I was at a very entertaining dinner party recently. As my fellow diners included, inter alia, someone who works for the IMF and a banker, there was an explicit agreement to steer clear of the bailout. Instead, we talked about books which was quite lovely. At one point our hostess went round the table asking us to recommend a really, really good book that was worth reading (if you care, I said “Gilead” by Marilynne Robinson) and not one but two people recommended “La Bête Humaine” by Zola. Our hostess, naturally interested, asked what it was about. There was a horrified silence. It was a long time ago. I did sympathise as I often only retain the vaguest impression of what I have read but still. Vaguely reminiscent of David Lodge’s “humiliation“.
I’ll stick with the Tiger Who Came to Tea on such occasions just in case:-)
Ouch! (And when discussing Zola, I usually stick to Germinal – easy to remember coal mining and its evils as a major plot point.)
Do you think the recommenders hadn’t read it, or had read it but had forgotten what it was about? Worrying either way.
Great work though, Dot.
Lauren, husband has recommended “Au Bonheur des Dames” – thoughts?
QoP, believe the latter – is always happening to me but never quite in such an exquisitely mortifying way. Mercifully.
“As my fellow diners included, inter alia, someone who works for the IMF and a banker”
And to think you once claimed not to be posh!
I’ve only read “Au Bonheur des Dames” in English (as “The Ladies’ Paradise”), but I remember enjoying quite a lot, at least compared to the previous female-focussed book in the saga I’d read, “L’Assommoir”, which was unbelivably depressing.
I don’t know how Zola stacks up in translation, though – my French is pretty awful. Which is a pity, as on balance I’d rather spend my time with Zola than Thomas Mann, but I can only read the latter in the original.
Praxis, you know that in Ireland there is no posh except based on the religious divide.
Lauren, Thomas Mann??? In the ORIGINAL? I salute you.