All About Books discussion

Reading our way through all 20 of Émile Zola's Les Rougon-Macquart-series.

This is the suggested schedule for 2013 - 2015, (following publication order) :

2016
January - The Beast Within
March - Money
May - The Debacle
July - Doctor Pascal

2015
January - The Ladies' Paradise✔
March - The Joy of Life✔
May - Germinal✔
July - The Masterpiece✔
September - The Earth✔
November - The Dream✔

2014
January - The Sin of Father Mouret/Abbé Mouret's Transgression✔
March - His Excellency (Son Excellence Eugène Rougon)✔
May - The Drinking Den (I've stopped counting alternative English titles after I had counted four)✔
July - A Love Episode✔
September - Nana✔
November - Pot-Bouille (again, many alternative titles but more recent editions seem to have this one)

2013
April (starting 25.April/ Perks) - The Fortune of the Rougons✔
June (Perks) - The Kill✔
September - The Belly of Paris✔
November - A Priest in the House/The Conquest of Plassans✔

I need to look for it and I'm with you in september

Looking forward to it!

;)

I'm away from home from start of September until September 17 and don't know how much internet access I'll have. So I'll be able to read the book from the start of September, but may not be able to post or read many comments.

@Laura: looking forward to it too!

@Gill: we could move the readalong to the second half of September if you'd prefer that

I would be better for me as well to postpone it after the 15 of September!

Yes, let's go for the 15 of September or a date round then. Also it gives a chance for other people to join us, maybe.

Just a thought. Would this thread be better under Readalongs, so that other people know they can join in?

Probably you're right!

Actually my second afterthought! is that maybe it's only the thread for the Belly of Paris that needs to be in the Readalongs.

Shall we wait and see what Jenny says, then if you like I'll set up the Belly of Paris thread in the Readalongs.

You two must be so busy at pres - thanks so much for your busyness!

Ooh! it's just moved! Shall I set up the B of P thread?

Gill wrote: "Ooh! it's just moved! Shall I set up the B of P thread?"

I did it!!! What do you mean with the "B of P thread"?

Sorry. Should have put the full title. The Belly of Paris.

Hey guys, why don't we keep it the way we have always done? Leaving this in challenges and opening a readalong for the individual books, so people can join in on reading along with us without having to follow through with the entire challenge + this thread would explode if we were to discuss every book in here. I have moved it back to challenges and will open a readalong soon, for the Belly of Paris. Agreed?

Just opened a thread for the Belly of Paris in Readalongs

Jenny wrote: "Just opened a thread for the Belly of Paris in Readalongs"

Cheers!

Ok Jenny!

Managed to get the book!

Goody good!

I've read Book 1 and was looking for Book 2 under the wrong title, I can't believe it! I'll see if I can catch up with you ladies. In the meantime, happy reading:)

Rowena, I am honestly starting to think that the order doesn't really matter all that much, since they are all stand-alone novels. It would be lovely to have you reading it with us!

The second book can't be found in Italy: it has never been translated!!!
I've read the first and now the third!

I figured the title in English would be the same as the French title, or at least something similar, and I was looking at both libraries for La Curee. Found out a couple of days ago that it was actually entitled The Kill. I will definitely read along with you ladies or at least read your comments.

That's good, Rowena. The more the merrier!

Thanks Gill!

Hey guys, should we tackle N°4 in November? It would be The Conquest of Plassans or A Priest in the House (different translation of the title but the same book). Laura, if I am not mistaken it is also available in Italian (at least one of the translated titles looked very Italian to me ;)La conquista di Plassans?)

Or does anyone need a break for short or for good? I personally would like to, but I would prefer to do so in your wonderful company.

November is fine with me, if it's fine with others. Only 16 books to go!(I mean after the next one)

I was planning to read it with some italian friends by the 15th of next month. If can't start it by the 15th I'll keep my notes and post them when you read it!!!

I won't be able to fit it into October, but if Gill and I start early in November, maybe it's still fresh enough for you to discuss it with us?
Do you guys know whether all of the remaining 16 or 17 are available in English/Italian? It seems they are in German.
Looking forward to round 4!

We'll be starting it on the 23, so not so much earlier!!!
In Italian there are still some gaps; I'll have to see it bit by bit!

They are all available in English. I downloaded the Delphi Classics version early on. Very cheap, but not the best translation. I've decided to download the Penguin Modern Classics version when it's available on Kindle. Unfortunately not available for Book four though.

Laura do you mean 15Oct or Nov?

Actually we'll start on the 21 of october

Good, that's nearly the same time. No idea where I got 15th from!

don't worry Gill, you're not starting to imagine things ;), I think the schedule simply got adjusted: LauraT wrote: "I was planning to read it with some italian friends by the 15th of next month. If can't start it by the 15th I'll keep my notes and post them when you read it!!!"

Since I was just chatting to Leslie about it: do you feel the order of books really matters much? In my mind it doesn't, however I really enjoy getting a glimpse of how that series developed in Zola's head.

Yes, Jenny, I also like the idea of pretty much following Zola in terms of order.

Hi - can anyone join in on this for just a couple of novels maybe? I'd like to read "Therese Raquin" for example.

Jean wrote: "Hi - can anyone join in on this for just a couple of novels maybe? I'd like to read "Therese Raquin" for example."

Ha ha ha! I was just saying the same over in the general chat thread!

Yes!!!! We have a readalong for each individual book, so join for which ever one you want to!

Jean wrote: "Hi - can anyone join in on this for just a couple of novels maybe? I'd like to read "Therese Raquin" for example."

I don't think it is in this particular serie, but I read it and liked it quite a lot; just at the beginning of this year ...

Jenny wrote: "Since I was just chatting to Leslie about it: do you feel the order of books really matters much? In my mind it doesn't, however I really enjoy getting a glimpse of how that series developed in Zol..."

I don't think it is so important!

Oops sorry Leslie! I thought someone might have mentioned "Therese Raquin" but couldn't find it here!

Anyway, now I know this thread exists I'll keep an eye on what you're all reading. So thanks Jenny, I may join in the odd one.

Jean wrote: "Oops sorry Leslie! I thought someone might have mentioned "Therese Raquin" but couldn't find it here!

Anyway, now I know this thread exists I'll keep an eye on what you're all reading. So thanks J..."

I think it was mentioned somewhere hereabouts.

Hey guys, I've updated our schedule in the first post so that we have a bit of an overview (we'll have managed to read half of the cycle if we stick to the schedule by the end of the year ;))

We can always adapt if someone needs a break or a certain month doesn't suit. Looking forward to it!!

Seen it and appreciated a lot!!!

Thanks, Jenny. Looking forward to it all.

Me too!

Are we starting at the beginning of May? Can't remember where to post this!

Right at the beginning then? Really looking forward to it.
Next one has never ben translated into italian! I've already looked for it in english!!!