Welcome to Litsy!

#OffMyShelf “translated”

Mon dieu! Zola does not pull his punches. Interesting to read this so close to the Rules of Attraction. The Kill is also a novel about amoral people behaving badly.

Set during the rampant speculation and corruption of the 2nd Empire, Saccard comes up from the provinces to collect his spoils by using any form of fraud or deceit. Everyone is a tool to be exploited him, including his wife and son.

#WhereAreYouMonday

I‘m in 19th century 2nd Empire Paris where Haussmann and Napoleon III are transforming the city into the wide boulevards and tall buildings so characteristic of Paris today. This building frenzy invites speculation and corruption. Fortunes are made and lost. Waste and decadence are encouraged and celebrated.

4⭐️ Published in 1871, this novel presented how greed and lust feeding to temptation. I was amazed by Zola‘s detailed descriptions on excess, corruption, and forbidden love. The sad thing is that all the madness still exists now, and we now have helicopter money to exarcebate the damage. Social collapse in the making? Or have we collapsed long time ago and been living in an illusion?

I want to continue reading my book, but my eyes are too tired from a day full of Excel.

Do you read after work, Littens? Most days, I feel that my battery is almost flat in the evening 🤪 No energy to read

Still in the mood for Zola

This is the 2nd book on Zola‘s Rougon-Macquart series, but you don‘t need to read the first one to appreciate “The kill” as it‘s title is translated. I liked this one so much better. I fell in love with Zola with “Therese Raquin” which is superb. This one is on the same vibe of pulling the drapes on a decadent society, maybe even more so on this one as it tackles, let‘s say, forbidden “love” and rampant ambition and corruption. Dark and amazing!

“Au retour, dans l‘encombrement des voitures qui rentraient par le bord du lac, la calèche dut marcher au pas. Un moment, l‘embarras devint tel, qu‘il lui fallut même s‘arrêter.” #firstlines

When your book cover mirrors the weather outside 😂😂😂

Some friends are too good and too cute for words 😍😍😍 #unexpectedbookmail she knew I'd seen a really interesting talk my Micheal Rosen on Emile Zola and got me the book she though I would like 😋😋