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A review by fonril
Les Misérables by Victor Hugo
challenging
dark
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This may be the most difficult review I've ever had to write. I loved it. It was too long. I was engrossed. I grew tired.
I think now that an abridged version would've been better, but the version I chose had over 1,200 pages, and I'd estimate I skipped at least 300 of them. I loved where the characters were featured, Jean Valjean or Marius or Javert, but entire pages, even whole chapters of incredibly detailed accounts of historical events or background information not vitally necessary for the story had me skipping past them.
I love the musical, I went to see Alfie Boe as Valjean and Michael Ball as Javert while I was reading the book. I love the Valjean of the book even more, it is his story, his heart and soul that fills the pages.
In summary (if anyone exists who does not know the story) Les Miserables is a story of a man, a thief, a convict, an entrepreneur, a benefactor, a father figure who lives a life at battle with his conscience and unable to sit easily with happiness.
He steals to feed his family. He attempts to escape the cruelty of the galleys and has his sentence increased until nineteen years have passed. He is freed as an embittered man and steals again but is spared by a man of god who vouches for him. In gratitude, he works to rebuild his life, to do good. He vows to look after the daughter of a woman who is dying. The daughter, Cosette, gives him a reason to live.
All the while, he is pursued by the darkness of his past and by Inspector Javert, who remembers Valjean from the galleys and will never stop the pursuit of his prey until he has him back behind bars.
It's a remarkable story but I would advise reading an abridged version.
I think now that an abridged version would've been better, but the version I chose had over 1,200 pages, and I'd estimate I skipped at least 300 of them. I loved where the characters were featured, Jean Valjean or Marius or Javert, but entire pages, even whole chapters of incredibly detailed accounts of historical events or background information not vitally necessary for the story had me skipping past them.
I love the musical, I went to see Alfie Boe as Valjean and Michael Ball as Javert while I was reading the book. I love the Valjean of the book even more, it is his story, his heart and soul that fills the pages.
In summary (if anyone exists who does not know the story) Les Miserables is a story of a man, a thief, a convict, an entrepreneur, a benefactor, a father figure who lives a life at battle with his conscience and unable to sit easily with happiness.
He steals to feed his family. He attempts to escape the cruelty of the galleys and has his sentence increased until nineteen years have passed. He is freed as an embittered man and steals again but is spared by a man of god who vouches for him. In gratitude, he works to rebuild his life, to do good. He vows to look after the daughter of a woman who is dying. The daughter, Cosette, gives him a reason to live.
All the while, he is pursued by the darkness of his past and by Inspector Javert, who remembers Valjean from the galleys and will never stop the pursuit of his prey until he has him back behind bars.
It's a remarkable story but I would advise reading an abridged version.