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theanitaalvarez 's review for:
The Ladies' Paradise
by Émile Zola
It took me very long to finally get this book. I’ve wanted to read it ever since I first watched the BBC series (which changes the setting completely: from Paris to London). It’s also the first Zola book I’ve read (and I have quite a gap regarding continental literature). So, when I got to have it in my hands, my expectations were very high.
My verdict? LOVED IT.
This book is part of a series Zola wrote on the life in Paris during the 19th century (but you can read it as an independent work. The complete series has 20 books!). This one in particular is very interesting because it documents how department stores (and therefore, the market itself) came to be. I’d never really give the topic much attention, but department stores are such a basic part of our shopping habits.
The protagonist here is Denise, a young country girl who arrives in Paris with her two brothers in tow. Their parents died recently and the fate of the two boys is left on the hands of their older sister. But she is resourceful, smart, and very decided to succeed in life. She sets her eyes on “The Paradise” a gorgeous and modern new store, that’s taking over part of the commercial sector of Paris.
One of the things I enjoyed about this book is how the contrast between the modern “Paradise” and the old-fashioned stores in the same street (including one belonging to Denise’s uncle and his family). The novel does a great work at portraying the changes brought by the industrial revolution. And I also liked the fact that Denise was determined to be where the world was turning.
She also falls for her boss, Mouret. He’s a young(ish) man, who’s very ambitious and wants to change how people shopped in Paris. He’s very impressed with Denise’s commercial eye, and how quickly she’s able to understand the intricacies of retail. Of course, he falls in love with her, as well.
Denise is one of the strongest female characters I’ve found in classic lit. She’s compassionate, puts her brother first (even if one is a bit of a douche), and works very hard to get what she wants. It’s a bit of a Cinderella story, in the sense that she gets to be with Mouret, but she doesn’t get to have a fairy godmother with a magic wand. She has to work her way to the top. Maybe that’s why the ending was so satisfactory to me. I like when characters earn their happy ending.
Zola was a naturalist, so his descriptions are detailed and almost scientific. Yes, it slows the pace a little, but it also makes the reading quite cinematographic. It’s almost as if you’re there, looking at 19th century Paris.
So, if you want to read Zola, I’d highly recommend this one. It’s interesting, entertaining and shows a lot of historical context (so… brilliant for a history nerd like myself). What are you waiting for? Go and read it!
My verdict? LOVED IT.
This book is part of a series Zola wrote on the life in Paris during the 19th century (but you can read it as an independent work. The complete series has 20 books!). This one in particular is very interesting because it documents how department stores (and therefore, the market itself) came to be. I’d never really give the topic much attention, but department stores are such a basic part of our shopping habits.
The protagonist here is Denise, a young country girl who arrives in Paris with her two brothers in tow. Their parents died recently and the fate of the two boys is left on the hands of their older sister. But she is resourceful, smart, and very decided to succeed in life. She sets her eyes on “The Paradise” a gorgeous and modern new store, that’s taking over part of the commercial sector of Paris.
One of the things I enjoyed about this book is how the contrast between the modern “Paradise” and the old-fashioned stores in the same street (including one belonging to Denise’s uncle and his family). The novel does a great work at portraying the changes brought by the industrial revolution. And I also liked the fact that Denise was determined to be where the world was turning.
She also falls for her boss, Mouret. He’s a young(ish) man, who’s very ambitious and wants to change how people shopped in Paris. He’s very impressed with Denise’s commercial eye, and how quickly she’s able to understand the intricacies of retail. Of course, he falls in love with her, as well.
Denise is one of the strongest female characters I’ve found in classic lit. She’s compassionate, puts her brother first (even if one is a bit of a douche), and works very hard to get what she wants. It’s a bit of a Cinderella story, in the sense that she gets to be with Mouret, but she doesn’t get to have a fairy godmother with a magic wand. She has to work her way to the top. Maybe that’s why the ending was so satisfactory to me. I like when characters earn their happy ending.
Zola was a naturalist, so his descriptions are detailed and almost scientific. Yes, it slows the pace a little, but it also makes the reading quite cinematographic. It’s almost as if you’re there, looking at 19th century Paris.
So, if you want to read Zola, I’d highly recommend this one. It’s interesting, entertaining and shows a lot of historical context (so… brilliant for a history nerd like myself). What are you waiting for? Go and read it!