Pere Goriot is an at times tedious read but is one that will keep you pulled in until the last minute. Balzac is full of details and describes every aspect of most settings and characters so much that you feel as if you have known them for years. I love when writers do this, even if it can drag on a bit. The story is about fatherly love that is lacking or found in others, and the way that society can corrupt us and drain our lives. We see greed, romantic love, fatherly love, deceit, and so many other qualities of the battles to be a part of the aristocratic Paris life. I found myself crying many times but also completely understanding of the characters portrayed. You love to despise them.

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