Reviews tagging 'Antisemitism'

Les Misérables - Die Elenden by Victor Hugo

4 reviews

supermanabi's review against another edition

slow-paced

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

3.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Gun violence, Racism, Violence, Police brutality, and Classism

Moderate: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Child death, Physical abuse, Slavery, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Antisemitism, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, and War

Minor: Self harm and Forced institutionalization

Forced institutionalization used in place of wrongful imprisonment.

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.

---

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.

linnylionheart's review

adventurous dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexism, Slavery, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, and Abandonment

Moderate: Alcoholism, Body horror, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Excrement, Antisemitism, and Kidnapping

cnidariar3x's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring sad slow-paced

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

2.5

Theres lots to enjoy but its almost unreasonably long. I recommend the condensed version unless one is familiar with French history.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, and Suicide

Moderate: Child abuse, Misogyny, Police brutality, Antisemitism, and Grief

Minor: Racism and Slavery