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ethan0lsen's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
While a bit different from the Disney movie that introduced most of us to these characters, Victor Hugo’s tale provides a glance into a morally grey Paris of the late fifteenth century where beautify can be found on every corner and ugliness can lie within any person.
As is the common critique for Hugo, the man loves to ramble and provide additional depth and reality to his story with history lessons on the architecture of the city, backgrounds on characters, or discussions on general morals and thoughts of the time. Personally, I understand how this can lose some readers’ attention or confuse them on the plot, but it creates the feeling that you’ve just sat down with Victor and he’s telling you the story as he recalls it.
I’d recommend this one to those who enjoy a bit of history with their fiction, embrace characters who don’t fall very easily into moral categories, and want to get into classics. If you’re deciding which of Hugo’s greats to start with, I’d pick here before Les Mis - you’ll get a better feel for his style and characters before being tossed into the crowd there.
As is the common critique for Hugo, the man loves to ramble and provide additional depth and reality to his story with history lessons on the architecture of the city, backgrounds on characters, or discussions on general morals and thoughts of the time. Personally, I understand how this can lose some readers’ attention or confuse them on the plot, but it creates the feeling that you’ve just sat down with Victor and he’s telling you the story as he recalls it.
I’d recommend this one to those who enjoy a bit of history with their fiction, embrace characters who don’t fall very easily into moral categories, and want to get into classics. If you’re deciding which of Hugo’s greats to start with, I’d pick here before Les Mis - you’ll get a better feel for his style and characters before being tossed into the crowd there.
read_garden_hound's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
kahinareads's review against another edition
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
5.0
benedettal's review against another edition
3.5
Okay listen I really did enjoy this book, but the beginning drags way too long, and there are quite a few sections in the middle that are also a bit of an hinderance to the overall pace. Hugo has a beautiful pen, but unlike Les Mis, Hunchback didn’t feel as tight as it could have been. So that’s where it lost points.
The story itself is a deeply fascinating one, which reflects upon the bigotry and malice of society, even those who present themselves as the most holy. Frollo is a great villain, so creepy but also in a way weirdly multifaceted. At times I thought maybe his intentions had been good, like when separating Esmeralda from Phoebus, like we all know nothing good would have come out of that, but at the same time you remember who Frollo is and it makes you sick.
The tragedy of Esmeralda and the Hunchback, these poor outcasts that did nothing to deserve their cruel destiny, is so sad to behold. The irony for me is that I thought Les Mis was gonna be more like this, like literally miserable, but it’s a lot more hopeful than Hunchback. This book has the bleakest outlook. Thank goodness for Hugo’s sense of humour, otherwise this would have been just depressing. But obviously, both these characters are very easy to sympathise with and care for, helpless as they are. I don’t know if they’re a bit too pathetic after all, but still, hard not to feel invested.
Best part was the bits about architecture, 10/10
The story itself is a deeply fascinating one, which reflects upon the bigotry and malice of society, even those who present themselves as the most holy. Frollo is a great villain, so creepy but also in a way weirdly multifaceted. At times I thought maybe his intentions had been good, like when separating Esmeralda from Phoebus, like we all know nothing good would have come out of that, but at the same time you remember who Frollo is and it makes you sick.
The tragedy of Esmeralda and the Hunchback, these poor outcasts that did nothing to deserve their cruel destiny, is so sad to behold. The irony for me is that I thought Les Mis was gonna be more like this, like literally miserable, but it’s a lot more hopeful than Hunchback. This book has the bleakest outlook. Thank goodness for Hugo’s sense of humour, otherwise this would have been just depressing. But obviously, both these characters are very easy to sympathise with and care for, helpless as they are. I don’t know if they’re a bit too pathetic after all, but still, hard not to feel invested.
Best part was the bits about architecture, 10/10
michaelko's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
lpawade's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
msrxlady's review against another edition
4.0
Contains all the elements you would like a classic to have - humor, tragedy, love, heartbreak, suspense. Very much enjoyed it (minus the long description of Paris, but that's mostly a personal preference).
casspro's review against another edition
4.0
I was intimidated to read this at first,probably because of Mr. Hugo's reputation, but this is such a beautiful read. If all your knowledge of the Hunchback is the Disney version, then you are sorely missing out. It's depth and soul is heartbreaking at times and infuriating at others. I'm grateful to have read a classic that captivated me at every page, as opposed to feeling like a chore.