Candi's Reviews > Thérèse Raquin

"The Arcade of the Pont Neuf is not a place for a stroll. You take it to make a short cut, to gain a few minutes. It is traversed by busy people whose sole aim is to go quick and straight before them… The arcade now assumes the aspect of a regular cut-throat alley. Great shadows stretch along the tiles, damp puffs of air enter from the street. Anyone might take the place for a subterranean gallery indistinctly lit-up by three funeral lamps.

This nineteenth century French novel has a deliciously dark atmosphere from page one. The Arcade of the Pont Neuf is home to a mercer shop that will take you into the depths of a psychological drama that might give you chills if you were to read this alone on a bleak and stormy night. Emphasizing the animal side of human nature, Emile Zola created two depraved characters in Laurent and Therese – ones that we should all hope to avoid a glimpse of within ourselves! How do emotions drive one to commit an act of evil? What are the consequences of these actions? If we repent, will we be absolved of our sins? If repentance is not something the bestial self is capable of seeking, then what becomes of us?

This book had some gruesome images that may make some flinch and others may find worthy of a great horror novel. I personally cringed and at the same time was fascinated by a most revolting description of a Parisian morgue. I was shocked to learn that it was in fact a favorite pastime for the people of Paris to visit the morgue and ogle the unfortunate inhabitants of this notorious attraction! "The morgue is a sight within reach of everybody, and one to which passers-by, rich and poor alike, treat themselves. The door stands open, and all are free to enter. There are admirers of the scene who go out of their way so as not to miss one of these performances of death."

I found this book to be quite riveting overall. There were times when it felt a bit repetitive and dragged slightly, but then it would shift and I would once more become submerged in the misery, depravity and psychological suspense. I would recommend this to those that enjoy classics and intense psychological studies. It is actually a very readable classic, so shouldn't necessarily exclude those that don't dip into the classics on a regular basis. 3.5 stars.