Thérèse Raquin (Émile Zola)

Émile Zola
Thérèse Raquin

An interesting novel and tale which at the risk of a spoiler... married woman meets man has affair both kill husband get married memory of the killing comes back to haunt them sending them mad. A crude synopsis but the gist of the story. Obviously much better written than I have suggested. A large part of the story is their descent into madness (assuming they are not mad already despite being murderers) which is described in great and lengthy detail. Does go on a bit but I guess that's the point of the story and how it affects the reader. I had to bail at one point and read Puckoon for light relief that it didn't really deliver and in some respects analogous to this tale in that you can't hide from the depression of this book until you reach the bitter end. There's no holds barred as Zola describes both the tempestuous affair and the subsequent murder and madness. Not in graphic detail as you may read today but there is no doubt as to what is going on. All through the dead husband's mother is closely involved in the plot and indeed integral to the story. As is the poor cat which to be honest was the most upsetting bit for me as none of the humans were particularly likeable and all selfish to some degree. Whether the cat was selfish or not is unknown although I think they all are. Well worth reading. Probably best inside looking outside at the cold rain as I have done rather than taking on holiday as a cheery read on the beach.