Status Updates From Ευγενία Γκραντέ

Climax today...Eugenie's mother dies. Grandet is still estranged with his daughter (she gave her gold to Charles)...but Grandet has a rude awakening: Eugene will inherit her mother's fortune....and Grandet did NOT see that coming! If his daughter demands her part of the family's $$ now...Grandet all be crushed. Only 38 more pages ...

Getting ready for the huge confrontation between Eugenie/mother with the miser M. Grandet on 01.01.1820. They have to explain their finances to him! The women are frantic what will happen once the father/husband discovers Eugenie has given her gold to the shifty cousin Charles. 65 more pages to read (2,7 days @ 25 pg per day). Not rushing it,,,enjoying the financial schemes and the love sick Eugenie.

Eugenie and her father are exact opposites. He is a greedy man who sells his gold at a premium when there is a shortage of gold on the market.
She throws her money (pécule nest-egg) into an ocean of affection for her ruined cousin Charles. She's blinded by love....but his betrayal is inevitable. Balzac makes me get out my box of Kleenex...so said to read how tragically naive Eugénie is!

Reading is going slowly...did not reach my targets for the last few days. I was distracted again "by the news in the world." Good news: reading Balzac is much easier than Zola or Flaubert. If you start reading French classics...always go to Balzac first!