The one hundred and fourty-seventh book: #86 Father Goriot - Honore de Balzac
The tragedy of Father Goriot builds through the novel, only becoming clear at the end. The titular Father Goriot is seen throughout the book as an odd father figure, somewhat destitute and made fun of by those around him, even as some of our protagonists take more to him. Only slowly do we find out about his daughters, who he spent his wealth on to give them good marriages, but who desert him when the money runs out. It's sad, a comment on the social mobility of the time, and quite a sad read. It's not always the easiest read, but the observations of Honore de Balzac ring true here in a wait that still feels quite accessible.