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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
This is such a classic that I almost feel guilty that my rating isn't higher. Make no mistake, there are parts of it that deserve a high rating. Alright, one part. The slow, thorough portrait of evil that is Claude Frollo is absolutely masterful. Rarely have I loathed a character so much.
However: the thing is just so damn long. I don't mind length if it's used well, but nearly the entire first half of the book is filler. It's meant to be atmospheric but it's just a painful, tedious bore and it's absolutely irrelevant to the rest of the story. I know that old French writers like to take their time to set a scene - I have struggled my way through ALL of Balzac's Human Comedy so I know what of I speak, and never did I think anyone could be as long-winded as him, but Hugo makes Balzac look like an amateur.
This book would have been improved immeasurably if the word count had been cut in half. And if Esmeralda had a brain in her tiny echoing head. But really, as a character she's just a cipher, an empty feminine shape that exists to wail "Phoebus!" continually and against all reason. Comparing her characterisation to Claude Frollo's is an exercise in utter disappointment. If only the Frollo level of skill had been applied to the rest of the text...
However: the thing is just so damn long. I don't mind length if it's used well, but nearly the entire first half of the book is filler. It's meant to be atmospheric but it's just a painful, tedious bore and it's absolutely irrelevant to the rest of the story. I know that old French writers like to take their time to set a scene - I have struggled my way through ALL of Balzac's Human Comedy so I know what of I speak, and never did I think anyone could be as long-winded as him, but Hugo makes Balzac look like an amateur.
This book would have been improved immeasurably if the word count had been cut in half. And if Esmeralda had a brain in her tiny echoing head. But really, as a character she's just a cipher, an empty feminine shape that exists to wail "Phoebus!" continually and against all reason. Comparing her characterisation to Claude Frollo's is an exercise in utter disappointment. If only the Frollo level of skill had been applied to the rest of the text...
The Hunchback of Notre-Dame by Victor Hugo is another classic tale of love, lust, and tragedy from one of the world's great authors.
Originally titled Notre-Dame de Paris, which translates to Our Lady of Paris, the Cathedral for which this novel is named looms over the book just like it looks over Paris. And its primary residents, Claude Frollo and Quasimodo exhibit all that can exist within a church - someone with worldly knowledge and outward appeal but is utterly corrupt inside alongside a person with no outward beauty and great physical hardships concealing a beautiful soul. And between them, a person of compassion wanting to help the latter while evading the former.
It doesn't end happily, but life seldom does.
This book inspired the peoples of Paris, and Europe in general, to restore the beautiful Gothic architecture that surrounded them to its former glory. For that alone, I laud this book.
Originally titled Notre-Dame de Paris, which translates to Our Lady of Paris, the Cathedral for which this novel is named looms over the book just like it looks over Paris. And its primary residents, Claude Frollo and Quasimodo exhibit all that can exist within a church - someone with worldly knowledge and outward appeal but is utterly corrupt inside alongside a person with no outward beauty and great physical hardships concealing a beautiful soul. And between them, a person of compassion wanting to help the latter while evading the former.
It doesn't end happily, but life seldom does.
This book inspired the peoples of Paris, and Europe in general, to restore the beautiful Gothic architecture that surrounded them to its former glory. For that alone, I laud this book.
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
I am very impressed with this story. I’ve read so many reviews with the focus on the description of architecture in the book. I do not feel that is true. I never felt like the story was boring. The unrequited obsessive love is the major theme. It also discusses the indifference to Esmeralda’s feelings/opinions and how dangerous men are when they get rejected. Esmeralda was a free spirit and the priest/Quasimodo found it difficult to Accept that. It’s all about control (or lack of control). And sometimes the true monsters are the ones that appear normal on the outside.
challenging
dark
emotional
slow-paced
For book group. Very dutiful. Had to give a miss to the entire chapter imagining the view from the roof of Notre Dame ca. 1500. No point without maps of Paris for both 1500 and the late 1800s. I found some spots affecting, but it was heavy sledding. Heavy on the melodramatic. Les Miserables is plenty melodramatic as well but better grounded and more consistent, much more entertaining.
Sconvolgente.
Non avrei mai immaginato un finale simile e questo non fa che aumentare il mio amore per Hugo, perché con questo romanzo ha dimostrato di avere a cuore la verosimiglianza delle storie che racconta più del semplice lieto fine.
Ogni personaggio è strutturato in modo singolare e il messaggio più importante ritengo sia questo: "Niente - e nessuno - è ciò che appare".
Non avrei mai immaginato un finale simile e questo non fa che aumentare il mio amore per Hugo, perché con questo romanzo ha dimostrato di avere a cuore la verosimiglianza delle storie che racconta più del semplice lieto fine.
Ogni personaggio è strutturato in modo singolare e il messaggio più importante ritengo sia questo: "Niente - e nessuno - è ciò che appare".
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Racism
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes