Recommend me some Balzac

A friend at work saw me reading a work by Zola, and he recommended I try Balzac. BTW, I can’t say Balzac without imitating Eulalie Shinn: BALLzac!

Looking at the Gutenberg Project shows that this mec was an astoundingly prolific writer, and I don’t know where to start. What’s a good Balzac novel for a novice?

How about Eugenie Grandet or Père Goriot? I read the latter quite recently, and it provides a real window onto the Paris of the Restoration. Plus it’s a good story, with memorable characters.

Thanks, SA. Once I finish The Fat and the Thin, I’ll need some new reading material.

I moved to Balzac after reading a lot of Zola, and didn’t like him quite as much. I have to admit I didn’t give him a fair shake though. I started Pere Goriot and Cousin Bette and put them down pretty quickly. Zola’s books draw me in immediately – not so with those two Balzacs.

Based on Sal’s comments, I’ll give him another go.

Hahaha. Don’t I feel like a dope.

I actually came into this thread to recommend some Japanese horror punk songs.

Ummm, nevermind then.