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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
slow-paced
Detailed descriptions of maps, architecture and very very little about people
I searched the library catalogue for easy-to-read adaptations of Hugo's Notre Dame de Paris and this book was one of the two I ended up selecting. It's a very condensed version with the story in pictures (with text for each picture, and an occasional voice balloon) and then a teaching essay at the back with information about Hugo, the times he lived in, a comparison with the time setting of the novel and then more detail about the story with its characters, plot and themes described.
I've never had any desire to watch the animated film, and I don't feel like managing the original, so this is a good substitute for me. It's well done.
I've never had any desire to watch the animated film, and I don't feel like managing the original, so this is a good substitute for me. It's well done.
This adaptation for young readers also has dozens of small pictures bordering the pages and giving historic information about the setting of Victor Hugo's famous novel (originally published as Notre-Dame of Paris). This is the best adaptation that I've looked at
What a terrific novel this is – and what a crazy one too! A far cry from the sanitized children's versions I grew up with or the despiccable happy end drivel that Disney probbably made of this when it decided to screw over another literary classic. This book is as weird and wonderful as a church full of gargoyles, fittingly. And, contrary to Hugo's reputation for grandiosity, pomposity and verbosity (don't really know where I got that from, but I'm pretty sure I didn't make that up), what struck me most was how incredibly funny and tongue-in-cheek this story often was. It often had me laugh out loud. Hugo is having his weird gothic cake and eating (i.e. mocking) it – with an irony that may be typical of the romantic era that he came from, I don't know. In any case, a hugely enjoyable read, even if the first hundred or so page (and the second book about Paris building) are a bit of a slog. Just keep on going: it's more than worth it!
The excellent Dutch translation could have done with a bit more historical background information, be it in the form of annotations or a proper introduction. (As it is, *all* bibliographical information is lacking, even to the point of which edition of the text was used as a source text.)
The excellent Dutch translation could have done with a bit more historical background information, be it in the form of annotations or a proper introduction. (As it is, *all* bibliographical information is lacking, even to the point of which edition of the text was used as a source text.)