Classicly

Interesting novel. Enjoyable to read how the French lived alongside the parallel Victorian era. Some absolutely fantastic moments, however, especially in the first part character detachment makes it difficult to connect with. Seems in some ways to be written by two people, writing techniques changes drastically when the events up to the present moment have been relayed. Notably Gustave does focus on some pioneering themes, alcoholism, erotica, commodity, and desire. Worth a read, but in my opinion some of the contextual conversation between less relevant characters is pointless, and can be thus tedious.