Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by kachow69
Les Misérables by Victor Hugo
5.0
I’ll admit I skimmed some parts a little bit this time around, but in my defense I have actually read the entire thing twice already, so forgive me for bypassing the chunks of pages detailing all the things I never needed to know about, say, the old French sewer system.
This is one of those books that just doesn’t get old. As depressing as it is, Victor Hugo’s story about a dude and some bread is still relevant today. Discussions about mass incarceration, police brutality and corruption, class divides, the struggles of womanhood, the idea of chosen family, the value of kindness, the courage and gall it takes to stand up for what you believe in, the political power of the people, and more.
I think the musical adaptation does a wonderful job of capturing the feeling of this book, and the important parts of the story, but I have to say that I find myself drawn to the book for a couple of reasons. First, the Amis play a much bigger role in the novel (as they should, given it’s a million and one pages long), and second, the character of Éponine is far more interesting and more real. The romanticized stage version is likable to the audience and allows the actress to bang out out a killer song, but there’s something about book Éponine being just a messy, crazy bitch (said with endearment) that I love.
Anyway, five stars out of five. Please read, but give yourself a good month or two to get through it.
This is one of those books that just doesn’t get old. As depressing as it is, Victor Hugo’s story about a dude and some bread is still relevant today. Discussions about mass incarceration, police brutality and corruption, class divides, the struggles of womanhood, the idea of chosen family, the value of kindness, the courage and gall it takes to stand up for what you believe in, the political power of the people, and more.
I think the musical adaptation does a wonderful job of capturing the feeling of this book, and the important parts of the story, but I have to say that I find myself drawn to the book for a couple of reasons. First, the Amis play a much bigger role in the novel (as they should, given it’s a million and one pages long), and second, the character of Éponine is far more interesting and more real. The romanticized stage version is likable to the audience and allows the actress to bang out out a killer song, but there’s something about book Éponine being just a messy, crazy bitch (said with endearment) that I love.
Anyway, five stars out of five. Please read, but give yourself a good month or two to get through it.