Émile Zola Collection: The Kill (La Curée) - Reading Schedule

[Zulfiya]

So after a hiatus, we are back to business. As we are following the recommended reading order, our next book is The Kill ( also widely known as La Curée). The book is not big, and there seven chapters - there are roughly 40 or 50 pages long, so the logic behind the reading schedule is quite simple: we are reading a chapter each week, and I propose to start on April 14.

This is the 'itemized' schedule.

April 14 - Chapter 1
April 21 - Chapter 2
April 28 - Chapter 3
May 05 - Chapter 4
May 12 - Chapter 5
May 19 - Chapter 6
May 26 - Chapter 7

I will traveling extensively in May, so if the post is not open on the day it should be, it has something to do with the time zones and transatlantic flights, but the comments will be posted ASAP.

It has been two months without Zola, so I am feeling incomplete, I hope you have missed him, too. :-)

Do not forget to sign in right in this thread; to put it simply, declare your intent to participate by leaving a comment here.

See you soon.

[Robin P, Moderator]

Zulfiya, you are terrific, giving so much time and enthusiasm to us even with your work, travels and so on. You are the force that keeps us moving!

[Zulfiya]

Thank you for your kind words, Robin, but this 'force' often experiences inertia!

[Wendel]

I will read the book and would like to participate. However, I'll be on the road during much of the given period, with limited internet acces.

[Cleo]

I have my book and am ready to go. I've followed the other Rougon discussions but was always behind, so I didn't contribute. This time I'm ready to start (and stay) on schedule!

[Renee]

Do these novels stand alone? Or is it better to read them in order? I'm thinking about joking you but unsure if I need to backtrack with the first two (or at least one)

[Robin P, Moderator]

I think you can start up here. If you are going to read one, it should be The Fortune of the Rougons. I didn't feel like anything I learned in the first book was needed in the 2nd book, the character's attributes and motivations were clear enough. Unless you are very interested in tracing all the historical and political references, you can start up anytime. Many of the upcoming books are regularly read as stand-alone works.

[Wendel]

That's correct, you may skip the second volume (reading order) without a problem. Or you may limit your preparations to reading the summaries on Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Roug...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Fortu...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Son_Exce...

[Joao]

I have read the whole cycle already, but I am willing to participate in the discussion.

This novel is the first novel about Aristide Rougon, who adopts the name “Saccard”.

As far as writing technique concerns, it is characterized by profuse and complete descriptions, in what is a clear manifestation of the naturalistic style of Zola.