The Hunchback of Notre Dane
Victor Hugo
There are, a thousand bromides tell me, good reasons to struggle. The reward will be worth it. Today, at the end of a nearly year-long struggle with the 19th century, I’m not so sure about that.
I’m honestly not surprised;, that’s been my experience almost from the start. I can vividly remember eighth grade Continue reading
Nana
Emile Zola
By page 122 Gaga is ensconced at a dinner party.
That’s not Lady Gaga, the 21st century’s answer to Madonna, but rather a secondary character in Emile Zola‘s Nana, his 1880 novel of Paris‘ Second Empire demi-monde. I’m not above a cheap trick, although discovering that Ms. Germonatta‘s schooling exposed her to French naturalism was unexpected.
Filling educational gaps is what we do around here so when an abandoned copy of Nana presented itself for sale for a quay, I spent the 25 cents and dove in. My Continue reading
An Honest Con 