A review by marginaliant
Les Misérables, by Victor Hugo
4.0
Victor Hugo wanted to write a social history of lower class French people but social history hadn't been invented yet.
In seriousness, this is a classic, and it's a classic for a reason. Yes, it's a slog, but some worthy things in life ought to be. I disliked several of the characters and plot points, but I also loved parts of this novel. I loved some of the anecdotes, the asides, the way he could characterize people by using "he was one of those people who _____" and it just gave such a light into his world. I'm glad I read it.
In seriousness, this is a classic, and it's a classic for a reason. Yes, it's a slog, but some worthy things in life ought to be. I disliked several of the characters and plot points, but I also loved parts of this novel. I loved some of the anecdotes, the asides, the way he could characterize people by using "he was one of those people who _____" and it just gave such a light into his world. I'm glad I read it.