Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
Fell in love with the Hunchback of Notre Dame when I was a kid. I watched the Charles Laughton 1939 film with my mom on tv one night and was entranced. I read the book (probably an abridged copy) in third grade, dressed as the Hunchback that Halloween, and hated the Disney version when it came out a year or two later. Forgot most of this book and confused it with my memories of the movie, but it is fantastic, if odd in the sheer amount of historical asides occurring throughout. Also don't think I ever realized how funny it is, as the movie focuses on the more tragic aspects. Not as tight as Les Miserables, but still great Hugo nonetheless.
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Long at times, but really thats a problem of my attention span. Beautiful description, really unique tone that I can imagine carried across from the translation. A lot more witty and funny than I expected. Overall a really lovely surprise.
Read the full review:
http://classiclit.about.com/od/france/fl/The-Hunchback-of-Notre-Dame-1831-by-Victor-Hugo.htm
http://classiclit.about.com/od/france/fl/The-Hunchback-of-Notre-Dame-1831-by-Victor-Hugo.htm
La storia è pazzesca, tragica e toccante. Le troppe divagazioni di Hugo però rallentano il ritmo della narrazione e a volte mi hanno proprio annoiato. 3 stelle e mezzo.
Just when I think I’m tired of reading classics and want to make more time for reading modern novels, I read something like “The Hunchback of Norte Dame.” George Guidall does a great job narrating the audible version.
Given that this book was written, at least in part, as an advertisement for Notre Dame itself, it's a wonder that the narrative is this compelling. It's also more humorous and satirical than its reputation would have you believe, although the ending is dark and powerful as fuck. The perspectives changing between the different characters is interesting, although I do agree with Disney in that Quasimodo is the heart of the book. Judging by the ending, Hugo would seem to agree with that statement, too.
I adored this book for so many reasons. The story was wonderful and there were so many points where I wanted to scream at the characters, but not in a throw-away-the-book way. The reason it looses a star is due to Hugo's need to expand on topics that are not directly relevant to the story. He is a well-known historian and clearly enjoys gathering context for the time/era of his novels, but at some point, it is rendered unnecessary (but this book is not even in the scope of his Les Miserables). With that being said, best book I've read in a LONG time. I love Hugo's works.
I thought about five pages in that this might be one of my favorite books ever, and I never ended up changing my mind. It begins slowly, that is true, but the writing is beautiful and for a while, surprisingly funny.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo is a masterpiece in itself. Rising, by its masterful language and immense vocabulary, such poignancy and pathos as is rarely seen. Hugo has attempted to characterize only a few characters. Dom Claude, the monk; Quasimodo, the misshapen and hideous hunchback; and la Esmeralda, the pretty gypsy girl. It stands in marked contrast to Dickens, who invariably had a plethora of characters in his works. But, what Hugo does best and unique (as far as I understand) is to characterize the whole mass----the vagrants for example. Even some characters like Gringoire and Phoebus are described as representatives of whole communities.
And unlike Hardy, Hugo doesn’t describe the natural beauty, the landscape, the coming and going of seasons but equally powerful is his description of the architecture of the 15th century Europe. His description in this novel has centred on the Gothic Cathedral, Notre Dame and he has described it with such feeling and intensity that the picture of the massiveness and solidity of the cathedral is vividly picturised in the minds of the readers. They say a picture is worth a thousand words but I doubt if any camera or brush would have done half the job of what Hugo did with his words. Quasimodo has been given the job of ringing the bell of the cathedral and who can forget the scene describing the bell and Quasimodo. How both of them are described as entwined and acting as if one.
Instead of a Prince Charming, Hugo has a hideously ugly and misshapen brute and yet how he has managed to make us love that devil! Quasimodo reflects the cathedral and the cathedral reflects him back.
Even the goat of la Esmeralda does not seem out of place. It is used very effectively to bring out and strengthen the simplicity of la Esmeralda.
The novel is a bit heavy for the casual readers but for avid readers it is a must.
And unlike Hardy, Hugo doesn’t describe the natural beauty, the landscape, the coming and going of seasons but equally powerful is his description of the architecture of the 15th century Europe. His description in this novel has centred on the Gothic Cathedral, Notre Dame and he has described it with such feeling and intensity that the picture of the massiveness and solidity of the cathedral is vividly picturised in the minds of the readers. They say a picture is worth a thousand words but I doubt if any camera or brush would have done half the job of what Hugo did with his words. Quasimodo has been given the job of ringing the bell of the cathedral and who can forget the scene describing the bell and Quasimodo. How both of them are described as entwined and acting as if one.
Instead of a Prince Charming, Hugo has a hideously ugly and misshapen brute and yet how he has managed to make us love that devil! Quasimodo reflects the cathedral and the cathedral reflects him back.
Spoiler
Both Dom Claude and Quasimodo fall for the gypsy girl and the way Hugo shows the difference in their loves is just exquisite.Even the goat of la Esmeralda does not seem out of place. It is used very effectively to bring out and strengthen the simplicity of la Esmeralda.
The novel is a bit heavy for the casual readers but for avid readers it is a must.