Les Misérables
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Should I read it?
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Rachel
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rated it 4 stars
Oct 19, 2015 04:15PM
I have been thinking about reading Les Miserables. So I want to know whats about? And how long it is (compared to other books, like "Its the size of Jane Eyre" or whatever) And Should I read it? :)
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its pretty long, longer than Jane Eyre. Its about a man who is peasant who attains riches then loses it then he promises to a prostitute to take care of her daughter the story i enjoyed a lot there are just moments where the author goes off about like a certain motive or describe a place i personally think its worth the read
Sooooo worth reading!!!! it is long, and hard to get through at times but like any buried treasure is worth the dig. Victor Hugo includes so much wisdom and hidden wit in this book that i found myself highlighting a ton. I have found a newer day "translation" if you will, I haven't read it yet myself but it has condensed it for the now a day reader. I feel you gain more from the actual written book itself but that is my personal opinion. I really struggled at first with Les Miserables. I started it many times and then quit. But something kept bringing me back. I'm glad i finally decided to try and conquer. I loved it! Here is the abridged version i have downloaded to my kindle. I still recommend the original but if it is too daunting to start, try this one and let me know how it is please. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I...
Tristan wrote: "its pretty long, longer than Jane Eyre. Its about a man who is peasant who attains riches then loses it then he promises to a prostitute to take care of her daughter the story i enjoyed a lot there..."He does go off on "rabbit trails" often but they are very interesting tidbits in their own way. Back when he wrote this book, they were paid by the word so writers often wrote as much as they could to get more from it. I especially loved the letter in the end.
Victor Hugo is amazing! I definitely suggest reading it. You can even find an abridged version that cuts off some of the historical details. His writing style is enchanting and timeless. :)
This book is amazing and well worth the 1000 pages! It is very inspirational and Hugo expresses some almost modern ideas.
Personally, I would recommend an abridged version. If you read the unabdridged, realize that a good amount of the book is about the French Revolution, Napoleon Bonaparte, French culture, and so much more that has nothing to do with the plot. It's just filler in my opinion. Outside of that though, it is a good romance story.
I read the unabridged one, and i am glad i did because it was as much for historical research as it was for the story itself. I think if you liked Jane Eyre, you might like the abridged version, but unless you loved Moby Dick, the unabridged might be a hard slog in some places. Or, if you just really enjoy really long books and frequent digressions, like several chapters on the history of the Parisian sewer system, several chapters on the history of the salt mines in rural France, several chapters on any number of battles which occurred between 1798 and 1832 in various manifestations of revolution...go for it!
Absolutely a required read for all bookworms. It teaches us why and how the French Revolution had to happen. You can skim over the historical parts if you don't like them, but the history is an integral part of the awakening of the French people and their finally rising up against the rich and powerful.
Les Misarables (1998)Cast: Liam Neeson, Geoffrey Rush, Uma Thurman, Claire Danes Director: Bille August
Writer: Victor Hugo
watch then read.
Yes, you do. As everybody else who has been introduced the alphabet.
Les Miserables is worthy of the time it takes to read. The personal stories are very readable, and the whole story takes place against the background of the bloody French Revolution, which all Americans should understand and be grateful that our revolution didn't go off the rails like that in Francel
Rachel wrote: "I have been thinking about reading Les Miserables. So I want to know whats about? And how long it is (compared to other books, like "Its the size of Jane Eyre" or whatever) And Should I read it? :)"Should you read it? Er...yes and no. The first bit is fantastic but it is very very long and it starts to drag a bit and you can't help thinking he must have been paid by the word.
Katie wrote: "Sooooo worth reading!!!! it is long, and hard to get through at times but like any buried treasure is worth the dig. Victor Hugo includes so much wisdom and hidden wit in this book that i found mys..."This sounds like my experience of reading it. Started & put down a few times. Restarted at bed on Nov & reading other books in between when I find it a bit of a struggle. I'm now about to start Volume III Marius. Now that I've got into it, I'm enjoying it & will finish (even if it takes another couple of months!)
this novel is,to me, the essence of all that literature has to offer. he tells a very simple story, in the most complicated of human conditions. while doing so, he addresses the civil and national issues of his day.it is a very dense and intentional work, so set time aside. I waited until I was in my thirties until I endeavoured it, and even then did I take particular care. In doing so, I felt like every page held truths and revelations that were hard earned by Hugo himself.
I would recommend this book to anyone.
(i will also admit that i had trouble with some of the historics in the novel, but receiving them with the context that Hugo was of a privilege and education, and May have been taking platform to inform people. this helped.
I saw the film and that is why I want to read the book although it is a long reading!
it is one of my best books that I have read . I read it in my language which is Arabic .Enjoy reading
Should I Read It? — "I have been thinking about reading Les Miserables. So I want to know whats about? And how long it is (compared to other books, like "Its the size of Jane Eyre" or whatever) And Should I read it? :)" ; Rachel
Well, this is entirely your choice. First, if you have a lot of time to read or are a fast reader, this would be a good book for you to read maybe over the summer, if you don't have anything else to read, since it is such a large book. Second, it depends on what you like to read. This book is largely related to the French Revolution, and the afterward/before era, so if that interests you this should be fun. It also depends on whether or not you are interested in books that you really have to read in depth. I hope this helped a little bit, but as for your interest in what the book contains I know I was kind of vague — I don't want to give anything away, so I recommend reading the summary or having a friend explain directly to you in person (if you know anyone who has read it). Have fun!
Do read it!!!! Yes it is quite long, But well worth reading, You will not be sorry, I think that all true book lover should read it, One of the best book written,
Just finished it the other day. Took me just over a month. It is one of the best books ever, right up there with War and Peace and The Brothers Karamazov. Anyone with a big interest in literature should certainly tackle it. It is not a hard read, but sometimes Hugo's tangents get to be a little much, especially when you are in the home stretch. But then the last 100 pages or so are quite wonderful. Well worth the time and effort. Oh, I should also point out how incredibly quotable Hugo is - sometimes it seems like there is a great quote on every other page.
YES! READ IT! Or, if you aren't interested, at least watch the movie.
Should you read it? Is that even a question? DEFINITELY! What is the book about?
Message to reader: The Wo/Man of Virtue will UNMISTAKABLY shine, in the end, despite the torturous challenges a corrupted society poses to Her/Him.
JUSTICE MAY BE LATE, BUT IT PREVAILS IN THE END.
Firstly, there are so many layers of events and meanings pertained through them, that you can read the book an endless number of times and still make new discoveries. It is one of the few books ever in all history of humanity, which can do it.
Secondly, the characters are universally legendary, thus, classical, for the way they develop through the pages in unexpected ways.
Angelic-seeming characters are revealed to be Devilish and Demonized ones to be real Martyrs.
This is, in fact one of the very reasons why the book is so uniquely loved through the centuries. Because all of us, human beings, have gone in our lives through situations when we have been through such social pressure, in one form or the other, causing us to 'fight' for our right and our beliefs.
Of course, the author is a real artist in the "painting" of the physical scenes, as well as the emotions and feelings, too.
All in all, it is one of the most worthy reads.
The story is breath-taking and the characters are brilliant and would stay with you for long. The setting is just incredible.
Amazing, incredible and... difficult to read. It is definitely one of the best books ever, although I've spent so much time reading it, as I usually do the review of the books I like the most. I couldn't get my thoughts together and had to see this site to make sure I understood everything right. Complex plot, well written characters and 19th century France makes it all worth reading.
Short answer: Yes!
Long answer:
You should read it because it is a mix of history, complex interwoven plot and characters, philosophy and society. It's Victor Hugo's magnum opus, and a full commentary of humanity, and he covers many many facets of it.
The plot mainly concerns itself with poverty, and how society is merciless towards it, and in many ways perpetuates it. But, it also demonstrates that individual charity and goodwill can have an incalculable impact.
If you would like a brief intro to the characters and themes, give the musical a look. I actually watched the 2012 movie with Hugh Jackman first, and was so intrigued, I needed to read the full book.
Maybe an audiobook would help for when he goes on his tangents. It's a commentary on humanity, so they are not without purpose, but can make it a little more difficult then if it were just story driven. librivox.com is a free resource for this.
Victor Hugo's own answer:
"So long as there shall exist, by virtue of law and custom, decrees of damnation pronounced by society, artificially creating hells amid the civilization of earth, and adding the element of human fate to divine destiny; so long as the three great problems of the century—the degradation of man through pauperism, the corruption of woman through hunger, the crippling of children through lack of light—are unsolved; so long as social asphyxia is possible in any part of the world;—in other words, and with a still wider significance, so long as ignorance and poverty exist on earth, books of the nature of Les Misérables cannot fail to be of use."
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