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Book Review - Pere Goriot
Dec. 28th, 2003 03:58 pmPere Goriot by Honore de Balzac
As I mentioned in my review for Shardik, I have had this book for quite a while. It is a 'Signet Classic' with a preface and afterword by the translator. In other words, it's literature and it looks it - dull dull dull. Nonetheless, I was comforted in the fact that it was a fairly short book and couldn't be too bad. I went on in this manner for about the first 5 pages and then I started to get interested, and even intrigued. This is a novel about Parisian society set in the early 1900's and written in the early 1900's by a frenchman. I was completely wrapped up in his description of character and the mechanisms of another place and time. Like a soap opera, I am sure there are many elements which have been exaggerated for effect. Nonetheless, I found the novel fascinating. It reminded me of films of the 1920's and sure enough there were several movies made about Pere Goriot, one in the 20's. The emotions are laid on with a heavy brush at times and I'm afraid I did not develop the necessary sympathy with the main character, but I did become enchanted with the world itself. From the afterword, I learn that this is only the first novel in a series called La Comedie Humaine which further develops many of the characters in this novel. I can't wait. There is obviously much more to tell of Rastignac and the assorted fine ladies. Both the great project and my general packrattery have paid off.
Next novel: Darwin's Radio by Greg Bear. I was specifically forbidden to read this while I was pregnant and I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to enjoy this. If not, I most certainly not be reading it's sequel which is also on my shelf.
As I mentioned in my review for Shardik, I have had this book for quite a while. It is a 'Signet Classic' with a preface and afterword by the translator. In other words, it's literature and it looks it - dull dull dull. Nonetheless, I was comforted in the fact that it was a fairly short book and couldn't be too bad. I went on in this manner for about the first 5 pages and then I started to get interested, and even intrigued. This is a novel about Parisian society set in the early 1900's and written in the early 1900's by a frenchman. I was completely wrapped up in his description of character and the mechanisms of another place and time. Like a soap opera, I am sure there are many elements which have been exaggerated for effect. Nonetheless, I found the novel fascinating. It reminded me of films of the 1920's and sure enough there were several movies made about Pere Goriot, one in the 20's. The emotions are laid on with a heavy brush at times and I'm afraid I did not develop the necessary sympathy with the main character, but I did become enchanted with the world itself. From the afterword, I learn that this is only the first novel in a series called La Comedie Humaine which further develops many of the characters in this novel. I can't wait. There is obviously much more to tell of Rastignac and the assorted fine ladies. Both the great project and my general packrattery have paid off.
Next novel: Darwin's Radio by Greg Bear. I was specifically forbidden to read this while I was pregnant and I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to enjoy this. If not, I most certainly not be reading it's sequel which is also on my shelf.
