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bashsbooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
I know this is an international and intergenerational classic, but I can't give 5 stars to Les Misérables. Not after those nineteen Waterloo chapters. I understand the position Hugo was put in politically (that was the useful aspect of the introduction, though I was not terribly impressed with its literary analysis), but holy hell were those chapters a slog. The worst slog of the book, I dare say. Talk to me about convents and sewers any day over Waterloo.
Other than that mind-numbling digression (and a couple others like it), I deeply enjoyed this book. The five narrators of this particular version are all very talented. The story itself is much funnier than any adaptations convey it. Les Amis de l'ABC are iconic, I have the tenderest sympathies for their plight. (Combeferre's 'to be free' mic-drop is incredible.) Marius and Cosette are endearing idiots. Jean Valjean and Javert have a surprising amount of tension. What kind of tension, I could probably write a whole book of essays on. It's well-worth the read. Oh, I also feel like I absorbed a lot about 19th century French politics. Which is information I didn't necessarily need, but it helped my reread of Ellie Valsin's Virago. Over all, I would say that it's worth the insane amount of time required to read it. And this Penguin audiobook version is especially good to listen to while you work.
Other than that mind-numbling digression (and a couple others like it), I deeply enjoyed this book. The five narrators of this particular version are all very talented. The story itself is much funnier than any adaptations convey it. Les Amis de l'ABC are iconic, I have the tenderest sympathies for their plight. (Combeferre's 'to be free' mic-drop is incredible.) Marius and Cosette are endearing idiots. Jean Valjean and Javert have a surprising amount of tension. What kind of tension, I could probably write a whole book of essays on. It's well-worth the read. Oh, I also feel like I absorbed a lot about 19th century French politics. Which is information I didn't necessarily need, but it helped my reread of Ellie Valsin's Virago. Over all, I would say that it's worth the insane amount of time required to read it. And this Penguin audiobook version is especially good to listen to while you work.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, War, and Classism
Moderate: Fatphobia, Racism, Suicide, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Murder, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Cursing, Sexual violence, Excrement, Vomit, Antisemitism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Some of these content warnings are more of a side-effect of the time period the book was written rather than a deliberate choice to engage with these topics by the author, if that makes sense. Particularly for the more minor ones.viviuhler's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Death, Sexual violence, and Violence
lesty_gibbs's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Jean Valjean is quite possibly one of the most compelling characters of all time, and his relationship with Javert is equally so. I did an essay on this, which is why I read the book. Overall it is so intricate and deeply structured, with so much thought, effort, and time put into it, that, as a result, Les Miserables can't help but be a classic.
Ah, but there it is, the whispering in the wind; "What about the length?"
Listen, did Hugo say "we must be brief" and then ramble on for 40 pages about the Battle Of Waterloo, but then never give his characters full names because, again, "we must be brief"? Yes. Are over 150 characters named Jean? Also yes.
Les Miserables isn't called "The Brick" for nothing. Just acknowledge that his ramblings about the streets of Paris are so intricate and long that we can map it out in Paris to this day, accept that the Sewers are really the main character, and you'll have a ball reading it. I will admit though, I docked some marks for this. We didn't need 50 pages on the sewer system, we really didn't.
Ah, but there it is, the whispering in the wind; "What about the length?"
Listen, did Hugo say "we must be brief" and then ramble on for 40 pages about the Battle Of Waterloo, but then never give his characters full names because, again, "we must be brief"? Yes. Are over 150 characters named Jean? Also yes.
Les Miserables isn't called "The Brick" for nothing. Just acknowledge that his ramblings about the streets of Paris are so intricate and long that we can map it out in Paris to this day, accept that the Sewers are really the main character, and you'll have a ball reading it. I will admit though, I docked some marks for this. We didn't need 50 pages on the sewer system, we really didn't.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, and Violence