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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
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.
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