It's the first of Zola's works that I have read, and my teenage daughter groaned when she heard me raving about it. She's studying for a literary Baccalauréat, so Zola's work is among the French classics on her reading list, and she finds it too boring, too detailed and too slow for her.

Au Bonheur came across as a detailed yet fun book, which really conveys the social mores, the lifestyle and the restrictions of the era. In parallel to detailing the phenomenal success of the rise of department store, the book offers a wealth of detail about the types of goods that people hankered after at the time, the difference between the classes, the old gentry and all it represents vs the brash youngster making his millions on the back of hard work and vision. There's a real sense of the industrial revolution happening, the slow pace of pre-industrial life yielding reluctantly but inexorably to impulsivity, rapidity, hard-nosed business acumen. There's a blurring of the previously strictly upheld class barriers and taboos. The cold and clinical "hard sell" taking the place of the previously genteel business of the craftsman working with the client to create a unique materpiece.

I found it absolutely fascinating!

Which Zola is your daughter's favorite?

L'Assommoir is my favorite. I love the character of Gervaise.

Interesting. Thanks for the note, I might not pass/dismiss this one should I come across it. I would judge the book based on what little I know about him, but good to know my judgement will probably be wrong.

Now I've started "The Tiger: A True Story of Vengence and Survival” by John Vaillant, an interesting glimpse into the habitat of the Siberian tiger - and the people who hunt/track them. I'm only on chapter three, but so far I'm really enjoying this. (Yet another book I'd not have read had the library not sent it to me - I figure, once it's here, I might as well try it).

I have finally finished Charles Dickens- A Life, by Claire Tomalin.
She is a good writer, her research is obviously great. He was a wonderful writer, this we know. he worked incredibly hard , mainly to support his 10 + rather useless children.He was generous and kind and supportive to all his close friends and their families. He was a gifted actor and performer. He founded institutions for the poor. he was adored by the public..... I ended up really disliking him!

Last night I started "Forge" by Laurie Halse Anderson, as I found reading in bed sometimes helps me fall asleep. "Forge" is a work of historical fiction that continues the story begun in "Chains." Both books tell the tale of slaves attempting to make better lives for themselves during the Revolutionary War.
In "Chains," one of the characters is branded--and another becomes a prisoner. In "Forge," the former prisoner enlists in the Patriot Army after saving the life of a young soldier. (I have only just started, so I summarized up to the point where I am.)
Very well-written and gripping. I can't wait to finish (each chapter contains a quote or passage from some historical source.)

For some reason I am never "am reading" a book, always "just finished". Just finished "The Loner" by Ester Wiel and am about to go reread "The Scarlet Pimpernel".

And I could go on, but this is my first post here in this forum, not sure of people would care to read my ravings.

I appear to be rereading Dorothy Sayers' Lord Peter Wimsey novels. I really didn't intend this - I was all set to dive into a Christopher Isherwood collection - but who am I to fight it?

Ravings R Us, Mariamir, so rave all you like! Welcome.

Oh, thank you, Ren! For my next book, I will either pick up Shakespeare or the novel that my favorite serial was based on: bu bu jing xin, known sometimes as "Scarlet Heart" (dunno why, doesn't mean that).

I'm actually rereading a book that I started last week. It's called "Other Kingdoms" and is by Richard Mathieson. I once read a short storycollection with something by him, so was excited to see how this was.

The story centers around a young man, Alex, although he's actually narrating his story later in life. He has several adventures, which include going off to war, and falling in love--twice. The title refers to those other worlds that touch our own. Very well written, and quite enjoyable (I would warn anyone not to read if they can't stand graphic images of horror--or are offended by explicit descriptions of... well...)

Just started "The Wolf in the Parlor" by Jon Franklin. It's about a science writer who finds himself intrigued by dogs--and compelled to investigate the bond between humans and their canine companions. Very well-written and informative.

Just finished "My Beloved World" by Sonia Sotomayor. I really liked it. I like her, she's a very intelligent and down to earth woman. I've seen her do a couple of interviews and that got me interested in the book. I was disappointed that she ended the book when she first became a judge, but I understand her reasoning for ending it there. It's a really interesting story of a child of immigrant parents succeeding. For anyone that likes memoir's pick it up.

About halfway through "We Are Anonymous: Inside the Hacker World of LulzSec, Anonymous, and the Global Cyber Insurgency" by Parmy Olson. Not a fan of this book at all. I think Olson just took a bunch of chat logs, news stories, and video clips and compiled them into a book. That doesn't take much investigative reporting, just organizational skills. And the book is extremely basic (which means I'm probably not the target audience). When she explains what "lol" means, I have to balk. I'll finish it, but it really isn't introducing me to an inside story, or anything new.

As I said above, I'm re reading Dorothy Sayers' "Lord Peter Wimsey" novels right now. Just finished "The Nine Tailors" - it's really quite a remarkable book. If you like English murder mysteries from the thirties, check this one out - I'd say it is the best of the period. You'll also learn more than anyone could ever want to about change ringing.

I'm almost finished with "Princess Ben" by Catherine Gilbert Murdock. It's an interesting read, but certainly not one of those books I'd ever read more than once. The story revolves around the reluctant princess, Benevolence, who deeply resents her enforced duties and escapes into a world of magic. She learns, however, the hard lesson that magical ability comes with plenty responsibility of its own--and gradually comes to appreciate her position in society as her home is threatened by an enemy.

I'm just beginning "Glimpses of an Unfamiliar Japan, First Series" by Lafcadio Hearn.

Hearn's father was Irish and his mother Greek. He came to the United States and eventually settled in New Orleans where he lived for years. In 1890, while working as a newspaper correspondent, Hearn visited Japan. He so loved the country that he resigned his job to remain in Japan. Hearn became a naturalized citizen of Japan and married a Japanese woman.

Glimpses is non-fiction, the story of his first days in Japan. Thus far it is charming. One example is that he begrudged himself the time to eat because he was so anxious to visit a Buddist temple.

Free at Project Gutenberg: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/8130

That sounds lovely! Thanks
(reminds me of a friend who loved Japan so much that she went to live ther. When I asked her how she was getting on she said "Oh , just wonderful, I even bow when I am on the telephone!")

The latest Sue Grafton - V is for Vengeance. Pretty good - it's not as much fun as the first few, but a great story, and some interesting characters. I like the change in viewpoint throughout the story - shakes things up a bit.

Life of Pi - saw the movie and now I'm starting the book.

I'm reading Battle Cry by Leon Uris. It's quite interesting/ It's about a group of young people who have enlisted the Marine Corps and are fighting the Japanese in WW II.

A terrific book. I have read it several times.

LOVING Life of Pi. I thought the movie was good but there is so much more in the book!

Currently in the middle of "Space Chronicles: Facing the Ultimate Frontier" by Neil deGrasse Tyson. Fantastic book. If you have any interest in space, the cosmos, or space exploration, definitely check it out. Tyson is one of my favorite people to listen to speak, he's so passionate about his profession (an astrophysicist) that it is infectious. I'm terrible at science and don't have much of an interest in it, but he makes me want to learn more.

The book is enlightening, informative, sometimes humorous and sometimes incredulous.

"Black Maria" by Diana Wynne Jones.

I edited a quiz on this children's book, and got it from the library because it sounded so much the kind of thing I would have loved to read when I was eleven. It's excellent - full of magic and mystery and humour, and really quite a lot of sharp-eyed insight into human behaviour. If you have an intelligent pre-teen or young teen at home who likes to read, I'd recommend this whole-heartedly.

I'm reading Glenn Meade's novel Brandenburg. It's interesting about Nazi plots in Paraguay. It gets more and more attractive with every page you turn. Very good dose of suspense.

Just finished 'Life after Life' by Kate Atkinson. A break from her Jackson Brodie novels, it tells the story of a baby who is born in a snowstorm in 1910, and lives her life over and over again. Sounds complicated, but totally compulsive, and highly recommended.

I haven't been here for AGES and have so many to share with you, but I shall do one at time!

Oh welcome back, Maggie. I look forward to the others!

"Duma Key", by Stephen King...creepy! "The Civil War", by Shelby Foote...tragic, fascinating! "Mr. Midshipman Hornblower", by C.S. Forester...salty!(And veddy British).

This from a while ago - 'Perfect People' by Peter James. This is a stand alone story,not part of his Roy Grace detective novels. It tells of a couple who lose a child to a genetic disorder, and turn to a geneticist to have another child who will be free from the disease which caused them so much heartache. It's compulsively readable and extremely scary - more so because the science involved is not too far from reality. I've passed this one on to several people who've all enjoyed it as much as I did. Another highly recommended read!

Today's offering is 'The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry' by Rachel Joyce. Nominated for the Man Booker prize in 2012, it tells the story of Harold Fry, a newly retired and unhappily married man, who goes out to post a letter one day and decides to keep on walking to deliver it in person to his dying friend at the other end of the country. I loved this book. The characters are memorable, and Harold's adventures are amusing and moving in turns. I started reading this book one night, fell asleep over it, and stayed in bed next day until I'd finished it. Luckily it was a weekend so they didn't miss me in work. I passed this on to my book reading circle and haven't seen it since. Wonderful wonderful book!