REVIEW: Old Man Goriot (by Balzac)

Book: Old Man Goriot

Author: Balzac

My rating: 4/5.

Premise: Not everyone who lodges with Madame Vauquer is quite what they seem. The penniless student Rastignac is poised to buy the finest waistcoat in Paris; old man Goriot, lodged in the cheapest room, is visited by two wealthy women; while the jovial merchant, Vautrin, makes clandestine midnight excursions. As the fates of the three intertwine, Rastignac faces terrible choices that will define the man he is to become. 

Where to begin. I don't think I've felt as much emotion in a book. At the start I was chuckling, but by the end I was weeping. Balzac has an amazing ability to portray real life without glossing over the bad stuff. This book is about the money, greed and social status. Those in society want to continue their lavish lifestyle and maintain appearances, while the poor understand the struggles of debt. If you want a happy ending, you won't find it here. Yes the descriptions are witty and the events so dramatic they're almost comical, but by the end I was left thinking "it's not fair!" A bittersweet book so full of emotion. Amazing.