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A review by benedettal
The Hunchback of Notre-Dame by Victor Hugo
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