this is a good one
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/23060
― the late great, Friday, 13 July 2012 19:50 (eleven years ago) link
can't believe he wrote like fifty of these comedie humaine books
i got nothing to add except you really can't go wrong with pere goriot, cousin bette and lost illusions
Yes agree and I also love Zola
― buzza, Friday, 13 July 2012 19:53 (eleven years ago) link
I really like and would recommend Colonel Chabert.
― boxall, Friday, 13 July 2012 20:47 (eleven years ago) link
also be sure not to say "cousin bette", always say KOOOZAN BET
― the late great, Friday, 13 July 2012 20:48 (eleven years ago) link
Splendeurs et miseres des courtisanes is great
― buzza, Friday, July 13, 2012 3:21 PM (2 months ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
am reading this right now. not bad. i am not thrilled with the translation which I feel is a bit more, hmmm, opaque?, than the translation I read for Lost Illusions
― alpha flighticles (Drugs A. Money), Monday, 1 October 2012 02:29 (eleven years ago) link
So the film of LOST ILLUSIONS
― Jimmy Jimmy Loves Mary-Anne Mary-Anne (James Redd and the Blecchs), Tuesday, 14 June 2022 23:22 (one year ago) link
It's very readable in English, at least until he gets to the part where Goriot dies. His expiration is ludicrously prolonged.
I do enjoy Balzac's cynicism.
― immodesty blaise (jimbeaux), Tuesday, 14 June 2022 23:25 (one year ago) link
Need to read more of him. Think I picked up a few from charity shops over last few years. Do remember enjoying him a few decades back when i found his work in the library. Found de Maupassant at around the same time who is also good. But I may only be linking them cos they're both French writers from a while back.
― Stevolende, Wednesday, 15 June 2022 10:09 (one year ago) link
I have at least A Harlot High & Low floating around teh flat. Think there may be others but don't have things organised. I'm seeing reviews saying that is a great novel now that I'm looking it up. I just know its by this guy whose name i know and wonder where it was I initially picked up the idea he was worth reading, possibly cited as an influence on Dylan or Kerouac or something. I did read at least part of Old Goriot but again may have been trying to read too many things at the same time. So now need to read that harlot book . & see what else I have around.
― Stevolende, Wednesday, 15 June 2022 10:31 (one year ago) link
Reread Pere Goriot last month. After the overstuffed start -- radical at the time -- it really gets going.
― Malevolent Arugula (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 15 June 2022 11:42 (one year ago) link
the short story sarrasine thru the lens of barthes' S/Z is grebt (also nutso)
― mark s, Wednesday, 15 June 2022 12:11 (one year ago) link
Can’t remember if I’ve ever read a single thing, but really liked the film of LOST ILLUSIONS which recently opened here, so maybe it’s time.
― Jimmy Jimmy Loves Mary-Anne Mary-Anne (James Redd and the Blecchs), Wednesday, 15 June 2022 16:47 (one year ago) link
Did not know this translation existed
https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/34956/history-of-the-thirteen-by-balzactrans-herbert-j-hunt/9780140443011
― xyzzzz__, Friday, 15 July 2022 22:58 (one year ago) link
i have that version & haven't read it. I got scared off by the introduction that called it not some of Balzac's best.
― adam t. (abanana), Tuesday, 19 July 2022 14:18 (one year ago) link
https://i.imgur.com/ant8M2H.jpg
― adam t. (abanana), Tuesday, 19 July 2022 14:22 (one year ago) link
the history of the thirteen is the basis for jacques rivette's out 1: noli me tangere (running time: 12 hr, 55 min)
so i shd read it and watch the movie for a second time
― mark s, Tuesday, 19 July 2022 14:30 (one year ago) link
I love out 1 and assumed the source was never translated.
― xyzzzz__, Tuesday, 19 July 2022 15:13 (one year ago) link
basis is doing a lot of work there. the overt balzac talk, and idea of a secret society is about it. even in the stories 'the thirteen' themselves only figure very loosely. worth pointing out that rivette did do a fantastic straight adaptation of one of the stories: 'duchess de langlois'
― devvvine, Tuesday, 19 July 2022 15:13 (one year ago) link
think i read the ellen marriage trans of the history of thirteen so cant speak to the one upthread; but would agree that its not peak honorebig rec for the black sheep which is my fav of course the long novels
― devvvine, Tuesday, 19 July 2022 15:17 (one year ago) link
Started "The Quest for the Absolute". There is a genius for description of rooms here that an AI would struggle to compete with. You can really feel him having so much fun with his power.
That can also provoke some frustration. You feel this could be half of the length (even in a short book like this) but the material is so good.
― xyzzzz__, Friday, 29 September 2023 10:01 (five months ago) link