Les Misérables (Signet Classics) by Victor Hugo
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Book Reviews of Les Misérables (Signet Classics)
Book Review: Transformative.
Summary: 5 Stars
I am both ecstatic and sorry to have finished this book. I loved it and was exasperated by it in equal measure. It took me a month to read. A MONTH! I groan at the memory of the long side trips away from the plot at the most frustrating moments to explore things like the Battle of Waterloo, the history of convents, specific orders of nuns and their daily lives etc. Around page 1300 or so Hugo goes on a long diatribe about the history of the French sewer system which made me wonder if they had editors back then and almost made me lose my mind. Having said that, i underlined and reread passages more in this book than I ever have before.. I love that!
When I think of all the themes you could say this book was about I could fill pages but when you get right down to it, it is about love. Not romantic love, but redemptive, love your fellow man kind of love. It explores the width, depth and height of that subject more than any other book I can imagine except perhaps The Bible. The gospel message is so eloquently laid out that I can almost imagine Jesus saying to me one day, " I know you read the Bible, but did you read that other book about me... The french one?"
What a beautiful reminder of how transformative great literature can be. The story, the characters, the writing will stay with me forever. I found tears on my cheeks an inordinate amount of time while reading it especially the final few chapters and that (almost) last line-" The night was starless and very dark. Without any doubt, in the gloom, some mighty angel was standing with outstretched wings, waiting for the soul." was the exact image in my mind while reading about Jean Valjean's last moments.
Beautiful.
Book Review: Inspirational Story of Redemption; Accurate Historial Detail
Summary: 5 Stars
When I was a child, my father would read portions of this book to me before I went to bed. I was captivated by Jean Valjean and Cosette and their tale of survival, in spite of Javert's persistent pursuit. As an adult, I decided to pick up this book that had so enraptured me as a young girl. In it, I found a phenomenal story for the ages about love, redemption, good versus evil, poverty and survival. I also found that Hugo's meticulous attention to historical detail reignited my interest in the French Revolution and its aftermath. Through the fictional account of Jean Valjean's extraordinary life, Hugo paints a vivid picture of life after the revolution, during Napoleon's remarkable reign. The description of the battle of Waterloo is chilling and interesting to read. I have a BA in European History and I have never been fond of military history and lengthy descriptions of battles, however, I found Hugo's reinactment of Waterloo comprehensive and engaging. It's true that Hugo is fond of ranting and opining on topics that do not directly relate to the fictional tale. I trudged through these laborious political commentaries so that I could get back to the real story. His detailed descriptions of Paris (and it's sewer system) were bearable, although it was tough because I haven't been to Paris. Overall, though, the fictional story is worth all of Hugo's rants, diatribes and transgressions. When I finished the book, I sobbed for an hour and I went into mourning for several days because it was so powerful and inspirational a story. I finally took the black arm band off of my arm and reluctantly picked up another classic. Read it and love it.Book Review: Amazing Characters, Poetic Plot Make This the Best Book Ever
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm a high school sophomore amd we had to read this book for school last semester. Honestly I wasn't encouraged by it's seemingly impossible thickness, nor by its slow start. Having never before seen any Les Mis movie or play or the musical (which is ALMOST as awesome as the book) I didn't know anything about the plot or the great characters and the whole experience was new to me. This is the only book I've ever read that has kept me up hours as night just to finish one beautiful part after another. My sister made fun of me that I would always talk to the book but when the believable characters act in ways that so thoroughly move your heart it's hard to resist sighing or commentary. Hugo is truly a master at combining every element of everything human to create characters from all walks of life and intertwine them into a poetically romantic plot that can only be described as beautiful. But don't skip the descriptions just to move from event to event. Hugo, I feel, has the unique ability to convey idea and thoughts and descriptions in a way that touches your heart and makes you think and yet at the same time doesn't bog you down with flowery adjectives. The language in his page-long paragraph descriptions flow so naturally you find yourself nodding and flipping pages and before you know it you're on to the next event in the plot. My friends laughed at me when we recently traveled to Paris and I wanted to buy the two-volume unabridged original Les Miserables- even though I don't know a word of French! It is a tragedy for any person with a poetic mind or a romantic heart to miss this book-truly a human classic.Book Review: The Greatest Novel Ever!
Summary: 5 Stars
pLease ingnore the reviewer who sed to read the abridged version of Victor Hugo's masterpiece LES MISERABLES. As you com e to appreciate literature and all of its finest writers, you begin to realize that you are selling yourself short if you ever read the abridged version of anything. Abridged books should be banned as well as Cliff Notes. It is not what the author intended for you to read and that is what a true lover of books goes by. Now, with that out of the way, on with this marvelous book. There is no character in literature to compare to the noble and saint-like Jean Valjean. He is my hero and the man doesn't even exist. That is how powerful Hugo's prose is. Through this 1,400 plus page book, the reader is entranced with his story and with all of the other characters that his life touches: The street urchin Gavroche, the crafty Thenardiers, the Bishop who gives Valjean the silver candlesticks he stole, and the greatest tragic hero of literature ever, the amazing Police Inspector Javert. The plot, the story, and the amazing way the reader is given an inside view to not only these characters lives and the Student Rebellion that is the climax of the novel, but to the 100 page detail on the life of the Bishop, the history of the battle of Waterloo, and the Inside View of a nunnery of the strictist order in Paris, all of these make this book like no other that has ever been published. It is up ther with the dictionary, the Bible, the Koran, and Darwin's Origin of the species, as the most important books ever made. Read it and be moved to tears. It is simply the bestBook Review: A wonderous story of rising above what life has delt.
Summary: 5 Stars
After seeing the operetta several times, I was totally enthralled with this story. I sought out any movie version I could get my hands on and have enjoyed 4 different versions: The original French movie from the 1930's, a 50's American version, a 1970's Anthony Perkins as Javert (excellent portrayal!), and the new release with Liam Niesen. All of these had inconsistancies - so to satisfy my need to understand the true story, I purchased this unabridged story. The descriptions of Paris and the battle of Waterloo were a bit of a bore (I Evelyn Wooded passed much of those parts). Other than this, it is one of the greatest books I have ever read! I am disappointed that the opera and all the movies deviated from the basic storyline as they did! None of the stories gave any history on Fantine and how she came to leave Cosette at the Inn; or described how Jean Valjean actually was put in prison and escaped, or how he saved the sailor who was hanging from the sail line. ! I did have one disappointment from the book, I had hoped to learn that Jean Valjean and Fantine had prior relationship (but did not recognize each other after many years and hardships) and that Cosette was actually Jean's daughter. I was sad to learn that the other stories depicted this relationship correctly, that they were just strangers who forever impacted each others lives. This story has something for everyone: a touching love story between Jean / Fantine, Jean / Cosette, Cosette / Marius; a story of war and comaradere; a story of human suffering, faith and character.