Reviews - The Hunchback of Notre-Dame

1.88k reviews for:

The Hunchback of Notre-Dame

Victor Hugo

3.85 AVERAGE

corimii's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

isabel4321's review against another edition

5.0

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

kristincragg's review against another edition

3.5

dark reflective sad 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

mrs_galaxywanderer091825's review against another edition

5.0

This is the first book of Victor Hugo that I have read and all I can say is "wowza". What a complex, beautiful, disturbing, and heartbreaking tale. Only once has a classic captured my heart and mind so completely (Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice); I didn't think I'd ever find another I adored as much but it's finally happened. Disney changed this novel so much that I'm almost saddened by the times I watched it and thought what a great musical it was. Haha younger me really thought it was a musical for the longest time until I was 14 years old.
I'll be honest and say you must be prepared for some boring parts. Victor Hugo was a big lover of Notre Dame's architecture and Paris so there are many passages and dedicated to detailed descriptions of both. The first 100 pages weren't the best either but you do get introduced to a couple main characters and see what the Parisians are like. If you get past those parts you get a look into wonderful examples of philosophy and psychology through the characters and what they live through. You can't help but recognize yourself and others in the characters at times, which is kind of scary and off-putting at times since nobody wants to be like Archdeacon Claude Frollo.
My overall rating would be 4.5 since the boring parts weren't my favorite but I think all were necessary in making points or helping to know the characters more. I can't believe I waited so long to read this book. Everyone needs to at some point in their life.

melorwhatever's review against another edition

4.0

This is such a sad and lyrical book. The writing is marvelous and it does a beautiful job of showcasing different types of people and morality and one of the most complex "villains" I have ever read. If isn't flawless but it is a beautiful book.