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erin8812's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
fr_eddie's review against another edition
3.0
3,75 un classico, una storia interessante, personaggi a tutto tondo, ma troppe descrizioni.
È stato uno dei libri che mi ha richiesto più tempo per essere finito (quasi un mese) sia per l'inizio della scuola, che ha sicuramente scombussolato il mio ritmo, sia per lo stile che Hugo decide di utilizzare per i primi capitoli: un sacco di descrizioni, pagine e pagine piene, senza che la storia avanzasse mi hanno fatto procedere molto più lentamente di quanto sperassi.
Ma, non contando alcune casualità un po' forzate (Phoebus che decide di tornare dalla promessa sposa proprio in quel giorno o il suo incontro con Esmeralda proprio il giorno in cui lui incontra Jehan) la storia mi è sembrata molto interessante, i personaggi ben fatti (soprattutto la mente malata di Frollino) e lo stile è andato a migliorare, diventando più scorrevole e veloce nella seconda metà.
Avrei voluto vedere di più del rapporto Frollo-Quasimodo, cosa più caratteristica del film, e lo stile non mi ha mai fatto davvero emozionare, non ci sono mai stati passaggi in cui piangevo, nonostante le tematiche deprimenti, ma nonostante questo è davvero un bel libro.
Lo consiglierei? Assolutamente, anche se l'inizio può risultare un po' ostico.
(E Gringoire come fai a preferire la capra ad Esmeralda io non ti capirò mai)
È stato uno dei libri che mi ha richiesto più tempo per essere finito (quasi un mese) sia per l'inizio della scuola, che ha sicuramente scombussolato il mio ritmo, sia per lo stile che Hugo decide di utilizzare per i primi capitoli: un sacco di descrizioni, pagine e pagine piene, senza che la storia avanzasse mi hanno fatto procedere molto più lentamente di quanto sperassi.
Ma, non contando alcune casualità un po' forzate (Phoebus che decide di tornare dalla promessa sposa proprio in quel giorno o il suo incontro con Esmeralda proprio il giorno in cui lui incontra Jehan) la storia mi è sembrata molto interessante, i personaggi ben fatti (soprattutto la mente malata di Frollino) e lo stile è andato a migliorare, diventando più scorrevole e veloce nella seconda metà.
Avrei voluto vedere di più del rapporto Frollo-Quasimodo, cosa più caratteristica del film, e lo stile non mi ha mai fatto davvero emozionare, non ci sono mai stati passaggi in cui piangevo, nonostante le tematiche deprimenti, ma nonostante questo è davvero un bel libro.
Lo consiglierei? Assolutamente, anche se l'inizio può risultare un po' ostico.
(E Gringoire come fai a preferire la capra ad Esmeralda io non ti capirò mai)
osed123's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
ethan0lsen's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
While a bit different from the Disney movie that introduced most of us to these characters, Victor Hugo’s tale provides a glance into a morally grey Paris of the late fifteenth century where beautify can be found on every corner and ugliness can lie within any person.
As is the common critique for Hugo, the man loves to ramble and provide additional depth and reality to his story with history lessons on the architecture of the city, backgrounds on characters, or discussions on general morals and thoughts of the time. Personally, I understand how this can lose some readers’ attention or confuse them on the plot, but it creates the feeling that you’ve just sat down with Victor and he’s telling you the story as he recalls it.
I’d recommend this one to those who enjoy a bit of history with their fiction, embrace characters who don’t fall very easily into moral categories, and want to get into classics. If you’re deciding which of Hugo’s greats to start with, I’d pick here before Les Mis - you’ll get a better feel for his style and characters before being tossed into the crowd there.
As is the common critique for Hugo, the man loves to ramble and provide additional depth and reality to his story with history lessons on the architecture of the city, backgrounds on characters, or discussions on general morals and thoughts of the time. Personally, I understand how this can lose some readers’ attention or confuse them on the plot, but it creates the feeling that you’ve just sat down with Victor and he’s telling you the story as he recalls it.
I’d recommend this one to those who enjoy a bit of history with their fiction, embrace characters who don’t fall very easily into moral categories, and want to get into classics. If you’re deciding which of Hugo’s greats to start with, I’d pick here before Les Mis - you’ll get a better feel for his style and characters before being tossed into the crowd there.
read_garden_hound's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
kahinareads's review against another edition
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
5.0
benedettal's review against another edition
3.5
Okay listen I really did enjoy this book, but the beginning drags way too long, and there are quite a few sections in the middle that are also a bit of an hinderance to the overall pace. Hugo has a beautiful pen, but unlike Les Mis, Hunchback didn’t feel as tight as it could have been. So that’s where it lost points.
The story itself is a deeply fascinating one, which reflects upon the bigotry and malice of society, even those who present themselves as the most holy. Frollo is a great villain, so creepy but also in a way weirdly multifaceted. At times I thought maybe his intentions had been good, like when separating Esmeralda from Phoebus, like we all know nothing good would have come out of that, but at the same time you remember who Frollo is and it makes you sick.
The tragedy of Esmeralda and the Hunchback, these poor outcasts that did nothing to deserve their cruel destiny, is so sad to behold. The irony for me is that I thought Les Mis was gonna be more like this, like literally miserable, but it’s a lot more hopeful than Hunchback. This book has the bleakest outlook. Thank goodness for Hugo’s sense of humour, otherwise this would have been just depressing. But obviously, both these characters are very easy to sympathise with and care for, helpless as they are. I don’t know if they’re a bit too pathetic after all, but still, hard not to feel invested.
Best part was the bits about architecture, 10/10
The story itself is a deeply fascinating one, which reflects upon the bigotry and malice of society, even those who present themselves as the most holy. Frollo is a great villain, so creepy but also in a way weirdly multifaceted. At times I thought maybe his intentions had been good, like when separating Esmeralda from Phoebus, like we all know nothing good would have come out of that, but at the same time you remember who Frollo is and it makes you sick.
The tragedy of Esmeralda and the Hunchback, these poor outcasts that did nothing to deserve their cruel destiny, is so sad to behold. The irony for me is that I thought Les Mis was gonna be more like this, like literally miserable, but it’s a lot more hopeful than Hunchback. This book has the bleakest outlook. Thank goodness for Hugo’s sense of humour, otherwise this would have been just depressing. But obviously, both these characters are very easy to sympathise with and care for, helpless as they are. I don’t know if they’re a bit too pathetic after all, but still, hard not to feel invested.
Best part was the bits about architecture, 10/10
michaelko's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5