Balzac is more flexible than Zola as there is no clear origin story or introduction like The Fortune of the Rougons. Balzac didn’t pre-conceive La Comedie Humaine.

So definitely do start with whatever interests you most, but if you are not sure or overwhelmed with choice go with Pere Goriot.

Great question. Most lists for where to begin with Balzac will state Pere Goriot and that is where I began. After that I read Cousin Bette which is a top 5 novel for me. I then read The Black Sheep which is also very good.

The best place to start of course is whichever book interests you the most.

Yes, they would be. By standalone I meant not part of a series like the Barsetshire or Palliser novels. Those series are both available in OWC and Penguin but OWC has more single novels if that makes more sense.

Fantastic summary. I haven’t read any Walter Scott novels but I have a couple on my shelf. Which books of his would you rank higher than this one?

The standalone novels that Penguin has are He Knew He Was Right, The Way We Live Now, and Dr. Wortle’s School.

OWC has these and Lady Anna, American Senator, Cousin Henry, Rachel Ray, Orley Farm, and Autobiography. Sadly, looks like previous OWC generations had even more Trollope titles.

book I want to keep reading. Anthony Trollope’s The Way We Live Now.

I have a few Trollope’s on my bookshelf but this is the first one I am settling down to read. I’m really liking it so far and yes it is long and in small print but I think I’ll be fine this time. It feels like 2025 reading is go.

beginnings as always with Balzac, they do seem to take their time.

I also tried reading Emma by Jane Austen. It reads well but again just didn’t make me want to keep reading. At the moment. I will come back to Austen one day.

Now though it is February and I am happy to report I have started a

easily my book of the year (that I read) for 2024 and I really thought I was going to go on a long Balzac journey after that. I also enjoyed The Black Sheep but I’m struggling with Lost Illusions and I am well aware it is supposed to be one of Balzac’s greatest novels.

It is probably the long

nothing more.

2025 has not got off to a great start. I’ve started about 6 books now but not made much progress with any. I could make reasons for this but I just haven’t made any immediate connections. The book I’m most disappointed this happened with is Lost Illusions by Balzac.

Cousin Bette was

And some more…

It’s again very complicated. Whilst the abortion issue here did cause huge protests, I suspect it perhaps was not the election issue you’d hope it to be. There is still a large portion of older, traditional voters who are happy with the ban or don’t care. And a lot of young voters follow them too.

It’s not that easy. There is 1 party in the coalition that is also anti-abortion and this is preventing having a majority in the government to change the law.

Glad to hear it deeply moved you as well. I was really surprised of myself how I couldn’t stop thinking about it for weeks after. There are songs that even remind me of the time I was reading this book.

Interesting feeling upon finishing this. It didn’t keep me engaged the whole way, but that’s almost certainly because I’m very familiar with the story from many adaptations. Nevertheless, it is delightful and made me realise that time should be viewed as our great friend rather than an opponent.

I missed a day yesterday but it was a Sunday and there isn’t a rule saying you can’t miss a day, so we go on.

I’m not a fan of the English translated title here, the original French being La joie de vivre (the joy of living) but the novel is one that sticks with you for many weeks after.