What are you currently reading?

[Ganondorf]

Hmmm, you have me curious! I have always been scared of Zola because of an impression that his work must be bleak, depressing, dry.

Zola is one of my favorite writers. My main gripe with him is his extreme sexism toward women and on Germinal Etienne thinks in one chapter some outrageously dated things about women. I know that it was written in The 19th century but I have still not met any other writer who is quite so unashamed about this as Zola. That is not to say he lacks complex female characters. Inattentive reader might regard Lorilleaux from l'assommoir as mere monster of selfishness but Zola actually defended her from critics, saying that while Lorilleaux couple may be miserly and malicious, they are honest and most definitely not idle. When considering Zola's female supporting characters I also have to mention baroness Sandorff from L'argent as a masterful study how a gambling problem can lead into a downward spiral even the most high-minded individuals.

Zola's strengths are immense: complex characters, beautiful, hypnotically poetic prose, great action scenes, especially the crowd ones.

[Ganondorf]

One of my favorite "funny" parts in l'assommoir is when Coupeau and his drinking buddies try to lure one of their friends from work to drink by informing that his wife is sick. When he comes out, he is grinning when he sees his drinking buddies because he guessed full well beforehand that it was just an excuse invented by his friends in order to go drinking. Yes, I know, alcoholism is a serious issue but that part is just hilarious. It helps that that part doesn't involve any domestic abuse.

[vers la flamme]

Zola is one of my favorite writers. My main gripe with him is his extreme sexism toward women and on Germinal Etienne thinks in one chapter some outrageously dated things about women. I know that it was written in The 19th century but I have still not met any other writer who is quite so unashamed about this as Zola. That is not to say he lacks complex female characters. Inattentive reader might regard Lorilleaux from l'assommoir as mere monster of selfishness but Zola actually defended her from critics, saying that while Lorilleaux couple may be miserly and malicious, they are honest and most definitely not idle. When considering Zola's female supporting characters I also have to mention baroness Sandorff from L'argent as a masterful study how a gambling problem can lead into a downward spiral even the most high-minded individuals.

Zola's strengths are immense: complex characters, beautiful, hypnotically poetic prose, great action scenes, especially the crowd ones.

I can't fault anything here except that Étienne's egregious sexism definitely spans more than one chapter (though I believe I may know the one you're referring to, early in the book when he meets Catherine Maheu), and to say that the views of the character don't necessarily reflect the views of the author. (But of course, it's entirely possible that they do - I haven't read any of Zola's personal correspondence.)

[DavidW]

I would just say to anyone with prejudices about what Zola is like to read Germinal, because it completely shattered my (very loaded) expectations, and was not at all what I thought it would be. What a book.

This post and many in the movies thread make me sad for my poor memory.  I read Germinal.  I've watched so many of the movies posted on the other thread.  But so long ago, I don't remember anything.

[Ganondorf]

I've been contemplating reading Cormac McCarthy. What works should I start with? Is he a good writer (reading some other sites it seems his work is much revered). I first heard about McCarthy in Noah Caldwell-Gervais' excellent Red Dead retrospective. I assume Cormac is not related to Senator Joseph McCarthy?

[NumberSix]

I've been contemplating reading Cormac McCarthy. What works should I start with? Is he a good writer (reading some other sites it seems his work is much revered). I first heard about McCarthy in Noah Caldwell-Gervais' excellent Red Dead retrospective. I assume Cormac is not related to Senator Joseph McCarthy?

I can't speak to his other books, but I have read The Road. He has a reputation for being challenging, but I found it to be quite accessible. Very dark subject matter, and absolutely gorgeous poetic language.

[Mandryka]

I've been contemplating reading Cormac McCarthy. What works should I start with? Is he a good writer (reading some other sites it seems his work is much revered). I first heard about McCarthy in Noah Caldwell-Gervais' excellent Red Dead retrospective. I assume Cormac is not related to Senator Joseph McCarthy?

The really special one is Blood Meridian. There's a fair amount of discussion about it here, a whole thread on McCarthy. Blood Meridian is Homeric, in the sense that it's visceral, physical, like the Iliad. It is also ambitious, with an enigmatic quasi mystical ending- arguably it overreaches itself.

[vers la flamme]

I've been contemplating reading Cormac McCarthy. What works should I start with? Is he a good writer (reading some other sites it seems his work is much revered). I first heard about McCarthy in Noah Caldwell-Gervais' excellent Red Dead retrospective. I assume Cormac is not related to Senator Joseph McCarthy?

He's a long-time favorite of mine, but I can see why he does not work for everyone. I started with The Road many years ago, and just reread it in the winter. It's very accessible with spare prose and a fast pace. The most difficult, ambitious, and generally acclaimed is Blood Meridian, but it's extremely violent which may turn some off. It took me three tries to finally get through it all, but it is very good. A good middle ground I'd say is his Border Trilogy which begins with All the Pretty Horses. That trilogy contains probably his most beautiful prose, especially in The Crossing.

[DavidW]

I loved The Road.  A friend of mine grilled me on The Passage due to the hardcore Physics.  I want to read Blood Meridian and No Country for Old Men just haven't gotten around to it yet.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Midnight in Siberia.

[ritter]

Starting William Faulkner's Knight's Gambit.



This will be my first approach to this author. Quite excited!

Well, I really enjoyed the collection of short stories Knight's Gambit, particularly the last piece (with the same title) that is really a novella. Am tempted to tackle one of Faulkner's novels soon. But which? 

For the time being, though, starting this:



Caroline Potter's book focuses on the influence of the French cultural milieu and, most particularly, surrealism on the young Boulez in the 1940s. Looks like an interesting and fresh approach, and possibly a very worthwhile one, as most books on the composer stress the serial and "cerebral" sides of his creative process.

[San Antone]

Pietr the Latvian
by Georges Simenon



It is the first novel to feature Inspector Jules Maigret who would later appear in more than a hundred stories by Simenon and who has become a legendary figure in the annals of detective fiction.

[Karl Henning]

Well, I really enjoyed the collection of short stories Knight's Gambit, particularly the last piece (with the same title) that is really a novella. Am tempted to tackle one of Faulkner's novels soon. But which? 

I remember enjoying Light in August. 

[Papy Oli]

Enjoying some more short stories:

W.W. Jacobs - The Monkey's Paw
James Joyce - Araby (from The Dubliners)
Franz Kafka - Metamorphosis

I have definitely understood the meaning of Kafkaesque with the latter     

[Mandryka]

But which? 

Absalom Absalom, even though it's a prequel to Sound and Fury.   Both are peaks, Absalom Absalom more modern, more challenging.

[Mandryka]

Franz Kafka - Metamorphosis

For me it's very unsatisfactory.  For example, all that stuff about the sister and the violin and the lodgers, what's that about? And the father's transformation from a slob into a bank employee. And all the references to food, Gregor's hunger. Maybe a lot is lost in translation.

[San Antone]

Well, I really enjoyed the collection of short stories Knight's Gambit, particularly the last piece (with the same title) that is really a novella. Am tempted to tackle one of Faulkner's novels soon. But which? 

I remember enjoying Light in August.

Absalom Absalom, even though it's a prequel to Sound and Fury.  Both are peaks, Absalom Absalom more modern, more challenging.

All good suggestions, especially Light in August, although the other two mentioned are some of Faulkner's more difficult reads and might not be best for someone just getting familiar with Faulkner. 

I'd suggest As I Lay Dying, Sanctuary, or The Hamlet as some of Faulkner's best writing but also not as dense or impenetrable as Absalom or Sound & Fury.

I love Faulkner, but recognize his books can be challenging, and one need proceed carefully so as to avoid being put off before you can get acclimated to his style.

  

[ritter]

I remember enjoying Light in August.

Absalom Absalom, even though it's a prequel to Sound and Fury.  Both are peaks, Absalom Absalom more modern, more challenging.

All good suggestions, especially Light in August, although the other two mentioned are some of Faulkner's more difficult reads and might not be best for someone just getting familiar with Faulkner. 

I'd suggest As I Lay Dying, Sanctuary, or The Hamlet as some of Faulkner's best writing but also not as dense or impenetrable as Absalom or Sound & Fury.

I love Faulkner, but recognize his books can be challenging, and one need proceed carefully so as to avoid being put off before you can get acclimated to his style.

  

Thanks all for your suggestions!

A bookseller here in Madrid had a very affordable copy of the LoA edition of "Novels 1930-1935", which includes As I Lay Dying, Sanctuary, Light in August, and Pylon, so I've reserved it and will pick it up this week. As I Lay Dying looks particularly intriguing and alluring... Let's see 

[Brian]

As I Lay Dying was my introduction to the author, since it was assigned to me in school at age 15. Age 15 is much too young for it! But your plan sounds very good.

[Mandryka]

As I Lay Dying looks particularly intriguing and alluring... Let's see 

I'll be interested to see what you make of the mother!

Light In August is quite harrowing actually, child abuse and identity crises and such like.