Status Updates From Ferragus, chef des Dévorants

Moved the needle a few pages....but the Winter Olympics sucks me back to the TV!! I did make a major move this year: No e-books if paperback is available. Yes, it is more expensive but .....hands-on, distraction-free engagement of physical books supports deeper concentration, stronger memory retention and just a good feeling with a book in your hands where you can scribble your notes!

It took some time to get back into Balzac's novel...he uses some very "suranné" (outdated; old-fashioned) words: example s'éprendre (used often to say "to fall in love")...but Balzac uses amouracher! Narrative is finally taking shape in between Balzac's long "rants" about love! Balzac frequently explores love because it drives his characters' ambitions....there's nothing more important in his stories!

I was on a good French reading schedule...then the Winter Olympics 2026 happened. I got sucked into the drama, sportsmanship and admiration of so many athletes who worked so hard the last 4 years to be at the games!
Slow day on the ski slopes....so I'll try to wake "Ferragus" up and get back to business!!

Balzac compares Paris to a lobster.
Go figure...I still don't see it.

Just moved the needle 1 page!! Balzac is an amazing writer and he uses the streets of Paris endowing them to human traits to show the reader the contrasts in Paris and give the reader clues as to the plot! Poor vs rich, underworld vs aristocracy.... like seedy alleys vs beautiful boulevards. I took the time to research this Balzacian style: description that drives the narrative!

Started reading the preface of the book but it is just a lot of "blah, blah" that Balzac is notorious for. The preface does not move the plot or reveal any of the story's intrigue. So skipping right to chapter one, whew!

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