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shieldbearer's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I read this because it was on Suzanne Collins' list of favorite books and I can absolutely see why. I can think of several scenes in the Hunger Games that this book likely influenced. This book is, above all else, a cautionary tale: any leftist revolution must beware two pitfalls; the first being the desire to replace and not eradicate the masters, the second being infighting.
In many ways, this book reminds me of the best of Stephen King. Zola is not interested in sanitizing characters. He is interested in telling the story of humans- messy, imperfect, often terrible, often selfless, humanity. Violence is not just the impact of force upon flesh and bone, it is the deprivation and exploitation of human beings. Germinal is the story of how abject, desperate poverty can influence a person.
In many ways, this book reminds me of the best of Stephen King. Zola is not interested in sanitizing characters. He is interested in telling the story of humans- messy, imperfect, often terrible, often selfless, humanity. Violence is not just the impact of force upon flesh and bone, it is the deprivation and exploitation of human beings. Germinal is the story of how abject, desperate poverty can influence a person.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Gun violence, Incest, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Police brutality, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism