Mishqueen's review
Les Misérables (Penguin Classics)
by Victor Hugo
Mishqueen's review
Les Misérables (Penguin Classics) by Victor Hugo
Mishqueen's review
rating:
bookshelves:
book-club
This is probably my favorite book of all time. I admit, after reading it once or twice, I do skip the long history chapters (basically, if it says anything about Napoleon, I start skipping to the good stuff). I've never read an edited version, except for the last two chapters once to finish in time for a book club meeting. The thing I love so much about Victor Hugo is his ability to affect my feelings by getting into MY head, instead of taking me into the head of his characters. As the reader, we observe the situation just like everyone else who is present on the scene. We don't get any more glimpses into people's thoughts and motivations than the other characters do. As a result, I am on the edge of my seat, trying to figure out WHY someone did or said something, and it ties me up completely in their motives. When bad things happen to my favorite characters, I'm not sad for them, or for the other characters who love them, but I'm sad for ME! I feel like I'm there in the story ...more
