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.

Red Hood and the Outlaws, Volume 1: Dark Trinity by Scott Lobdell

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adventurous dark funny fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

This is one of the first DC comics I've read, and I wasn't disappointed. The art looks cool and interesting, the story is exactly what I want from a superhero comic and the characters are enjoyable. The end felt a little bit rushed, though.

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

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dark tense medium-paced

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

3.0

If I must say something good about The Handmaid’s Tale, that something is Atwood’s ability to capture the mood of the book perfectly. Even though the long, dull descriptions bored me to death, they sure succeeded in expressing the feel of Offred’s humdrum but distressing life. The book is exactly as uncomfortable as it should be. It was also confusing, though, which I doubt was intentional. It also lacked intersectionality and diversity, and every single character felt shallow. The concept of Gilead, a country ruled by Christian extremists, was only barely interesting and well-structured enough to keep my interest.

Heartstopper Volume 3 by Alice Oseman

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced