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4.16 AVERAGE
4.16 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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
This is a masterpiece. This gave me basically the full range of feelings that humans can feel. It's long enough to do that, lol. And it works as a story about the effects of political revolution, which is more than you can say about a lot of books that try to do that. And honestly, I liked the tangents- Hugo does pretty well with tangents, as far as "nineteenth century authors who go on too many tangents" go anyway. The infamous sewer section is actually quite interesting.
The characters are rich and interesting, the plot is woven incredibly well, and the writing is simple at times, beautifully intricate at others, and very often finds your heartstrings and tugs at them expertly. I really do recommend this if you have about eight months to spare and an e-book version (or strong book-carrying muscles).
The characters are rich and interesting, the plot is woven incredibly well, and the writing is simple at times, beautifully intricate at others, and very often finds your heartstrings and tugs at them expertly. I really do recommend this if you have about eight months to spare and an e-book version (or strong book-carrying muscles).
DONE
5.5 years later (granted, with a break of about 4.5 years in the middle), I have conquered the beast of a novel that is Les Misérables. And honestly? I had a very enjoyable time with it! The beginning was the biggest hurdle for me, but once things really got going with Fantine's whole mess, I started enjoying it more, and then it was off to the races. Finding a version that I could read on my Kindle rather than having to lug this brick of a book around with me also made a huge difference. Cosette and Valjean were always a favourite duo of mine in the musical, and I was just as in love with them in the novel; they have some very sweet moments together. None of the deaths hit quite as hard as they do in the musical, but that is the power of music! Valjean's death was the worst for me in the book, it did still make my heart ache.
I am very proud to say that I climbed this mountain and finally read this classic novel. I will never go back and re-read it just because of the sheer length, but I'm proud to say that I've done it once!
5.5 years later (granted, with a break of about 4.5 years in the middle), I have conquered the beast of a novel that is Les Misérables. And honestly? I had a very enjoyable time with it! The beginning was the biggest hurdle for me, but once things really got going with Fantine's whole mess, I started enjoying it more, and then it was off to the races. Finding a version that I could read on my Kindle rather than having to lug this brick of a book around with me also made a huge difference. Cosette and Valjean were always a favourite duo of mine in the musical, and I was just as in love with them in the novel; they have some very sweet moments together. None of the deaths hit quite as hard as they do in the musical, but that is the power of music! Valjean's death was the worst for me in the book, it did still make my heart ache.
I am very proud to say that I climbed this mountain and finally read this classic novel. I will never go back and re-read it just because of the sheer length, but I'm proud to say that I've done it once!
This book tore my heart to shreds. I don't know what I'm feeling right now. Sad? No. Happy? Definitely not. Miserable? Maybe. Nothing? Most likely.
I am amazed that Hugo was able to bind so many characters and storylines together so beautifully. He brought tears some times, laughter others, and just hurt me the rest of the time. I love his digressions into the history of France. They were the only reason I could keep up with the events in the book.
I'm glad I read this book. It's probably changed my life for the better.
Now I'm going to go cry myself to sleep.
I am amazed that Hugo was able to bind so many characters and storylines together so beautifully. He brought tears some times, laughter others, and just hurt me the rest of the time. I love his digressions into the history of France. They were the only reason I could keep up with the events in the book.
I'm glad I read this book. It's probably changed my life for the better.
Now I'm going to go cry myself to sleep.
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
4 stars = Fantastic and easy to recommend.
“Revolutions are not born of chance but of necessity.”
It is easy to see why this renowned classic is still beloved and relevant 163 years after its publication. It is a timeless story with a mixture of memorable characters that encompass everything on the human spectrum from pure evil to angelic innocence with a large variety of those that are a complex mixture of the two.
“Let us fear ourselves. Prejudices are the real robbers; vices are the real murderers. The great dangers lie within ourselves.”
Hugo at times feels like he interrupts this riveting tale and inserts instead a related but lengthy nonfiction essay he wrote about the battle of Waterloo, the history of a mentioned abbey, and a passionate argument for why slang is culturally significant and should be included in books. Readers and critics are of mixed opinions about these digressions. I found their material to be pertinent but that their timing was disruptive to the flow of the story, and distracted from the enjoyment of the novel’s reading. I wish they had instead been shortened to extensive footnotes, or included at the end instead.
“Nothing is more dangerous than to stop working. It is a habit you lose. A habit easy to give up and difficult to resume.”
The novel is well known for its themes of revolution, social injustice and the life changing power of love. But I thought the author's most forcefully and ardently argued message was that ignorance fuels evil, and widespread education is the remedy. This resonates deeply, especially considering the current state of regressive nations and the blatant cruelty being rendered with the enablement of their most ignorant citizens, as their tyrannical leaders ban books and dismantle education systems.
“Underlying society there is - and there will be until the day ignorance is dispelled - the great cavern that is evil.”
At over 1300 pages, it is not a classic I would recommend to casual readers that typically read a couple of books a year while on their summer vacations. It is enthusiastically recommended instead to those not intimidated by chunky reads, are interested in historical fiction about the French revolution, enjoy the satire Dickens used to expose social injustice, and are deeply troubled by the current loss of human rights and travesties being committed around the world alongside a rapid increase of ignorance, apathy and bigotry.
“Insurrection, riot, and how the former differs from the latter - the true bourgeois knows nothing of such nuances. In his mind all is sedition, resistance pure and simple, the dog rebelling against its master, an attempt to bite that must be punished with the chain and the kennel, barking, yapping - until the day when the dog’s head, suddenly grown bigger, appears dimly out of the shadows as the face of a lion.
Then the bourgeois shouts, ‘Long live the people!’”
-----
First Sentence: In the year 1815 Monseigneur Charles-François-Bienvenu Myriel was Bishop of Digne.
Favorite Quote: There is always more misery among the lower classes than there is humanity in the higher.
“Revolutions are not born of chance but of necessity.”
It is easy to see why this renowned classic is still beloved and relevant 163 years after its publication. It is a timeless story with a mixture of memorable characters that encompass everything on the human spectrum from pure evil to angelic innocence with a large variety of those that are a complex mixture of the two.
“Let us fear ourselves. Prejudices are the real robbers; vices are the real murderers. The great dangers lie within ourselves.”
Hugo at times feels like he interrupts this riveting tale and inserts instead a related but lengthy nonfiction essay he wrote about the battle of Waterloo, the history of a mentioned abbey, and a passionate argument for why slang is culturally significant and should be included in books. Readers and critics are of mixed opinions about these digressions. I found their material to be pertinent but that their timing was disruptive to the flow of the story, and distracted from the enjoyment of the novel’s reading. I wish they had instead been shortened to extensive footnotes, or included at the end instead.
“Nothing is more dangerous than to stop working. It is a habit you lose. A habit easy to give up and difficult to resume.”
The novel is well known for its themes of revolution, social injustice and the life changing power of love. But I thought the author's most forcefully and ardently argued message was that ignorance fuels evil, and widespread education is the remedy. This resonates deeply, especially considering the current state of regressive nations and the blatant cruelty being rendered with the enablement of their most ignorant citizens, as their tyrannical leaders ban books and dismantle education systems.
“Underlying society there is - and there will be until the day ignorance is dispelled - the great cavern that is evil.”
At over 1300 pages, it is not a classic I would recommend to casual readers that typically read a couple of books a year while on their summer vacations. It is enthusiastically recommended instead to those not intimidated by chunky reads, are interested in historical fiction about the French revolution, enjoy the satire Dickens used to expose social injustice, and are deeply troubled by the current loss of human rights and travesties being committed around the world alongside a rapid increase of ignorance, apathy and bigotry.
“Insurrection, riot, and how the former differs from the latter - the true bourgeois knows nothing of such nuances. In his mind all is sedition, resistance pure and simple, the dog rebelling against its master, an attempt to bite that must be punished with the chain and the kennel, barking, yapping - until the day when the dog’s head, suddenly grown bigger, appears dimly out of the shadows as the face of a lion.
Then the bourgeois shouts, ‘Long live the people!’”
-----
First Sentence: In the year 1815 Monseigneur Charles-François-Bienvenu Myriel was Bishop of Digne.
Favorite Quote: There is always more misery among the lower classes than there is humanity in the higher.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Reading it was a challenge, not so much because of the number of pages it has (over 1000, depending on the edition), but because of the way it is written in some chapters, which can make it a bit heavy (and that’s the only reason I gave it 3 stars). Beyond that, it's a truly fascinating book that explores themes such as social justice, poverty, injustice, guilt, forgiveness, friendship, kindness, evil, corruption, love, sacrifice, and personal transformation.
My favorite chapters were all those that dealt with the rebellion. Enjolras was one of my favorite characters, without a doubt. And Gavroche... he broke my heart.
My favorite chapters were all those that dealt with the rebellion. Enjolras was one of my favorite characters, without a doubt. And Gavroche... he broke my heart.
While there are many passages of information that stall the story a bit, these cannot overshadow the brilliant writing, marvelous characters and inspired story. Les Miserables will remain with me for a lifetime.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
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
It took me a year to get through this but it felt like a lifetime, in both good and bad. There were great moments that made me laugh or cry and stupid moments that made me want to give up. But now i’ve read it. My tip is to find a very devoted accountability buddy to read this with, it is hard on your own.
For people not interested in the history of France, specifically of Paris, it is recommended to get the abridged version.
Otherwise, the unabridged version not only offers a detailed background to the happenings in the book, but also a riveting story of a not-so-normal peasant in 19th century Paris.
Otherwise, the unabridged version not only offers a detailed background to the happenings in the book, but also a riveting story of a not-so-normal peasant in 19th century Paris.
