You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.16 AVERAGE
4.16 AVERAGE
I’m going to be entirely honest: I only picked up this book because I got to see the musical. It was so beautiful and epic that it made me want more of the story, so I decided to delve into this 1000+ page saga. It was, in short, a masterpiece. It was certainly long and tedious, seeming at some parts unnecessary and wordy, but Victor Hugo managed to tie even his most ridiculous of tangents (i.e. entire chapters dedicated to the Battle of Waterloo and the Paris sewer system) into the main story. The beginning and the end of this story, in particular, were touching and well-written, and were enough to make it all worthwhile.
Here’s where the spoilers start:
I was astonished at how similar the musical and the book were in the beginning. I am perhaps a minority here, but I enjoyed getting to read about the kindly Bishop’s story. The conflict that Valjean faces within himself when he is first introduced is so potent and vividly written, and that it ultimately ties into the end with his death (the candlesticks being lit near him, him seeing the Bishop in death) is so beautiful. I also very nearly cried when he first met Cosette; it was such a wholesome, precious few chapters. Him buying the doll for her destroyed me. I must also give an honorable mention to Javert’s sense of humor in these chapters. Though I lost the page and the quote within this behemoth piece of literature, he had one particularly funny line that I hope I manage to find again. I’ll be honest, the next part of the book is all a blur until Les Amis de l’ABC are introduced. First of all, the pun is immaculate. Second, these were some of the most amazing side characters you will ever find. Enjolras and his crew are so incredible, and as this turns into their final moments at the barricade, I literally cried. I was rather attached to these minor characters—mere college-age students who wanted to change the world—and the barricade scenes were heart wrenching and beautiful. There were memorable quotes and moments (though I wanted to throw the book when 5 characters were killed in the same sentence) and the final moments between Enjolras and Grantaire were perfection. It lives rent-free in my head. Now, as for Marius…this man. Why. He is such an idiot (lovable, but still an idiot). He literally manages to straddle the line between creepy stalker and oblivious fool. He has some great moments, as well as some questionable ones. As for Cosette, you can’t hate her. She’s literally so sweet. I also have to address the ending, because oh my GOD. I cried. The book literally ends with a flash into the future where we see Valjean’s nameless, never visited grave. And on that happy note, I end my review.
Here’s where the spoilers start:
I was astonished at how similar the musical and the book were in the beginning. I am perhaps a minority here, but I enjoyed getting to read about the kindly Bishop’s story. The conflict that Valjean faces within himself when he is first introduced is so potent and vividly written, and that it ultimately ties into the end with his death (the candlesticks being lit near him, him seeing the Bishop in death) is so beautiful. I also very nearly cried when he first met Cosette; it was such a wholesome, precious few chapters. Him buying the doll for her destroyed me. I must also give an honorable mention to Javert’s sense of humor in these chapters. Though I lost the page and the quote within this behemoth piece of literature, he had one particularly funny line that I hope I manage to find again. I’ll be honest, the next part of the book is all a blur until Les Amis de l’ABC are introduced. First of all, the pun is immaculate. Second, these were some of the most amazing side characters you will ever find. Enjolras and his crew are so incredible, and as this turns into their final moments at the barricade, I literally cried. I was rather attached to these minor characters—mere college-age students who wanted to change the world—and the barricade scenes were heart wrenching and beautiful. There were memorable quotes and moments (though I wanted to throw the book when 5 characters were killed in the same sentence) and the final moments between Enjolras and Grantaire were perfection. It lives rent-free in my head. Now, as for Marius…this man. Why. He is such an idiot (lovable, but still an idiot). He literally manages to straddle the line between creepy stalker and oblivious fool. He has some great moments, as well as some questionable ones. As for Cosette, you can’t hate her. She’s literally so sweet. I also have to address the ending, because oh my GOD. I cried. The book literally ends with a flash into the future where we see Valjean’s nameless, never visited grave. And on that happy note, I end my review.
challenging
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Very challenging read. If you want the story, watch the musical. If you want insane dialog, obscure descriptions, side tangents, and sentences that take up a full page, read this.
This is a great story with well defined characters. As you follow the tale, Hugo's many digressions slow the book down, and can, at times, make it almost unbearable for the reader who's main interest is the action of the story. On the positive side of this, however is that these digressions, of wich I often had little interest, made returning to the narrative, that much more exciting. They act much like the unwanted commercials within a movie as you watch it on television. I'll admit, some of Hugo's side thoughts are worth noting, but the modern reader is likely to find more pleasure in an abridged version of the book. I would give the book 4 stars, but as a modern reader, I find I would probably have enjoyed the book more, had it had fewer and more brief instances of those digressions.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
oh.. my god.. incredible.. beyond incredible.. bawled my eyes out at the end 🙌🏼
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Victor Hugo is my worst enemy. Such a pointlessly long book, even if it's a good story.
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-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:
Yes
I admit I would have struggled to complete this if I had not seen the musical and the film, and had an idea of how the plot and the characters were unfolding. The main problem is: when this book is good it's five-star brilliant but when it's bad it's one-star awful and it's only good for a couple of chapters at at time before being bad for a couple of chapters, so whenever you really start to get into it and enjoy it, it becomes a trial again. The other problem is that the boring, seemingly irrelevant bits, are usually there to develop subtle plot points - such as the whole section on Waterloo - which means I felt I couldn't skim through these bits as quick as I would've liked.
The other thing I found with this book is that all the characters I'd loved in the film/musical I didn't like in the book and vice versa. Fantine became a bit of a drip (I suspect that's partly to do with how a 'good' woman was perceived back then) and quite frankly deserved getting pregnant with that odious man's baby. Eponine was a lot more grotesque than she is portrayed in the film/musical, although I can she why she was glamorised for the audience, and wonder why I didn't doubt how realistically she was portrayed! I liked Cosette and Marius was a lot more stomachable (although still a bit of a stalker, again to do with the time period?). Jean Valjean was irritating with his over-zealous redemption at times but it was to carry the story more so I still liked him. However, the real stars of this novel for me are of course the Thenardiers, Little Gavroche (surely the most engaging child in literature) and M. Gillenormand who was a delight (and sadly cut from the film and musical).
I think the genius of this novel is the vast array of characters, and even the variation of the individuals in the course of their development, means that at least one of them will identify with and engage every single reader. This and the social aspects of the story truly make the book a story "for all the nations" as Victor Hugo himself said. Anyone, anywhere will find something to relate to in this book.
In summary whilst I'm glad I read it (and immensely satisfied to finish it!) It was good but I can't say I enjoyed the process as it was all a bit like hard work. However, if you consider yourself a bit of a 'reader' then you definitely should tackle this book at some point as it's definitely one of the books everyone should read.
The other thing I found with this book is that all the characters I'd loved in the film/musical I didn't like in the book and vice versa. Fantine became a bit of a drip (I suspect that's partly to do with how a 'good' woman was perceived back then) and quite frankly deserved getting pregnant with that odious man's baby. Eponine was a lot more grotesque than she is portrayed in the film/musical, although I can she why she was glamorised for the audience, and wonder why I didn't doubt how realistically she was portrayed! I liked Cosette and Marius was a lot more stomachable (although still a bit of a stalker, again to do with the time period?). Jean Valjean was irritating with his over-zealous redemption at times but it was to carry the story more so I still liked him. However, the real stars of this novel for me are of course the Thenardiers, Little Gavroche (surely the most engaging child in literature) and M. Gillenormand who was a delight (and sadly cut from the film and musical).
I think the genius of this novel is the vast array of characters, and even the variation of the individuals in the course of their development, means that at least one of them will identify with and engage every single reader. This and the social aspects of the story truly make the book a story "for all the nations" as Victor Hugo himself said. Anyone, anywhere will find something to relate to in this book.
In summary whilst I'm glad I read it (and immensely satisfied to finish it!) It was good but I can't say I enjoyed the process as it was all a bit like hard work. However, if you consider yourself a bit of a 'reader' then you definitely should tackle this book at some point as it's definitely one of the books everyone should read.
Such an incredible story, so beautifully written. Quite lengthy but worth every minute of it. One of the few books that made me cry multiple times.
fast-paced
If you like the stories about a man that gets over himself and proves to the world how he has changed and its almost a perfect man. You´ll love this book like i did, it has it all, suffering, love of all kinds, rise of the ppl... read IT!