choupitali's review against another edition
4.0
Peut-être l'un des tomes les moins connus des Rougon-Macquart. Il faut dire qu'il est difficile de passer après L'Assommoir ! Pourtant, ce roman possède un charme certain.
Une page d'amour nous raconte le désarroi d'Hélène qui tombe passionnément amoureuse alors qu'elle avait une vie bien rangée. À cela s'ajoute le poids d'une enfant aisément sujette à des crises de nerfs, et dont la jalousie maladive étouffe sa mère.
Durant cette "page d'amour", ce sont différentes formes de ce sentiment que découvrons, du plus tendre au plus laid, du plus beau au plus destructeur.
Une page d'amour nous raconte le désarroi d'Hélène qui tombe passionnément amoureuse alors qu'elle avait une vie bien rangée. À cela s'ajoute le poids d'une enfant aisément sujette à des crises de nerfs, et dont la jalousie maladive étouffe sa mère.
Durant cette "page d'amour", ce sont différentes formes de ce sentiment que découvrons, du plus tendre au plus laid, du plus beau au plus destructeur.
kiri_johnston's review
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
louleloup's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
elisala's review against another edition
2.0
Parmi les Rougon-Macquart qui m'ont le plus marquée, une page d'amour est celui qui me laisse comme un goût amer. C'est un roman triste, et en quelque sorte calme, qui se dirige de manière inexorable vers la fin, triste à souhait.
C'est un titre assez ironique, je trouve, parce qu'il y a finalement ici beaucoup plus de passion et de jalousie toutes deux aveugles que de véritable amour...
C'est un titre assez ironique, je trouve, parce qu'il y a finalement ici beaucoup plus de passion et de jalousie toutes deux aveugles que de véritable amour...
jmiae's review
4.0
What a surprisingly scandalous story. There are a couple of things I particularly loved about this book: the descriptions of mid-19th century Paris (especially the passages about how the city looks in different kinds of light, weather, or time of day) and the ridiculous parties that Madame Deberle loves to throw.
Although I have not read any of the other books in the Les Rougon-Macquart series, I did not feel that I was missing any information as a result (the footnotes helped a bit). As a stand-alone read, there is a lot to parse through and if I were so inclined it would be such fun to write an essay about the different themes that run through the story. There were times when it felt a bit overkill, especially Jeanne's rather absurd behaviour towards her mother, but ultimately it came together for a very dramatic and emotionally satisfying ending.
Although I have not read any of the other books in the Les Rougon-Macquart series, I did not feel that I was missing any information as a result (the footnotes helped a bit). As a stand-alone read, there is a lot to parse through and if I were so inclined it would be such fun to write an essay about the different themes that run through the story. There were times when it felt a bit overkill, especially Jeanne's rather absurd behaviour towards her mother, but ultimately it came together for a very dramatic and emotionally satisfying ending.
ilonaisreading's review
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
blueyorkie's review against another edition
5.0
In one of the novels, the eighth in the Rougon-Macquart saga, the action occurs at Passy in Paris. The plot centres on three main characters: Jeanne, an 11-year-old girl; Hélène, her mother and the doctor. The mother is a saint who suffers from her daughter's infernal name, who is always sick with convulsions.
A loving relationship quickly settled between Hélène and the doctor, which the kid will hardly have to endure.
"A Love Story": a not very well known novel by Emile Zola.
Some sorrowful people find it a little hollow structure. Certainly. With main themes such as love at first sight, romantic passion, and a child's illness.
In my eyes, the fact remains that a Zola remains a Zola and that his style, just his style, is a delight to me.
In this novel, I noticed in Pot Bouille and The Fault of the Abbot Mouret the writer's pleasure in describing bare feet scenes and the joy of kissing them, which made me pleased: my fantasy being in women their bare feet and their toes.
A loving relationship quickly settled between Hélène and the doctor, which the kid will hardly have to endure.
"A Love Story": a not very well known novel by Emile Zola.
Some sorrowful people find it a little hollow structure. Certainly. With main themes such as love at first sight, romantic passion, and a child's illness.
In my eyes, the fact remains that a Zola remains a Zola and that his style, just his style, is a delight to me.
In this novel, I noticed in Pot Bouille and The Fault of the Abbot Mouret the writer's pleasure in describing bare feet scenes and the joy of kissing them, which made me pleased: my fantasy being in women their bare feet and their toes.
cloudytm's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
ken_bookhermit's review
4.0
With a man's brutality he had just spoiled their love. And she remembered the days when he had been in love with her without being cruel enough to tell her so, those times spent at the bottom of the garden in the serenity of the coming spring.
I haven’t read any prior novels from the Rougon-Macquart series and I only started the series because it was available in my library. As a shot in the dark novel, I enjoyed it with an assumption that the enjoyment comes from the language of the novel itself. Helen Constantine’s translation makes the novel vibrant and keeps me from abandoning it midway on account of my low tolerance towards cheating plot lines. But I can’t help but understand the novel in its didactic message; that adultery is a bourgeois occupation and has the capacity to damage relationships beyond repair.
I haven’t read any prior novels from the Rougon-Macquart series and I only started the series because it was available in my library. As a shot in the dark novel, I enjoyed it with an assumption that the enjoyment comes from the language of the novel itself. Helen Constantine’s translation makes the novel vibrant and keeps me from abandoning it midway on account of my low tolerance towards cheating plot lines. But I can’t help but understand the novel in its didactic message; that adultery is a bourgeois occupation and has the capacity to damage relationships beyond repair.