Since last
year, Émile Zola has been my most favorite classics author. I admire him for
writing honestly and beautifully, that, even when the story is depressing, I
can’t stop reading it enthusiastically. On the forthcoming of his birthday
(April 2nd), I would like to celebrate it by hosting a Zola reading
event during the month. O (delaisse)—who is a big fan of Zola too—was very
enthusiastic when I asked her to host the event together. So….here is our…
Zoladdiction
April 1st – 30th, 2013
…because o
and me have been addicted to Zola, now we want to spread the Zoladdiction to
you all!
Zoladdiction
is a reading event dedicated to Émile Zola—the most prominent contributor of
Naturalism in 19th century. From April 1st to 30th
we invite you to delve into Zola’s works. We have arranged some levels you can
use to challenge your own addiction…
1st
level: Maheude (reading 1 book)
2nd
level: Gervaise (reading 2-3 books)
3rd
level: Nana (reading 4 books or more)
Notes: The
levels were named after three of most popular female characters in Zola books.
Maheude is from Germinal, Gervaise is
from L’Assommoir, Nana is from Nana.
All you have
to do is…
- Posting about your intention to participate in this event, including the level you choose (you can upgrade it later if you want), and books you are going to pick, if you already have the idea.
- Put links of that post in the linky below.
- Help us to spread the Zoladdiction, either by putting the Zoladdiction button on your sidebar, or by discussing the event on Twitter using hashtag #Zoladdiction.
- Start reading Zola’s works when your calendar turns to April 1st, of course :)
- The master post would be up on April 1st with a linky where you can put your posts about Zola’s books.
- At the end of the event, o and I might prepare some questions to give you ideas to post your wrap-up (we still have to discuss about this).
For
questions, you can mention me at Twitter @Fanda_A or simply comment here. Are
you ready to be exposed to the Zoladdiction? :)
I will definitely be participating! I've never read any Zola, so this will be great for me. Do you have any suggestions of which Zola book would be the best introduction for a Zola newbie?
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you'd like to try Zola. I have read only 3 books myself, but I believe Germinal would be the best start, it's my most favorite book of last year. Or if you want to read the Rougon-Macquart series in right order, you can grab The Fortune of the Rougons first. Each story is quite independent, but perhaps reading them according to the right order might give you certain perpspective (maybe..)
DeleteThank you! I think I'll read Germinal, as per your recommendation, and it's one I've heard praised a lot by others too. I'm looking forward to it!
DeleteYayy, me too! :)
DeleteShould I join ... or not ?? So far I've only one Zola's book in my pile. It's on April right ? Well I might squezzess between my reading schedule :D you know me, so many books - so very little time >,<
ReplyDeleteYou must join! ;) With your reading pace, you needn't to worry. I think it's the translation of Therese Raquin that you have, is it? Then it's a light reading, you'll make it! ^__^
DeleteI put the button on my side bar to remind me. I will do my post at the end of March and come back and link up. I have Zola on my list of classics but have never read any. What would you recommend for a beginnger of Zola?
ReplyDeleteThanks for participating!
DeleteI have read only 3 books so far, but I think Germinal is good for a start, at least it will grow your interest in Zola.
I am really tempted by this and I have been wanting to try something written by Zola. I have a feeling I'll be back.
ReplyDeleteI'll wait for you... ;)
DeleteTempting... I read Therese Raquine a few years ago but otherwise haven't read any Zola since college. Which is strange because I really liked reading him and own several. Now I have to decide if I should reread one of those really good ones that I've forgotten or pick a new one. Hmmm...
ReplyDeleteOr you can both re-read the good ones and pick some new titles too, how about that? :)
DeleteI am delighted! Count me in!
ReplyDeleteGlad you'd like to join, Ann, don't forget to put your post in the linky, then you're automatically in!
DeleteI'm in! I'm working on a proper post right now. Now, I just need to decide which book to read. . .
ReplyDeleteI know you'd be! I'm anxious to know what you're going to read too...
DeleteI think I will join too. I've started "Germinal" anyway (and it's currently on hold and I'm not far in yet), so I could possibly go for 2-3 books - also "Theres Raquin" re-read and maybe "Nana" too if I feel very brave. I'll publish my post some time soon as well.
ReplyDeleteGreat! 'Till now I haven't found anyone dislike Germinal, so I hope you'll love it too.
DeleteI'm in! That's a great idea and a great name for an event! This will be my first Zola, so I'll be traditional and start with Germinal!) And if I like it - who knows, I may pick something else!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you like it.. :)
DeleteGerminal is the best way to start with Zola, and I bet you'll like it! ;)
I have nearly finished Germinal when I noticed that I actually forgot to sign up! :) It's fixed now :)
DeleteGood! :)
DeleteAnd that is me now 'officially' signed up! I'm going back to the start of the Les Rougon-Macquart cycle to read the books in order and reading two, possibly three, books in April. I can't wait. :)
ReplyDeleteYayy...thanks Alex! And it's a good idea to read the cycle in order. Good luck, and hope you'll love Zola!
DeleteOhh, I'm tempted. I'll wait to see what Zola title I can find, and then I'll probably sign up.
ReplyDeleteI'm waiting for you... :)
DeleteI have signed up for this event. I came across Zoladdiction and your blog via Alex in Leeds, and thought that this challenge would be an excellent introduction to reading challenges. This is my first ever challenge! This will also be my first time to read Zola.
ReplyDeleteEven though we are still in the middle of March, I am very excited. Roll on April!
Hi Emily, thanks for joining us! It is my pleasure that you choose Zoladdiction to be your first ever challenge. Hope you'll like it. :)
DeleteMaan (@Maank2): I like Zola's works so much. I will be participating for sure in Zoladdiction event (Level 2, Gervaise). However, I'm currently reading Claude's Confession, and intend to read Therese Racquin after it. As for April, I'd like to read 'The Masterpiece' and 'La Bete Humaine'. I intend to read the Fortune of the Rougons and Nana. Should I read the cycle in order, as I feel to start reading them at random order.
ReplyDeleteMaank (@Maank2)
Thanks for participating!
DeleteThe Masterpiece and La Bete Humaine are precisely my choices for Zoladdiction too! And you have read Claude's Confession? Wow...please let me know your thoughts after you read it ;)
From Maan (@maanK2).
DeleteWhat a coincidence..
Yes, I finished Claude's Confession, which was the first book by Zola I read. He is a great novelist. I loved the book so much; and Zola was great in describing in details the context, events, and emotions. I couldn't leave the book before reaching the last page. He showed a committment to truth, to the Ugly aspects of the real world and dark sides in human nature. At present, I am reading Therese Raquin, and Still Zola attracts me from the very first page.
Maan (@Maank2)
You're so right! Therese Raquin was my first Zola, and I could not take it off once I read it. It's very 'dark', and at some points quite disgusting, but still I couldn't put it down to the end! I had better experiences with L'Assommoir (it's quite shocking), and later on with Germinal. Germinal is my most favorite so far. So you see...I have only read 3 of Zola, but I'm already addicted to him and even made him my most favorite author!
DeleteI finally have managed to get a grasp on how Zola has structured the Rougon-Macquart series and how all the books relate to each other. Having arrived at the answer it now seems obvious but before I realized what was going on it was a big mystery to me. Anyone else wonder about this?
ReplyDeleteHere is my post about it:
http://severalfourmany.wordpress.com/2013/03/27/the-grand-structure-of-rougon-macquart/
Or you can just get the chart here:
http://severalfourmany.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/les-rougon-macquart-series2.gif
Yes, he is genius, ain't he? Zola keep me amazed again and again, both in article I read about him, as well as his own books. What a brilliant author!
DeleteThanks by the way for sharing it with us! :)
I'm already working my way through the Rougon-Macquart series, so I'm very happy to participate in this challenge!
ReplyDeleteThat's great, Bybee! Hopefully you'll have fun during Zoladdiction... :)
DeleteJust finished "The Masterpiece". A great work indeed that talks important issues, such as compliance with the rules of a group (society), and the consquences of noncompliaance; the necessity of freedom to creativity, and the importance of identifying one's goal and priorities in life (work, family). A great book. Today, I am starting La Betes Humaine.
ReplyDeleteIt is, and that's why sometimes it's quite difficult to write a decent review (without being too long) for Zola's books. There're a lot of things he wanted to say, and all are important... Good luck with La Bete Humaine! ;)
DeleteThanks.. La Bete Humaine is very interesting too. I agree that Zola wanted to tell lots of things, his passion in writing is very clear. Actually, I've never seen before such a style in writing; he captivates you from the begining..
DeleteI planned to read L'assemoir, Germinal, Nana, Pot Luck, and The Dream. So, which would you recommend first of this collection?
Happy Reading too.
L'Assommoir is about Claude & Jacques' parents, so I think it'd be interesting for you to learn how it had begun. Then continue on with Germinal (this is Zola's masterpiece, about Claude & Jacques' brother: Etienne), and Nana (the Lantiers' half sister). Then at least you'd have finished with one family. :)
DeleteI've just realised that I never posted about my intention to take part in Zoladdiction!!! Oh well, I'll read my Zolas anyway...
ReplyDeleteHappy reading Patty :),
DeleteWhich novel of Zola's do you intend to start with.. The first book I started with was Claude's Confession (a semi-autobiograph), then I read "Therese Raquin", "The Masterpiece", and now I'm reading "La Bete Humaine".
Best..
Maan
That's OK Patty, the reading is the most important, right? :)
DeleteThanks Maan and Fanda -- I've just finished the Kill (which I loved!), and I'm about to start Nana. I'll include Maan's picks in the longer term, as I discover Zola...
DeleteAww Patty...can't wait to read your thoughts about The Kill, that is the next book I'd like to read, I think..
DeleteLike Fanda I look forward to hearing your thoughts about 'The Kill'. I haven't read it yet. But, Nana is one of the books I intend to read.
DeleteHappy reading :)
I finished "La Bete Humaine" yesterday.. A beautiful and disturbing work, that shows the ugliness of the inner dormant beast inside people when it comes to the surface and dictates people's actions and behaviors. According to the novel, the Technical advancement (e.g.trains), which must civilize man, actually deprived people from morality. The novel is great at showing how people may get enslaved by their own desires and sexual urges and obessessions. Some characters (e.g. Severine) become desensitized to murder; Flore kills people with cold blod to satisfy her jealousy; and Jacques kills the woman he loved so much with no remorse.. I feel that Zola wanted to say that the modern civilization only succeeded in disguising the beast within people.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, I feel that the novel is about the trains as Moby Dick is about whales. Zola described almost in detail how trains and the railway industry work..
It only shows how dedicated Zola in his works was. He must have done a thorough research on trains and people who worked and lived around the industry, to write about it in such awesome detail!
DeleteI'm glad you loved La Bete Humaine too, and thanks for participating in Zoladdiction (and get addicted to him) :)