The Ladies' Paradise/Ulysses

[changeling67]

I started reading the Emile Zola novel The Ladies' Paradise back in July, but found it a bit dense and discarded it. As it is a key book in the core modernist module, I have had to revisit it. Basically, it is about sex and shopping in the late Victorian era in Paris. The need for greed and consumerism, the birth of the departmental store.  Zola's descriptions of the hierarchy and characters are a little more complex that your regular vignette, so I tend to get lost a bit.  Might look out for the film, so I can familiarise myself with it slightly quicker.

Not a big fan of the 'consumer warehouse' idea - I have always preferred smaller places and people with character.  Plus, I get a bit fed up with having marketing ideas being dripfed via adverts and other displays.  I already know how it all works, but I suppose Zola's work does at least underlines it historically.

I am also having to embark upon James Joyce's Ulysses - the 1922 version with all of its notes is an absolute tome.  Think I will stick to Zola for now, though.  Already had my glut of nonsense via 'postmodernism', now I have to doubleback and understand its predecessor 'modernism.'

I maybe gone for some time....

Comments

[bluegerl.livejournal.com]

Teehee... you may be gone....oh too right lassie, too right! WHAT a couple of tomes to pick at the same time.

I DO try and alternate... have a TOME and then a lightweight to counterract.

And CONGRATS on the finances... love the husband's comment! Just too male for werds!!! cackles and rejoices for you! XXX

[calico-pye.livejournal.com]

'Tis the grim reality - it is probably going to have to appease the bank manager. Which is sad, as I was hoping to spend it on fast cars and high living.

I'm sticking to Zola for now, but might just read John Lydon's biography to cheer thimgs up.

[bluegerl.livejournal.com]

Well, he seems to have had a wow of an interesting life!!!! Should make for some interesting readings, and certainly not a bit 'stuffy longwinded' like Zola. Some guy eh!

Pity abut the bank manager... couldn't you snip out enuff for a coupla pasties?

[calico-pye.livejournal.com]

Oh, I will squirrel away some of my funds, you watch me :-D