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yimjess 's review for:
Les Misérables
by Victor Hugo
“Curiosity is a sort of gluttony. To see is to devour.” And devour I did!
Just as overwhelming as it was to start this journey, so is my attempt to write a review that accurately paints my thoughts while simultaneously keeping it brief.
I see and understand why this novel is a classic. It has all the qualities of what you might expect. A great plot, insight, historical depiction. I did my own preparation of what to keep in mind while reading through the book, noting the specific areas that I can more intentionally skim through and which areas to slow down the gears and savor. I found that to be helpful as I recognized pretty early on Hugo’s pattern of providing an abundant supply of context to every significant moment (He goes into the Battle of Waterloo, the nature and usage of slang, and expounds much on the culture of religion/Catholicism). Some areas were more useful than others, but I found it endearing that his passion for the aforementioned subjects shone so clearly both in length and depth.
I appreciate books that refrain from dawdling which made it difficult for me to give this book 4 stars. (Though I would most accurately like to give it a 3.85). However, there were several aspects to the book that surprised me for the better. These I will mention in modicum:
— Personally, I find it encouraging to read about God in books that aren’t known to be about God. Though it was primarily written with a strong Catholic influence, there were a couple moments that I found myself moved by how Hugo wrote on the sovereign and merciful nature of God. This is heavily seen in the relationship of the Bishop and the ex-convict, Jean Val Jean, who knew only hatred, distrust, and betrayal. Upon meeting, the tortured soul experienced mercy, grace, and unmerited kindness for the first time in his entire life (like.. this guy’s life was truly so miserable). The Bishop’s exhortation to Jean Val Jean convicted me: “Yes," resumed the Bishop, "you have come from a very sad place. Listen. There will be more joy in heaven over the tear-bathed face of a repentant sinner than over the white robes of a hundred just men. If you emerge from that sad place with thoughts of hatred and of wrath against mankind, you are deserving of pity; if you emerge with thoughts of good-will and of peace, you are more worthy than any one of us.”
Seeing this transformation of this bitter, cursed man into one who, from his first taste of mercy, became a proponent of service and kindness would make any soul glad. Once given a purpose of finding and caring for dying Fantine’s beloved child, Cosette, we see Jean Val Jean trying to re-enter the ranks of the honest.
— There were 2 relationship dynamics that I enjoyed reading about the most: One was of Jean Val Jean and dear Cosette. Another being Cosette and Marius.
Perhaps it was the adroit writing, perhaps I have an imbued puerile inclination. Regardless, there is such a beautiful innocence and treasure of this budding relationship of the transformed ex-convict and a helpless orphan as well as between two “good-natured” and pure-intentioned lovers.
In the same way that a candle can light up a room that is in absolute darkness, these relationships and encounters provide such hope in the lugubrious nature of the book.
If I can have the effrontery, certain moments that I felt Hugo really cooked with his writing are as follows:
“Cosette's instinct sought a father, as Jean Valjean's instinct sought a child. To meet was to find each other…. The entrance of that man into the destiny of that child had been the advent of God.”
“The poor man trembled, inundated with angelic joy; he declared to himself ecstatically that this would last all their lives; he told himself that he really had not suffered sufficiently to merit so radiant a bliss, and he thanked God, in the depths of his soul, for having permitted him to be loved thus, he, a wretch, by that innocent being.”
“And then, strange to say, the first symptom of true love in a young man is timidity; in a young girl it is boldness.”
“It was She! Whoever has loved knows all the radiant meanings contained in those three letters of that word: She.”
These morsels of poetic and masterful writing are littered throughout the novel. For this reason alone I bumped up my score.
Though the pacing and seemingly abrupt ending of the book were not entirely my favorite, I am glad to have read this book! It is a gem in it’s own way and at the cost of coming off as pedantic, I can see myself recalling pieces of this book in conversation with others. It was also a great challenge for me in learning how to be more assiduous in my reading.
Now, I am going to spend the week listening to the soundtrack and weep.
Just as overwhelming as it was to start this journey, so is my attempt to write a review that accurately paints my thoughts while simultaneously keeping it brief.
I see and understand why this novel is a classic. It has all the qualities of what you might expect. A great plot, insight, historical depiction. I did my own preparation of what to keep in mind while reading through the book, noting the specific areas that I can more intentionally skim through and which areas to slow down the gears and savor. I found that to be helpful as I recognized pretty early on Hugo’s pattern of providing an abundant supply of context to every significant moment (He goes into the Battle of Waterloo, the nature and usage of slang, and expounds much on the culture of religion/Catholicism). Some areas were more useful than others, but I found it endearing that his passion for the aforementioned subjects shone so clearly both in length and depth.
I appreciate books that refrain from dawdling which made it difficult for me to give this book 4 stars. (Though I would most accurately like to give it a 3.85). However, there were several aspects to the book that surprised me for the better. These I will mention in modicum:
— Personally, I find it encouraging to read about God in books that aren’t known to be about God. Though it was primarily written with a strong Catholic influence, there were a couple moments that I found myself moved by how Hugo wrote on the sovereign and merciful nature of God. This is heavily seen in the relationship of the Bishop and the ex-convict, Jean Val Jean, who knew only hatred, distrust, and betrayal. Upon meeting, the tortured soul experienced mercy, grace, and unmerited kindness for the first time in his entire life (like.. this guy’s life was truly so miserable). The Bishop’s exhortation to Jean Val Jean convicted me: “Yes," resumed the Bishop, "you have come from a very sad place. Listen. There will be more joy in heaven over the tear-bathed face of a repentant sinner than over the white robes of a hundred just men. If you emerge from that sad place with thoughts of hatred and of wrath against mankind, you are deserving of pity; if you emerge with thoughts of good-will and of peace, you are more worthy than any one of us.”
Seeing this transformation of this bitter, cursed man into one who, from his first taste of mercy, became a proponent of service and kindness would make any soul glad. Once given a purpose of finding and caring for dying Fantine’s beloved child, Cosette, we see Jean Val Jean trying to re-enter the ranks of the honest.
— There were 2 relationship dynamics that I enjoyed reading about the most: One was of Jean Val Jean and dear Cosette. Another being Cosette and Marius.
Perhaps it was the adroit writing, perhaps I have an imbued puerile inclination. Regardless, there is such a beautiful innocence and treasure of this budding relationship of the transformed ex-convict and a helpless orphan as well as between two “good-natured” and pure-intentioned lovers.
In the same way that a candle can light up a room that is in absolute darkness, these relationships and encounters provide such hope in the lugubrious nature of the book.
If I can have the effrontery, certain moments that I felt Hugo really cooked with his writing are as follows:
“Cosette's instinct sought a father, as Jean Valjean's instinct sought a child. To meet was to find each other…. The entrance of that man into the destiny of that child had been the advent of God.”
“The poor man trembled, inundated with angelic joy; he declared to himself ecstatically that this would last all their lives; he told himself that he really had not suffered sufficiently to merit so radiant a bliss, and he thanked God, in the depths of his soul, for having permitted him to be loved thus, he, a wretch, by that innocent being.”
“And then, strange to say, the first symptom of true love in a young man is timidity; in a young girl it is boldness.”
“It was She! Whoever has loved knows all the radiant meanings contained in those three letters of that word: She.”
These morsels of poetic and masterful writing are littered throughout the novel. For this reason alone I bumped up my score.
Though the pacing and seemingly abrupt ending of the book were not entirely my favorite, I am glad to have read this book! It is a gem in it’s own way and at the cost of coming off as pedantic, I can see myself recalling pieces of this book in conversation with others. It was also a great challenge for me in learning how to be more assiduous in my reading.
Now, I am going to spend the week listening to the soundtrack and weep.