dont describe, they mostly state fact.

I will recommend Zola to anyone who want to peal the glamour about the past, and really experience life in the 19th france.

[Ray Noyes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gritty and tense, it holds the reader in its grip. There are echoes of How Green Was My Valley to be found in it, but the scenario is different. This is about a strike and the hardship endured by the striking miners. A love story sweetens the plot, but it is an animal love, not sweet romance. Altogether a riveting read.

[Stasya · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book resonates especially now with the collapse of the European and North American economies and the growing disparity amongst classes.But apart from that, it is well written and grips you with darkness, like most of Zola's works.

[Jim Córdoba · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un librazo.

El comienzo es paulatino, va formando un contexto fuerte para el resto de la historia. Entra poco a poco, página a página pero llega un momento, no sabes muy bien cómo, que se transforma y te engancha.

La parte final del libro es brutal, llena de pasiones, reflexiones, descriptiva y vívida, con nuevos prismas de los personajes. Está construido con gusto y una delicadeza cruel.

La interminable historia de las desventuras humanas, la desigualdad y el sufrimiento y los atisbos de vida que se encuentra en ello. Muy recomendable.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ce livre mérite amplement d'être considéré comme un chef d'œuvre.
J'ai été happée par le style de Zola et l'univers de la mine m'est vite devenu familier. Le livre est facile à lire mais le style reste élégant.
Je l'ai trouvé extrêmement actuel dans la description des injustices faites aux ouvriers mais aussi des relations homme-femme et du traitement des enfants.
Les personnages sont complexes et on les comprend même en étant complètement éloigné de leur temps et de leur milieu, j'étais donc très investie dans le roman.

Bref je conseille vivement !

[Cyril Théréau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un livre extraordinaire, l'un des meilleurs qu'Emile Zola ait jamais écrit!

[Ken · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sedih dari awal sampai akhir. Jendela untuk memahami ketertindasan buruh.

[Marina Marina Marina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un novelón. Drama del mundo minero en Francia: huelgas, pobreza, ....

[Oumaima Hassoun · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Etienne Lantier -the major hero- thinks that small people could change Reality; this last show him how naïve he is!