Les Misérables in Classics Without All the Class

Nov 22, 2010 Ben rated it really liked it

Shelves: owned-calibre

Summary: A massive book by a French patriot about people, humanity society and philosophy.
He uses an epic story of one mans redemption to illustrate and navigate a lot of these ideas.

Things I liked:

Characters:

I loved the characters like Val Jean and Gav Roche. Fantine and Javert and many other besides.

While they may have been a little unrealistic at times (extreme people in extreme circumstances certainly not like anyone I really know or have met); they ooze poetry (extreme ideas counter po ...more

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May 03, 2011 Beth Given rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

I get nervous reading classics. I am pretty much intimidated by them. When this monster arrived from half.com (800+ dense pages, and this is one of the abridged editions we're talking about here), I kind of wanted to cry. I am pretty sure this is the longest single book I've ever attempted.

But it was the book club pick, and so I started reading. I was only vaguely familiar with the storyline (I think I must have started this in high school but didn't get very far -- and I kind of knew the songs ...more

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Jan 03, 2013 Janice rated it it was amazing

Shelves: classic

Les Mis is among my top ten favorite books of all time. A story of justice and love, set in 18th century Paris, Les Mis is unforgettable. I can't recommend it highly enough! ...more

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Jan 15, 2012 Jim Salisbury rated it it was amazing

My son asked me last night what my favorite book is - tough one. I guess I'd pick this if had to choose just one, but For Whome The Bell Tolls, Grapes of Wrath, To Kill A Mockingbird.... close behind ...more

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