Zolafest 2005

I finished Germinal a couple of days ago and I have to say that Zola has blown me away. It is so rare that an author can do everything well, character, dialogue, suspense, tension, romance, love and politics. But I’ve thought about it and I’ve tried to find fault and really I can’t.
So then the ‘which author have you read 10 books by?’ meme came along and I just happened to notice that Purple Pen has read 10 Zola novels, it was instant jealousy!
‘But I want to read 10 Zola novels!’ I wailed as I stamped my feet.
Then I had an idea… I could set myself a little task to complete 10 Zola books before the year is out. One down, only nine to go, that would be one a month and should I fall behind there would even be a month left over for catching up.
Every rational bone in my body screamed ‘Nooooo,’ and so I put the silly thought to one side along with my copy of Germinal and moved on to a pleasant light read from the they-who-must-not-be-named book club.
But the voices in my head are screaming ‘We want Zola! We want Zola!’ and the only way I can shut them up is to read the bloody books. I mean it is not like I’ve got anything else to do, a degree to finish, a novel to edit, a child to drag up, dinner to cook, kitchen to clean, not at all. Bah! It can all wait!
So what I have decided is to have a Zola book of the month, for March I have chosen L’Assommoir, for no other reason than it was going cheap in the local bookshop. The aim is that is shall be read by 1st April when book of the month will change.
This would be so much more fun if someone would join me, or challenge me or just jump right in wherever I am….
Anyone?
Thought not..