Germinal is about a mining village in the Northern France in 1860s. It's about the incredible human suffering and injustices that took place.

This book is emotionally draining and it has left me feeling devastated. The destitute and impoverishment these humans went through is unimaginable. Yet with Zola's writing and within a few pages I felt the heat and the damp and the claustrophobia of the mining experience. He has a beautiful language and beautiful descriptions.

I'm broken, shattered, I feel a sadness that no tears can help. It has left me heartbroken, like I won't ever be able to feel cheerful again. It's like a dementor has ravaged me.

I don't know how many times whilst reading this my head wondered of daydreaming, that I somehow would have enought money and a time machine to help these poor souls. And I think Strinbeck's Grapes of Wrath was inspired by this novel. To me this is a must read, and I know it doesn't sound so cheerful but it's worth it. But I guess it won't be for everyone.

Everything has changed and yet nothing has changed at all.