A review by ilonasuntila
Les Misérables I by Victor Hugo

challenging dark emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

I knew Victor Hugo was known for excessive rambling before I started reading, but the extent he goes to describe even the smallest and most irrelevant details took me by surprise regardless. The first 200 pages or so were filled with infodumping and painfully boring scenes that are only attached to the main storyline by the thinnest of threads. It felt like the author wanted to say everything at once, and the plot was barely moving forwards at all.

On the other hand, Hugo's elaborate writing is the very reason Les Misérables is so interesting to analyze. Even the chapters that don’t benefit the story itself at all are clearly colored with Hugo’s worldview and opinions. The various controversial takes and criticism towards a multitude of topics make the world easy to understand, and the struggles of the characters feel vividly real. Although not everything in the novel is relevant nowadays, there is still a great message about humanity to be found. 

I’d say the story really takes off when Fantine’s problems grow unbearable and she starts sinking low. The descriptions remain long, but from then on they have a clear goal of portraying the injustices of the world. While I can’t say I loved it, I was definitely hooked by the end of the first volume and can’t wait to see how things turn out.