Reviews

L'Assommoir by Émile Zola

rhudak's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

lilirose's review against another edition

dark sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

 Un libro crudo e cinico, manifesto del naturalismo francese. Sin da subito si percepisce che i personaggi non hanno possibilità di salvezza, perchè la degradazione ed il vizio li circondano e li incalzano ad ogni passo. Ad esempio Gervaise, la protagonista, sogna un riscatto dalla miseria e sembra quasi riuscirci, eppure basta un incidente da nulla per sprofondarla lentamente in un abbrutimento fisico e psicologico che la ridurrà ad un livello animalesco. Il punto centrale dell'opera è proprio questo: per i poveri non c'è consolazione, non ci sono buoni sentimenti. Agiscono per istinto di sopravvivenza e per loro non valgono le leggi del decoro o della morale: la prostituzione è un modo per non morire di fame, l'alcolismo distrae dalle brutture di una vita miserabile.
A renderlo un grande romanzo però non è tanto il messaggio quanto lo stile: Zola è uno scrittore superbo, che costruisce delle immagini di grande potenza descrittiva, talmente vivide che sembra quasi di sentirne gli odori e i sapori (un esempio fra tanti: la magnifica scena del banchetto nella lavanderia).
Questo libro per me è stato un crescendo: ho cominciato con un po' di titubanza ma man mano sono stata catturata dalla qualità della prosa e dal fascino torbido dell'ambientazione. 

karen7915's review against another edition

dark sad

4.5

cielou's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

f_cvsx's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

ecstasia's review against another edition

4.0

oh mon dieu que c'est déprimant ! mais c'est la réalité du peuple, "une réalité absolument exacte. ne pas flatter l'ouvrier et ne pas le noircir" comme a dit Zola lui-même dans l'ébauche de ce roman. Il a réussi à nous faire vivre avec Gervaise, à nous faire l'aimer, la haïr, frustrer, tout. Le drame qui est la vie humaine est le même depuis 1850's..

pauline_b's review against another edition

5.0

Well this broke me.

smuds2's review against another edition

3.0

I want to preface, I guess, by saying that I don't think that naturalism is exactly my style. I really appreciate what Zola is able to do in depicting such true to life stuff (albeit, by the end, feeling a bit dramatized), but I can't shake the feeling that like a good Drama like Greys Anatomy would do it better at this point in time.

I have always wanted to read through Zolas stuff, because it's just so thorough and in depth, it feels like it's like watching a movie - a good movie that pulls the emotional heart strings.

As someone with an alcoholic dad,  there are some things that are very relatable (the going to a doc, getting better, only to relapse, was too real). I think there was a bit left out in the experience to say it was the true alcoholic experience (for example, someone constantly cheering on trying to get C for instance to kick the habit for good and constantly feeling let down etc. It sounded like G kinda phoned in C's recovery to begin with).

I think the rampant violence was a bit much - maybe true to the time but it felt like it dated the story that was otherwise VERY contemporary. I can imagine almost the same story occurring today, but sub out rotgut for vodka, opiates, etc.

Overall, I really liked it. It was crazy long IMO, but maybe that's just what you get with a naturalist book. If I was ever in between books, I would definitely pick up another RM story, but I'm not craving it, you know?

tigercub58's review against another edition

4.0

Probably the most depressing book I've ever read. Couldn't put it down though. I need help!

hardcoverhearts's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75