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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I tried to read this when I was a teenager. I got about twenty pages in then, put it down, and ignored it on my shelf for about 5 years. I wanted to start reading classics, but at the time this one was a bit too intimidating for me. I hadn't read anything like this before, and I think in retrospect this was an ambitious attempt. Instead I decided to start with easier works like Pride and Prejudice, Great Expectations, Wuthering Heights, the usual suspects.
As time went on, and with the more classics I read, I began to have a heart-felt appreciation for them. This sounds like a good ending? We all lived happily ever after? Not quite. Even after 5 years I could still remember the one classic I couldn't handle. This book was always at the back of my mind, and before I knew it, it was in my hand. I would not let it defeat me a second time.
Firstly, if you are going into this thinking that it's anything like the Disney adaptation, let me tell you now that you are in for a world of shock. Half of the book is Hugo giving commentary on Parisian architecture. I remember being hundreds of pages into it and still being no closer the the actual story. Hugo does paint a beautiful picture of Paris as he knew it, and I could appreciate the love he clearly had for the city. But... I'm afraid I didn't pick up the book to read about architecture. It is a bit of a trek, and I can see a lot of people being put off by it. However like I mentioned earlier, this is only one half of the book.
The other half is a heart-wrenching love story that is so beautifully tragic that it will emotionally break you. We have Quasimodo, who is shunned from the world because of his deformity. He is pitied by archdeacon Claude Frollo, who to this poor boy is the only source of love he has ever known. Into this mix we bring in the ravishing Esmerelda, a gypsy dancer who has stolen the heart of the hopeless writer Gringoire. Unfortunately for him her heart taken by none other than Captain Phoebus. Esmerelda believes they are in love, and the handsome young Captain does nothing but encourage her feeling for him. Throughout this courtship there is an individual who stalks the girl, who craves her with such passion that he will do anything to claim her. Who is this person you might ask? You have already met him, for he is no other than the archdeacon himself and he will stop at nothing until he get what he wants. Abusing the love Quasimodo has for him, Frollo begins his plans to snare our Esmerelda. Throughout this tale we are taken on a journey of romance, treachery, and murder.
As I said, this is a love story. Love sought, love given, love ignored, love betrayed, love forcefully taken, love lost. In the end I fell in love with this book myself. Unfortunately, not all love stories have a happy ending...
As time went on, and with the more classics I read, I began to have a heart-felt appreciation for them. This sounds like a good ending? We all lived happily ever after? Not quite. Even after 5 years I could still remember the one classic I couldn't handle. This book was always at the back of my mind, and before I knew it, it was in my hand. I would not let it defeat me a second time.
Firstly, if you are going into this thinking that it's anything like the Disney adaptation, let me tell you now that you are in for a world of shock. Half of the book is Hugo giving commentary on Parisian architecture. I remember being hundreds of pages into it and still being no closer the the actual story. Hugo does paint a beautiful picture of Paris as he knew it, and I could appreciate the love he clearly had for the city. But... I'm afraid I didn't pick up the book to read about architecture. It is a bit of a trek, and I can see a lot of people being put off by it. However like I mentioned earlier, this is only one half of the book.
The other half is a heart-wrenching love story that is so beautifully tragic that it will emotionally break you. We have Quasimodo, who is shunned from the world because of his deformity. He is pitied by archdeacon Claude Frollo, who to this poor boy is the only source of love he has ever known. Into this mix we bring in the ravishing Esmerelda, a gypsy dancer who has stolen the heart of the hopeless writer Gringoire. Unfortunately for him her heart taken by none other than Captain Phoebus. Esmerelda believes they are in love, and the handsome young Captain does nothing but encourage her feeling for him. Throughout this courtship there is an individual who stalks the girl, who craves her with such passion that he will do anything to claim her. Who is this person you might ask? You have already met him, for he is no other than the archdeacon himself and he will stop at nothing until he get what he wants. Abusing the love Quasimodo has for him, Frollo begins his plans to snare our Esmerelda. Throughout this tale we are taken on a journey of romance, treachery, and murder.
As I said, this is a love story. Love sought, love given, love ignored, love betrayed, love forcefully taken, love lost. In the end I fell in love with this book myself. Unfortunately, not all love stories have a happy ending...
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It was a quick read. A lot different than I thought it was going to be.
adventurous
emotional
sad
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-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
If you’ve not read the book and you think you know the story, you don’t. There’s never been an entirely accurate adaptation. A deeply felt and deeply charged story about xenophobia, fear of the future, and both of their deadly intersection with politics.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Death, Violence, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I want to start by saying that I didn't choose to read the book, I had to because of school, so my review is probably bit biased. Anyways, the book is very slow paced, with way too much description. (I had to skip like entire chapter which was purely descripting Paris.) The characters aren't very likeable and other than that I had to, I had no motivation to finish the book.
It wasn't the worst I read, it's not a bad book, just not a book for me.
It wasn't the worst I read, it's not a bad book, just not a book for me.
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Triste, mas com vários momentos cómicos.
Se estiverem a pensar ler tenham em consideração que alguns capítulos são extremamente descritivos.
Se estiverem a pensar ler tenham em consideração que alguns capítulos são extremamente descritivos.