Reviews

Germinal by Émile Zola

lenigm's review against another edition

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challenging dark reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

delenda's review against another edition

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5.0

Résumé de l'avis : une bonne lecture de gauche #eattherich

Malgré de nombreuses longueurs et un besoin d'insister au départ afin de rentrer réellement dans l'histoire, ce livre est une lecture nécessaire.
Zola profite de ces quelques centaines de pages pour évoquer (plus ou moins en profondeur) une multitude de sujets : capitalisme et socialisme, pauvreté extrême et luxe démeusuré pour les plus flagrants.
En 600 pages, vous pourrez développer votre esprit critique de la société actuelle. En effet, Germinal, pourtant pleinememt ancré dans son temps, est peut-être d'autant plus juste aujourd'hui, usant de l'Histoire comme d'un exemple reflétant le fonctionnement actuel de notre société.

Germinal est aussi maladroitement et involontairement féministe dans le concept contemporain du terme : il évoque des thèmes importants comme les viols et les violences conjugales, le tout dans une froideur telle qu'il est difficile de les lire souvent. Au début on pense à un encensement de ces actes, mais vite on comprend qu'il les décrit si froidement parce que ce sont des actes que trop communs malgré leur horreur.

miametro's review against another edition

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4.0

LONG. but interesting! (read for bookclub)

skundrik's review against another edition

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4.0

So very French. Enjoyed it despite the depressing subject matter.

linniekin's review against another edition

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5.0

Bleak but brilliant. Zola writes with the pace of Dumas, the cruelty of Flaubert, the knowingness of Maupassant and the pathos of Balzac. I’ll be honest, I was expecting this story set in a mining town to be a bit of a trudge, but I was gripped and - can’t believe I’m saying this, it doesn’t happen often - came away with a new contender for ‘best book ever’.

wilsonhm's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

karenmichele's review against another edition

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5.0

I am always drawn in by the plight of the poor and Germinal took me into the world of the miners in France. It was one of the more intense descriptions of the downtrodden that I have read. It surprises me that this is my first Zola, but also makes me happy to have discovered a new classic author that I really enjoy. The writing style is straightforward and the characters are interesting plus the plot carries the reader along into this desperate world of the families striking and starving in order to improve their living conditions. I am disappointed that my library system doesn't have a better Zola collection, because I want to read more! The next ones on my list are Therese Raquin and/or Pot Luck which is the prequel to The Ladies Paradise which I am watching on Masterpiece Theater right now (titled just Paradise). I was almost late to work this morning finishing up the gripping ending to Germinal!

ntrema's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional tense slow-paced

geehyde's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

5.0

kerrywyler's review against another edition

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5.0

I'm having a hard time finding the right words. An absolute masterpiece.