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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
I've always liked Victor Hugo but this one is nearly nowhere as good as Les Miserables. While both books are depressing, Les Mis at least ends on a note of hope. Not Hunchback.
Also, I would really like to meet the person who, after reading this book, thought "This would make a fantastic Disney film!" I assume it is also the same person responsible for "Titanic: The Legend Goes On" which is, of course, the animated kid's version of Titanic. But, don't worry. All of the talking animals managed to live after being led to safety by a group of dolphins. Seriously.
Also, I would really like to meet the person who, after reading this book, thought "This would make a fantastic Disney film!" I assume it is also the same person responsible for "Titanic: The Legend Goes On" which is, of course, the animated kid's version of Titanic. But, don't worry. All of the talking animals managed to live after being led to safety by a group of dolphins. Seriously.
The first 40% or so of this book was really slow. There is very little narrative interspersed between long, detailed passages about the history and geography of Paris, as well as an interesting chapter-long treatise on the fundamental tension between print and architecture. The only [b:saving grace|130916|The Saving Graces A Novel|Patricia Gaffney|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171995451s/130916.jpg|126092] for me was reading in outside sources about the reasons behind Hugo's writing of the novel--namely, the salvation of Notre Dame cathedral. Having that background information made those passages more palatable for me, and I was able to see how they were integral to the purpose and message of the novel. Once the plot took off, though--wow! This book was a page turner for the last half or so, and I'm very glad I stuck with it.
The story was depressing. Then, in the middle of the story, Hugo injects super long and boring chapters about the history of Paris and architecture. I guess this book is famous because it's so old?
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
If you decide to read or listen to this book, search for the abridged version. About half of the story is the author writing about architecture and how modernity is destroying it. The first few chapters set up the characters, then a lot of time is spent of describing the architecture and look of the town, then more setup of the background of the different important characters, and then about the last third of the book is actually about the story.
It was an okay book, the rants about architecture could be entirely cut off, at least when the action started, it was quick.
It was an okay book, the rants about architecture could be entirely cut off, at least when the action started, it was quick.
It took insanely long for the plot to begin moving (over 1/3) with probably close to 100 pages describing the layout of Paris and the architecture of Notre Dame (all boring and meaningless). The characters, except Quasimodo are a bit flat (I'm a lustful priest, I'm a womanizing player, I'm a thief, "Oh, Phoebus", yawn). The pacing was poor. For example, you are over 80% through the book, Paris underground has risen up to storm Notre Dame, and then you have 5 boring and meaningless pages of inventory and costs being given to King Louis; and in the last 30 pages you get 5 pages of "I love you Mother" "I love my daughter" … yawn. It was a relief just to finish it. I will not say it was superbly crafted or beautifully written (like a Nabakov or Wilde)… just a so-so book 2.5 rounded down because it's a supposed classic and can't for the life of me see why. If you have watched the classic movie or the Disney movie, there is no spoiler alert because the book ends differently and they only portray character of Quasimodo as the book does.
dark
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Hunchback of Notre-Dame was a difficult read; it probably has something to do with the fact that it has 429 pages, almost half of which is describing the layout of Paris in both 1482 (the timeline of the story) and 1828, (when the book was written) and the other half is a full story of lust, heartbreak, pain, death, and destruction, none of which is exactly my speed. Especially considering that everybody dies in the end, including Esmeralda. Hey, at least the goat lives! ☹️ Also, the fact that Phoebus never really even loved Esmeralda is just really sad. I just prefer stories that end in happy endings, is that asking too much?
If you've watched the Disney movie, and you're expecting the book to be somewhat similar, it's not. The only similarities I can think of is that both the book and the movie have the same characters, and even the movie skips a lot of the characters from the book because they're not that important in the overall story. Quasimodo never realizes that he's lovable even though he's ugly in the book, and Esmeralda can't stand to look at him!
All in all, this book was hard and depressing, and I was glad when I finally finished it so I could move on to reading something else. Maybe something with a happy ending?!
If you've watched the Disney movie, and you're expecting the book to be somewhat similar, it's not. The only similarities I can think of is that both the book and the movie have the same characters, and even the movie skips a lot of the characters from the book because they're not that important in the overall story.
All in all, this book was hard and depressing, and I was glad when I finally finished it so I could move on to reading something else. Maybe something with a happy ending?!
4.5 // aaah, notre-dame de paris! i absolutely loved it, and i wasn't expecting at all for it to be as tragic as it is. the last chapters of the book are one of the most beautiful things i've read. i won't start rambling about how good it was, because come on! it's hugo. he never misses. he composed this hymn to paris with great care, and his love for the city seeps deep into the pages of this book. you can feel it throughout the whole story, in his river of words and in the ever-present shadow of the cathedral of notre-dame looming in the background. my favourite characters were quasimodo and claude frollo, “mephistopheles and faustus”, and i found their relationship very interesting. i loved how family is depicted here, because it discards the typical disney-esque happy picture in order to show its more dark facets: the daughter and her on-going research of her lost mother, the pain of child loss, the corruption of a brotherly bond, the harsh father and the dilemma between obeying to family or to love. i would have given 5 stars if only esmeralda was more developed as a character: it seems like she's told about only in relation to the other characters. maybe it's because i read notre-dame de paris after les misérables, so i was expecting a female character as well developed as fantine or cosette. other than that, i think my love for this book is pretty clear! i can't wait to read more by hugo.
