Les Miserables by Victor Hugo

[Ashley]

We will be discussing Les Misérables in this thread. Please remember to mark your spoilers.

*I apologize for posting so late!*

[Lilac]

I started this a few days ago and am on page 96 (part 1, book 2, chapter 7) of the Norman Denny translation. Book 1 was just good but book 2 has already drawn me in and I already want to know more about Jean Valjean.

From what I've read so far I don't think this will be as hard as I'd expected but I'm sure it will still take me ages just because of the length.

[Alison]

i started this about 3 weeks ago. It just turns out that it was on my list to read next. Its slow going right now. The history of France is bogging me down and I havent even gotten to the battle of Waterloo yet!

[mim]

I'm reading this as well right now (the beloved Fahenstock/MacAfee translation, which is a little harder to get a hold of maybe, but I'd definitely recommend it), and I'm about halfway through. I really love it, but it's definitely a mixed bag, so to speak. Some bits I sped through in hours, but some took me days to slog through (looking at you, Waterloo) - bless Victor Hugo and his myriad rambling digressions. They can definitely be frustrating, but I think it's all part of the Les Mis experience, really. Wouldn't be the same without them.

[Alison]

how many pages does waterloo cover? just trying to prepare myself!

[mim]

About 60 pages in my version! There are actually interesting little bits in it, but so much of it is just sort of - Victor Hugo why on earth.

[Kathryn]

I'm partway through re-reading this - I started it earlier in the year, but haven't made much progress thanks to having too many other books on the go at the same time! I'm trying to clear my reading schedule so I can focus on Les Mis for a while...

[Anna]

Going to get my copy n get in on the buddy read...