tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15714418.post3766814648903950090..comments2024-03-25T19:05:07.205-06:00Comments on Reading, Writing, Working, Playing: The Paradise (aka The Ladies Paradise) - Emile ZolaJaneGShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11094501834387622997noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15714418.post-5028869165176784592021-03-11T15:42:51.746-07:002021-03-11T15:42:51.746-07:00Agreed - very powerful novel.Agreed - very powerful novel.JaneGShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11094501834387622997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15714418.post-56661602430180682092021-03-11T06:42:04.713-07:002021-03-11T06:42:04.713-07:00I’m in the middle of Germinal right now. It’s cert...I’m in the middle of Germinal right now. It’s certainly a very powerful and political read! lemonheadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08373499779867837562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15714418.post-37710334682144926942018-05-03T18:55:31.482-06:002018-05-03T18:55:31.482-06:00The Ladies Paradise is one of my favorite Zola. It...The Ladies Paradise is one of my favorite Zola. It is interesting how Zola was very connected to Darwin's evolution theory in depicting the struggle of small shops that refused to change. And I have only realised now after reading your review! :PFanda Classiclithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07642429343958941266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15714418.post-44167936525979379222018-04-25T02:53:53.090-06:002018-04-25T02:53:53.090-06:00I enjoyed this book, and thought it interesting, a...I enjoyed this book, and thought it interesting, as the battle between the big and small shops was not only about size, but the birth of consumerism. The old shops sold necessities, which people bought as they needed them, and they didn't need to indulge in salesmanship. The new stores encouraged people to buy things they did not need, on a whim. An interesting piece of social history. Michelle Annhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07499490029910905577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15714418.post-43345247005668802142018-04-24T15:15:36.685-06:002018-04-24T15:15:36.685-06:00The Paradise sounds fascinating. I think I would l...The Paradise sounds fascinating. I think I would like to give Germinal to my miner husband, rough! The only Zola I have read was The Masterpiece which was great. I recommend it if you're into the Impressionists. I need to read more Zola. thecuecardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08870323589682197091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15714418.post-56821779701564082542018-04-23T13:34:51.421-06:002018-04-23T13:34:51.421-06:00I've only read Nana by Zola, but I really want...I've only read Nana by Zola, but I really want to read this one. I like the Paris/department store setting a lot. :)Lark https://www.blogger.com/profile/13777891312147377769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15714418.post-30985254996138336822018-04-23T07:44:34.481-06:002018-04-23T07:44:34.481-06:00I've only read a few of Zola's novels (inc...I've only read a few of Zola's novels (including this one) and have entertained the idea of tackling the whole Les Rougon-Macquart series. Next to Germinal, Therese Raquin is my favorite. It's fairly short, but very powerful.JoAnnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13691864361197071517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15714418.post-5467359445635751042018-04-22T17:04:32.073-06:002018-04-22T17:04:32.073-06:00Thanks for the recommendations. They all sound gre...Thanks for the recommendations. They all sound great!JaneGShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11094501834387622997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15714418.post-21683269740304266562018-04-22T13:16:13.609-06:002018-04-22T13:16:13.609-06:00I'm always pleased to see people reading Zola,...I'm always pleased to see people reading Zola, he is far too often ignored. The series is just brilliant (only one I disliked so far, Nana) and now almost the entire series has good translations into English! I've been reading his books off and on since 2009 and I'm up to my 12th book, I do hope to finish the entire series in the next couple of years. <br /><br />If you like The Ladies' Paradise I also recommend Pot-Bouille which immediately precedes it. It's more of a social satire about bourgeois people living in an apartment building. Parts of it are quite funny. I also loved The Belly of Paris which is set in the food halls, and La Bete Humaine which has to do with the trains. He wrote so many great books! Karen K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13483190930383406559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15714418.post-82347704176551622422018-04-22T09:16:53.330-06:002018-04-22T09:16:53.330-06:00Over the years I have been meaning to read Emile Z...Over the years I have been meaning to read Emile Zola. I am torn though. Germinal is his great classic but the Ladies Paradise sounds good too and since I work in retail I would probably find much that is relatable. I also like the fact that Zola saw how machines, industrialization were destroying a simpler and maybe more fulfilling way of life. We see that today as well. <br />Great review and as always you give us much to think about. Kathy's Cornerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03967595794483824444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15714418.post-74178434286181972592018-04-22T08:42:38.211-06:002018-04-22T08:42:38.211-06:00Encouraging to hear that small shops are coming ba...Encouraging to hear that small shops are coming back--they are the heart and soul of a community.JaneGShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11094501834387622997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15714418.post-4980587082542612452018-04-22T08:18:27.163-06:002018-04-22T08:18:27.163-06:00I really need to read Zola. Hopefully I will get t...I really need to read Zola. Hopefully I will get to his works later this year.<br /><br />It is so interesting that the battle between small shops and giant (now online) retailers is still going on in our times. I live on Long Island, New York. Here, there has been a huge resurgence in small shops and down towns. Hopefully the little shop will always be around. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15714418.post-79810033097390378242018-04-21T23:55:27.404-06:002018-04-21T23:55:27.404-06:00Years ago I had this crazy idea that I would read ...Years ago I had this crazy idea that I would read the entire Les Rougon-Macquart series by Zola (of which Ladies Paradise is no. 11 of 20) and I did read the first book, The Fortune of the Rougons and that’s as far as I got! I had also already read Germinal back in college for a French class. So many books, so little time to read the remaining 18! <br /><br />This title does seem lighter than Germinal at first glance and I your comparison of this book to Germinal and the way “progress” chews people up and spits them out is really perceptive. I also like your parallel to You’ve Got Mail. Looking at the little I know of bookselling, it is those brick and mortar stores who are changing their tactics who are surviving in this one-click environment by offering an experience the internet can’t provide. Ruthiellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03871834571645928819noreply@blogger.com