Hunchback of ND: Non spoiler Thread

[Myst]

I finished.I don't think I'd re-read it, but it's pretty good. (I skimmed the 10% of the novel architecture stuff.)

[Katy, Old School Classics]

Myst wrote: "I finished.I don't think I'd re-read it, but it's pretty good. (I skimmed the 10% of the novel architecture stuff.)"

Victor Hugo can be pretty detailed on some things -- you get a history lesson on architecture along with your story. I am with you -- skimming is absolutely okay!

[Katy, Old School Classics]

Looks like our discussion is winding down a bit. If you haven't joined us yet, there is still time! A couple new people and I'm sure we can get this one going again.

[Melanti]

I really, really want to read this still.

I'm still mired in The Idiot though, and will probably want to read a few quick, fun books before starting on another classic.
Probably another week, minimum, and probably two or three before I can start on this.

[Tom]

I'm getting a late start, but I'm really looking forward to reading this.

[Katy, Old School Classics]

Great, it will be fun to add both of you to the discussion later this month or next.

[Christine]

I'm still hoping to get to this one before our Long Read is over.

[[deleted user]]

I've finished "Book 1" of HBOND. I'm intrigued, yet I find it a little slow going and tedious. I usually love detail, but Hugo's lengthy six-chapter set-up was a bit much for me. In addition, I'm reading it aloud to my son so that we can read it at the same time. The language is somewhat stilted in the translation I'm reading, so I find reading it aloud is difficult. That said, I'm going to keep at it. Hopefully, there will be more action, more plot development, in the next chapters.

[Michael]

I'm almost done wit this book. Like some others have said, it is a bit slow to get moving. I have found that the pace picks up after the first third and I look forward to the finish. I enjoy reading books like HBOND as they force me to look at the time and place of setting more deeply than I otherwise might. while his often slow my progress, I find I get more from my reading this way. Now it looks like I'll have to plan a trip to France to see Notre Dame first hand.

[Katy, Old School Classics]

I'd love to do that trip also.

[Tom]

I'm about a fifth of the way through the book and thoroughly enjoying it. It took a little to get use to Hugo's language, style and cadence, but once I got past that, I'm totally engrossed in the story.

[Katy, Old School Classics]

Nice to hear, Tom. What is your favorite part so far? (Probably better answer that in the spoiler thread)

[Jon]

Michael wrote: "Now it looks like I'll have to plan a trip to France to see Notre Dame first hand.

reply | flag *
"

My ladyfriend is taking me next weekend so I'm doing a rush on this book to get it finished by then.

[Andrea AKA Catsos Person]

Lucky You, Jon!

Enjoy!

[Kim]

Myst wrote: "I'm about 22% into Hunchback and I'm enjoying it, the details of how the buildings are made gets a bit tedious..."

My reading was going along well until I hit that chapter ('A Bird's-Eye View of Paris'), haha, and then my pace slowed a good bit. Some beautiful, dramatic images: the houses "falling" and "climbing" over the hills, the lush mosses on the rooftops, the golden sunset behind the jagged steeples and gables. But, my goodness, do we really need to know what the names of every freakin' building, street, and bridge are? Would a map not have sufficed for some of this information, if we really do need to know (actually, I find these really useful, regardless, but can't find one for the Hunchback)? I find myself thinking that a publishing house of today wouldn't approve this, that it would be sent back with lines crossed out and the request to pare it down a tad(!). :p

In any case, the chapter did help me get a wonderful sense of the setting, and for someone more familiar with the city and its old buildings, the French monarchy, etc. perhaps every detail is fascinating. For me, it was a bit much. Regardless, I'm enjoying myself!

[Katy, Old School Classics]

I am so glad you are enjoying yourself -- me too.

[Christine]

I tried to start this one, but I just can't get into it right now. Maybe with summer arriving, my brain just cannot wrap itself around Hugo at the moment! I think I will put it back on my TBR shelf for the time being. (And maybe I will challenge myself to dust off Les Miserables from my DNF shelf and finally finish that one before I try to dive into any other Hugo novels!)

[Bat-Cat]

Christine wrote: "I tried to start this one, but I just can't get into it right now. Maybe with summer arriving, my brain just cannot wrap itself around Hugo at the moment! I think I will put it back on my TBR shelf..."

Christine, it sounds like you are making a clean break of books that have been holding you down. Good for you!!! Sometimes it is more than necessary. Hopefully, you are now free to enjoy some of the amazing books that have been selected for our June read. Enjoy!!!

[Christine]

Bat-Cat wrote: "Christine, it sounds like you are making a clean break of books that have been holding you down..."

Yes, that is my idea! I feel like I've been in a bit of a reading slump for the past couple of weeks, and that tells me I just need to try some different books. Here's to June! :-)

[Katy, Old School Classics]

Christine wrote: "I tried to start this one, but I just can't get into it right now. Maybe with summer arriving, my brain just cannot wrap itself around Hugo at the moment! I think I will put it back on my TBR shelf..."

I'm going pretty slowly through this one. I just keep forgetting that I am reading it. So it's not riveting for summer, but I do hope to get it finished by the end of June.

[Kim]

I'm on page 327. Was planning on making more progress with it yesterday, but my partner ended up having the day off so I spent the time with him instead. :) I've got lots of time for it today, though.

[Katy, Old School Classics]

You are doing fine, Kim. We still have the entire month of June for our 2nd Quarter Read.

For those of you who have not joined us yet. There is still time -- it is very doable to read the book in a month. Hoping just a few more members will join us in our last push with The Hunchback of Notre-Dame

[Kim]

Kathy wrote: "You are doing fine, Kim. We still have the entire month of June for our 2nd Quarter Read."

Oh, I know, but thanks, Kathy. :) I'm hoping to be able to get through War & Peace in June, and then I can move on to some of the July reads for this group (am thinking to try rereading Animal Farm, Jane Eyre, and Lord of the Flies), plus there are a couple of other books due to be read for other groups I'm in but that might be ambitious for me. We'll see. :)

As for the Hunchback, I'll be done it within the next couple of days, I expect, but will be happy to stick around for discussion long after. It's nice that the threads stay open. :)

[Kim]

Well, I ended up finishing it early this morning, it turns out! For those of you having trouble getting into it, once you get past the chapter describing the view of Paris from the cathedral, it picks up a bit, and then, a lot.

Be warned, though; Hugo has a way of winding you all up, wondering how something's going to play out, and then yanking you back to catch up with what other characters have been up to during that time. Frustrating sometimes, haha!

[Katy, Old School Classics]

Kim wrote: "Well, I ended up finishing it early this morning, it turns out! For those of you having trouble getting into it, once you get past the chapter describing the view of Paris from the cathedral, it pi..."

Good for you!

[Melanti]

Kim wrote: "For those of you having trouble getting into it, once you get past the chapter describing the view of Paris from the cathedral, it picks up a bit, and then, a lot...."

Good to hear!

I started this last night in audio and the first half hour was nothing but describing architecture. I was beginning to second guess my decision to read this one!

[Kim]

Melanti wrote: "I started this last night in audio and the first half hour was nothing but describing architecture. I was beginning to second guess my decision to read this one!"

Hmm, if you were only in the first half hour, you might still have another description-heavy part to get through, where they describe the view of Paris from the top of the towers. But after that, there's a lot less of that.

[Kim]

Emily wrote: "I'm feeling a little guilty because it looks like a lot of readers didn't have as good of an experience with this book as I did (I'll try to see if I can squeeze it in still), but I'll definitely still add into the spoiler discussions."

If it makes you feel any better, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and got a lot out of it. It wasn't anywhere on my radar until I joined this group, either, so who knows when I would have gotten to it on my own? :)

[Pink]

Emily wrote: "I, the person who nominated, loves, and was looking forward to rereading this book, am finding out that I greatly over estimated the amount of reading time I'd during this spring/summer (not only h..."

Don't worry! There's no pressure, as life often get's in the way of our full time reading life! I have this on my shelf, but I didn't even pick it up....one day.

[Myst]

Emily wrote: "I, the person who nominated, loves, and was looking forward to rereading this book, am finding out that I greatly over estimated the amount of reading time I'd during this spring/summer (not only h..."

Other than the descriptions of buildings the book was pretty good. I just couldn't visualize anything from those descriptions as the terminology wasn't what I was used to, and I was never sure if it was the cathedral or surrounding buildings being described.

Hunchback drew me in a lot more than The Woman in White has.

[Katy, Old School Classics]

We have a week left for this group read -- that means I read about 50% of the book in 2 3/4 months and now have a week left for the last 50%. It has not been a page turner for me, but not bad either. I just have so many other books that are better to read.

[Katy, Old School Classics]

But I still have hope of finishing if I just concentrate on this book.

[Andrea AKA Catsos Person]

Kathy I know what you mean about "straying" to books that are more enjoyable.

At least you've completed 75% of it.

I enjoyed "Les Mis" more than this.

[Melanti]

Most of the long "tour guide" passages are in the first half of the book. You're in the home stretch now!

If you're in the last 25% you should be about to start the main part of the action - if you haven't already. So maybe it'll go faster for you now ?

[Kim]

I hope some of you make it! I don't think too many have commented since I finished it and weighed in.