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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
slow-paced
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The only likeable character was Quasimodo. I think that's why the book is named after him, even though the main focus of the story is La Esmeralda
Sometimes classic novels aren't as enjoyable for me as I would like. Often they're boring and/or are written in a language that is difficult to read. The Hunchback of Notre-Dame is neither. I liked reading it a lot more than I thought I would. I've seen the Disney cartoon once and I kept trying to make comparisons between the book and the movie. It's been quite I while since I saw the film version, but I feel sure that it was considerably less violent than the book. It fits in that same genre of literature that were made into Disney films and leaves one scratching their head and wondering "How did anyone read this and think it would be good entertainment for children?" Another case in point: Peter Pan. Anyway, it was a good book, despite the tragically fitting ending. I give it a B-.
This is a hard one for me to review. The work as a whole would be a two, but the actual story of Quasimodo and Esmerelda a four. The pages and pages of description of Old Paris and the architecture of Notre Dame bored me to tears. I do believe I would have enjoyed the abridge version MUCH more. This is one I wish I had read with a group of people and a discussion leader qualified to lead discussion on the literary aspects of the novel. I am glad I read. I had no idea it was such a tragedy.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thoughts while reading this novel:
1. If they spend one more chapter describing the architecture I will throw this book.
2. Poor Quasimodo.
3. Esmeralda is only 16? Why did Disney age her up?
4. Frollo is a creep, that is why Disney aged her up.
5. Where are the singing gargoyles? The book really needs singing gargoyles.
6. Justice for Quasimodo.
7. Was Victor Hugo depressed when he wrote this book because Quasimodo has the saddest plot.
8. Justice for Esmeralda.
9. Phoebus is a coward and a creep.
10. Frollo needs to get beat up.
11. Quasimodo just needs a friend.
12. I don't know what's more depressing this or Les Mis.
13. Victor Hugo got me again.
1. If they spend one more chapter describing the architecture I will throw this book.
2. Poor Quasimodo.
3. Esmeralda is only 16? Why did Disney age her up?
4. Frollo is a creep, that is why Disney aged her up.
5. Where are the singing gargoyles? The book really needs singing gargoyles.
6. Justice for Quasimodo.
7. Was Victor Hugo depressed when he wrote this book because Quasimodo has the saddest plot.
8. Justice for Esmeralda.
9. Phoebus is a coward and a creep.
10. Frollo needs to get beat up.
11. Quasimodo just needs a friend.
12. I don't know what's more depressing this or Les Mis.
13. Victor Hugo got me again.
slow-paced
"Victor Hugo began writing Notre-Dame de Paris in 1829, largely to make his contemporaries more aware of the value of the Gothic architecture"
This can known by the 80 pages dedicated to discussing said architecture which tried and failed to be a relevant part of the story. While Hugo does a decent job of weaving the Quasimoto/Esmeralda/Frollo story it is mixed with far too much discussion of churches and Paris itself. If I wanted a history book....wait that would never happen.
Sadly I prefer the disney version. Les Mis is still one of my favorite books, somehow Hugo's tangents and 200 page setups for a minor character work in that book. This one not so much. 3 stars because it is a classic love story and for the one scene where the deaf judge is presiding over the deaf Quasimoto.
This can known by the 80 pages dedicated to discussing said architecture which tried and failed to be a relevant part of the story. While Hugo does a decent job of weaving the Quasimoto/Esmeralda/Frollo story it is mixed with far too much discussion of churches and Paris itself. If I wanted a history book....wait that would never happen.
Sadly I prefer the disney version. Les Mis is still one of my favorite books, somehow Hugo's tangents and 200 page setups for a minor character work in that book. This one not so much. 3 stars because it is a classic love story and for the one scene where the deaf judge is presiding over the deaf Quasimoto.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes