Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

Les Misérables by Victor Hugo

6 reviews

bashsbooks's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

I know this is an international and intergenerational classic, but I can't give 5 stars to Les Misérables. Not after those nineteen Waterloo chapters. I understand the position Hugo was put in politically (that was the useful aspect of the introduction, though I was not terribly impressed with its literary analysis), but holy hell were those chapters a slog. The worst slog of the book, I dare say. Talk to me about convents and sewers any day over Waterloo.

Other than that mind-numbling digression (and a couple others like it), I deeply enjoyed this book. The five narrators of this particular version are all very talented. The story itself is much funnier than any adaptations convey it. Les Amis de l'ABC are iconic, I have the tenderest sympathies for their plight. (Combeferre's 'to be free' mic-drop is incredible.) Marius and Cosette are endearing idiots. Jean Valjean and Javert have a surprising amount of tension. What kind of tension, I could probably write a whole book of essays on. It's well-worth the read. Oh, I also feel like I absorbed a lot about 19th century French politics. Which is information I didn't necessarily need, but it helped my reread of Ellie Valsin's Virago. Over all, I would say that it's worth the insane amount of time required to read it. And this Penguin audiobook version is especially good to listen to while you work.

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neviris's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

the shadow side of society in the days of the French Revolution in all of it's varieties. amazing book and writing style. historical chapters were rather boring. however, this book lead me to one of the rare occasions where I questioned my own lifestyle and habits and led me to be grateful for the way I am able to live my life. it changed me for the better. 

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linnylionheart's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0


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cerilouisereads's review

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challenging emotional hopeful sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0


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lesty_gibbs's review

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adventurous challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad slow-paced
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Jean Valjean is quite possibly one of the most compelling characters of all time, and his relationship with Javert is equally so. I did an essay on this, which is why I read the book. Overall it is so intricate and deeply structured, with so much thought, effort, and time put into it, that, as a result, Les Miserables can't help but be a classic.

Ah, but there it is, the whispering in the wind; "What about the length?"

Listen, did Hugo say "we must be brief" and then ramble on for 40 pages about the Battle Of Waterloo, but then never give his characters full names because, again, "we must be brief"? Yes. Are over 150 characters named Jean? Also yes. 

Les Miserables isn't called "The Brick" for nothing. Just acknowledge that his ramblings about the streets of Paris are so intricate and long that we can map it out in Paris to this day, accept that the Sewers are really the main character, and you'll have a ball reading it. I will admit though, I docked some marks for this. We didn't need 50 pages on the sewer system, we really didn't.

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valereads's review

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challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad slow-paced
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75


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