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chalkletters's review against another edition
challenging
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
In January 2023, I discovered Les Mis Letters — a substack inspired by Dracula Daily which was sending out a chapter of Les Misérables each day in 2023. I’ve seen the musical twice, and listened to it substantially more than that, but never read it, so after very little consideration, I decided to dive right in. I spent a weekend catching up the chapters I'd missed, then the rest of 2023 doing my best to make time for my chapter each day. I did not always succeed, sometimes I had to catch up three or four chapters over the weekend, and I didn't finish on the 31st, as I 'should' have, but instead on the 3rd of January 2024.
I really enjoyed reading Les Misérables this way at first, and I doubt I would ever have made it through 'the brick' in any other way. When he's digressing about battles shaped like letters of the alphabet, a chapter is about as much Victor Hugo as I can manage. Unfortunately, I really lost steam around the barricades where, for what felt like weeks, we leave behind the characters we've spent a lot of time with to talk about the history and philosophy of revolutions. Even once the barricade has fallen, we never really return to the characters we love until the very, very end.
When the characters are strong, they're really strong! The first book, all about M. Myriel is a delight, and sets up the second book beautifully. The interplay between Javert, Jean Valjean and Fantine is engaging enough to keep a reader going through the digressions. Even the introduction of the Marius-Cosette storyline is surprisingly entertaining. Unfortunately, Marius loses a lot of points once he and Cosette actually interact, and even more points for his treatment of Eponine. (Her affection for Marius is somewhat bewildering in the musical, it's downright inexplicable in the book.)
Obviously, in a book with 365 chapters, there's a lot of material that didn't make it into the adaptation. Some of that is great: Jean Valjean giving Cosette an expensive doll she's been admiring for days; what the fandom refers to as 'the coffin heist', Marius's cousin. On the other hand, a lot of is comes in the form of digressions about French politics and history and philosophy that a lot of readers aren't going to have enough context to follow or find interesting. That said, some people really enjoy these digressions! And many wonderful people have posted explanations and analysis of them, which can be read alongside the chapters, and which will certainly help provide some context, though perhaps only enough to make the digressions bearable rather than interesting.
Les Mis Letters used the Isabel F Hapgood translation which, because it was written in the 19th century, reads like a 19th-century novel. This, combined with the digressions, definitely slows down whole sections of the book. More modern translations are, apparently, easier to read, but that would mean devoting another 365 days to Les Misérables...
While I'm glad I read Les Misérables, I'm also looking forward to not having that daily obligation on my to-do list in 2024!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Suicide, Death of parent, and Gun violence
Minor: Slavery
emnime's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
If Victor Hugo was a tad less racist and sexist, this would undoubtedly be the greatest story ever written.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Sexual harassment, Death of parent, and Suicide
Minor: Slavery
linnylionheart's review against another edition
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Abandonment, Medical content, Murder, Religious bigotry, Suicide, Violence, Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Grief, Misogyny, Blood, Emotional abuse, Gore, Sexism, Slavery, Death, Gun violence, and Child death
Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Body horror, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Racism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Antisemitism, Confinement, Animal cruelty, Chronic illness, Miscarriage, Animal death, Excrement, Kidnapping, and Racial slurs
cnidariar3x's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Theres lots to enjoy but its almost unreasonably long. I recommend the condensed version unless one is familiar with French history.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Gun violence, and Death
Moderate: Antisemitism, Child abuse, Misogyny, Police brutality, and Grief
Minor: Slavery and Racism
gabrield's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Important book to read at least once. Brilliant writing that never gets repetitive. Some parts were a bit too descriptive and slow (ie. Waterloo and the sewers).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Slavery, Kidnapping, Domestic abuse, Death, and Child abuse
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