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4.16 AVERAGE
4.16 AVERAGE
What a work of fiction this is! Of course, being a total nutter about musical theatre, I was familiar with the story before reading this - also I'd seen a couple of the film adaptations - but this was my first time reading the book (I'll be honest - the length scared me - and it took me an age and a half to get through it!)
Les Miserables tells the tale of Jean Valjean who, at the outset of the story, has just been released from a nineteen year stint in the clink doing hard-labour on the galleys. He was initially imprisoned for stealing a loaf of bread (such were the harsh punishments of the 19th Century!) Valjean then robs a bishop who has given him shelter for the night, but the bishop forgives him, actually provides him with a false cover story, thus changing Valjean's outlook on life and putting him on the path of righteousness.
Valjean becomes a successful businessman as the years progress, amassing himself quite a substantial fortune, but at the height of his success, two pivotal turns of events occur. Firstly, he meets a dying woman named Fantine (who has her own pitiful story - and if you thought it was bad in the musical...!!!) and he promises to protect her daughter, who has been left under the *ahem* 'care' of the Thernardier family (also much much worse in the book than the farsical comedy characters in the musical!) Secondly, his past catches up with him in the form of Javert, a super straight-edged, stick in the mud of a police officer who wants nothing more than to see Valjean back in prison (cos that's just how he rolls!) With no other option available to him, Valjean legs it, taking Cosette - the daughter of Fantine - with him, rescuing her from the neglect of the Thernardiers.
At this point, the story jumps ahead by ten years, picking up with a new character, Marius, a young man with a wealthy grandfather who has elected to give up his (maternal) grandfather's wealth in honour of his father (who his grandad didn't approve of). Marius notices Cosette whilst walking in a public garden one day, and quickly becomes enchanted by her, thus giving the novel its romantic element. (Note: much pining and love-sickness ensues here!)
Marius is also involved in the political scene of the time (Vive la Republique! And all that jazz!) and ends up sucked into a mass 'protest' in Paris, with barricades erected and muskets a-firing, and he almost gets himself killed, except for Valjean comes along and saves the day, giving Marius and Cosette their happliy-ever-after. Valjean confesses everything to them and, on his death bed, is pronounced a hero by those he loved.
Les Miserables is a fitting title for this novel, as what really stands out about it is the miserable situations of its characters. Some characters, particularly Fantine and the Thernardier children, are surrounded by such abject squalor that its actually quite shocking. I couldn't help but draw parallels to the works of Dickens, as he drew similar portraits of the squalor of 19th Century England. (Did anyone else see Fagin in Mr. Thernardier?!?)
This truly is a remarkable piece of literature - Hugo's opus - a true masterpiece of French literature, which now holds a very special place on my favourites shelf (and will definitely be revisited in the future!) To sum it up in one word: wow!
Les Miserables tells the tale of Jean Valjean who, at the outset of the story, has just been released from a nineteen year stint in the clink doing hard-labour on the galleys. He was initially imprisoned for stealing a loaf of bread (such were the harsh punishments of the 19th Century!) Valjean then robs a bishop who has given him shelter for the night, but the bishop forgives him, actually provides him with a false cover story, thus changing Valjean's outlook on life and putting him on the path of righteousness.
Valjean becomes a successful businessman as the years progress, amassing himself quite a substantial fortune, but at the height of his success, two pivotal turns of events occur. Firstly, he meets a dying woman named Fantine (who has her own pitiful story - and if you thought it was bad in the musical...!!!) and he promises to protect her daughter, who has been left under the *ahem* 'care' of the Thernardier family (also much much worse in the book than the farsical comedy characters in the musical!) Secondly, his past catches up with him in the form of Javert, a super straight-edged, stick in the mud of a police officer who wants nothing more than to see Valjean back in prison (cos that's just how he rolls!) With no other option available to him, Valjean legs it, taking Cosette - the daughter of Fantine - with him, rescuing her from the neglect of the Thernardiers.
At this point, the story jumps ahead by ten years, picking up with a new character, Marius, a young man with a wealthy grandfather who has elected to give up his (maternal) grandfather's wealth in honour of his father (who his grandad didn't approve of). Marius notices Cosette whilst walking in a public garden one day, and quickly becomes enchanted by her, thus giving the novel its romantic element. (Note: much pining and love-sickness ensues here!)
Marius is also involved in the political scene of the time (Vive la Republique! And all that jazz!) and ends up sucked into a mass 'protest' in Paris, with barricades erected and muskets a-firing, and he almost gets himself killed, except for Valjean comes along and saves the day, giving Marius and Cosette their happliy-ever-after. Valjean confesses everything to them and, on his death bed, is pronounced a hero by those he loved.
Les Miserables is a fitting title for this novel, as what really stands out about it is the miserable situations of its characters. Some characters, particularly Fantine and the Thernardier children, are surrounded by such abject squalor that its actually quite shocking. I couldn't help but draw parallels to the works of Dickens, as he drew similar portraits of the squalor of 19th Century England. (Did anyone else see Fagin in Mr. Thernardier?!?)
This truly is a remarkable piece of literature - Hugo's opus - a true masterpiece of French literature, which now holds a very special place on my favourites shelf (and will definitely be revisited in the future!) To sum it up in one word: wow!
such weird writing and so many unnecessary chapter
challenging
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
I really want a gold star, participation trophy, or at least a Starbucks gift card for finishing this! Feels like a massive feat!
I have loved the play & movie for years, but had never taken the time to read the book that began it all. 2024 was the year! I have to say, for a 1000+ page book/60+ hour audio, I expected to find more drudgery than was present. However, I still could have lived without a great deal of the elongated descriptors of Waterloo, sewers, street urchins, slang, and more.
As I've worked through reading several classics over the last few years, I've learned that I can handle depth, but I still want the meat of the story at the frontlines most of the time to stay engaged. The historical context sections, while necessary for full effect, could certainly have been abbreviated.
But-the story---I love this overarching view on humanity and how at the heart of us all is the capacity for truth and dishonesty, good and evil. Circumstances often teeter us on the precipice of both sides and small choices can make us plummet over the edge either way.
Overall, I'm glad I finally took the dive into this tome.
I have loved the play & movie for years, but had never taken the time to read the book that began it all. 2024 was the year! I have to say, for a 1000+ page book/60+ hour audio, I expected to find more drudgery than was present. However, I still could have lived without a great deal of the elongated descriptors of Waterloo, sewers, street urchins, slang, and more.
As I've worked through reading several classics over the last few years, I've learned that I can handle depth, but I still want the meat of the story at the frontlines most of the time to stay engaged. The historical context sections, while necessary for full effect, could certainly have been abbreviated.
But-the story---I love this overarching view on humanity and how at the heart of us all is the capacity for truth and dishonesty, good and evil. Circumstances often teeter us on the precipice of both sides and small choices can make us plummet over the edge either way.
Overall, I'm glad I finally took the dive into this tome.
adventurous
dark
reflective
sad
fast-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
challenging
emotional
informative
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-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 did not realize that this book was really one of political philosophies, shown in a hypothetical story. Brilliant.
Premetto col dire che ho notato una somiglianza molto forte a livello strutturale tra questo libro e Il conte di Montecristo. Il forzato ingiustamente carcerato, la fuga, la fortuna dopo l’evasione, l’amore tra due giovani inizialmente ostacolati e poi benedetti dal protagonista e molto altro. Non a caso il genere anche rimane lo stesso, essendo due romanzi d’appendice.
Nonostante ciò, ho preferito di gran lunga Il conte di Montecristo in quanto Hugo, anche in altre sue opere, si dilunga troppo. E non parlo delle digressioni che sono estremamente interessanti, come quella su Waterloo, sul convento e sulle fogne di Parigi, ma quegli allungamenti superflui fatti anche nei momenti di azione più viva.
Al di là di tutto, il libro è molto interessante sia a livello storico che di trama, e dopo la lettura ci si sente come svuotati. Se l’autore avesse bilanciato meglio i ritmi della narrazione avrei dato cinque stelle.
Nonostante ciò, ho preferito di gran lunga Il conte di Montecristo in quanto Hugo, anche in altre sue opere, si dilunga troppo. E non parlo delle digressioni che sono estremamente interessanti, come quella su Waterloo, sul convento e sulle fogne di Parigi, ma quegli allungamenti superflui fatti anche nei momenti di azione più viva.
Al di là di tutto, il libro è molto interessante sia a livello storico che di trama, e dopo la lettura ci si sente come svuotati. Se l’autore avesse bilanciato meglio i ritmi della narrazione avrei dato cinque stelle.