Reviews

Germinal by Émile Zola

louvaadeus's review against another edition

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informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.5

michel_f's review against another edition

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challenging inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

d_audy's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

A dark, raw, merciless journey into the rough, most often miserable lives of coal miners in Northern France in the 1860s, focused on a violent workers strike that takes no prisoners. Still today a must-read novel on early capitalism and workers conditions. 

rev's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

tomasz99's review against another edition

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4.0

Oceniam jedynie pierwszy, najbardziej chyba charakterystyczny i pięknie napisany rozdział. Niestety te kolejne nie sprawiają już tak dobrego wrażenia i nie chciałem sobie psuć przyjemnych wspomnień.

hcube3's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

novelesque_life's review against another edition

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4.0

3.5 STARS


I read this for a history course and actually liked it even though I HAD to read it. It is a great novel that is rich with descriptions and shows us what was happening during the time it was set

cosmichero's review

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i put this down about 2 years ago and have not read from it since.... one day i will try again sorry zola <3

in_vain's review against another edition

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emotional informative tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix

5.0

jchimpius's review against another edition

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5.0

Tragically beautiful. The realism of it all gives every character an immense amount of impact in the story. Even minor character’s like La Brûle are extremely memorable. Not enough to make me a socialist but an amazing book overall.