Les Misérables

[Martha]

I have reached the end of Marius and will start Part IV tonight. I'm a little over halfway and think that if I push it I'll be able to finish Les Miserables by the end of March. The pace ebbs and flows. I always slow down when there is a history lesson involved. I'm tempted to skip those parts but they always have some relevance to the story.

[Lina]

I started a bit late because a friend of mine wanted to join me and it took him a while to get the book. So I am in Part I, Book 2 now. But I have enjoyed reading everyone's messages up to that point.
I really like the book so far, there are many quotes I have written down! I also find it interesting how often Victor Hugo puts his own thoughts/ views into the book - like when he implies that everyone with 'large-minded-thinking' in today's society (his today that is) should support democratic ideals. I enjoy reading this slowly for once - and reading up some more on the history/terminology as I go along.

[SarahKat, Buddy Reads]

This has been moved to the March Buddy Reads folder

[Regina]

I completely missed this Buddy Read! I’ve been reading on my own since the beginning of the year and am at about the halfway point. Is it too late for me to join in? Also, I may not finish by the end of March, but I would like to!

[TerryJane, Challenges]

Regina wrote: "I completely missed this Buddy Read! I’ve been reading on my own since the beginning of the year and am at about the halfway point. Is it too late for me to join in? Also, I may not finish by the e..."

You are absolutely welcome, Regina. I, too, hope to finish in March, but I need to do a bit of catching up due to illness. Others are reading at different paces, but as long as we use spoiler tags, it's fine. Welcome!

I got tickets for the June showing in Atlanta! 🎭

[Regina]

Thanks, TerryJane.

I also put off reading this novel for years because of its length and because I’d been told it was boring. It isn’t at all boring and it’s quite readable compared to some other long classics (I’m looking at you, War and Peace and Dostoyevsky). I’ve been pleasantly surprised so far and I’m looking forward to seeing how Hugo ties these various characters and storylines together—I’ve never seen an adaptation, so it’s all new to me!

[Rebecca]

Ι had stepped away from this book for a couple of weeks because of a couple of more pressing buddy reads, but I'm back reading now. Still in part 2. I think at the rate I'm going it's going to be April or May before I finish though.

@TerryJane it's a small world. I live in the Atlanta area, and I was sitting at Hamilton at the Fox on Friday night thinking about how I need to buy tickets for my daughters and me to go when Le Miz is here in a few months :-)

[TerryJane, Challenges]

Rebecca wrote: "Ι had stepped away from this book for a couple of weeks because of a couple of more pressing buddy reads, but I'm back reading now. Still in part 2. I think at the rate I'm going it's going to be A..."

Very small world! I also homeschooled our three daughters, all in college now. Only two will be at the show with me. The third is uninterested in this one. 😮

[Regina]

I'm just starting Book 5 of the Marius section. I figured out last night that if I read 25-30 pages a day, I'll finish before the end of March. Totally doable.

[Rebecca]

I've finally made some progress, finishing part 2 book 3. I'm 29% of the way through, which kinds of thrills me because I'm far enough in to know that I'll have actually read this novel before the end of the year. As far as "Fulfillment of the Promise Made to the Departed" goes, I'm just so glad (view spoiler)[ that Valjean has rescued Cosette and that she's safe--at least for now. The way the Thénardiers have treated her makes me so angry!! (hide spoiler)]

[Beth]

I will not finish in March, I can guarantee.

[Regina]

I am beginning to wonder if Marius will (view spoiler)[enter the priesthood. I am getting some Father Bienvenu vibes, especially after he gave the landlady money for the Jondrette family. (hide spoiler)]

Edit: maybe not. It looks like he is going to (view spoiler)[fall in love with Cosette! (hide spoiler)]

[Rebecca]

So, Part 2, book 4 had elements of both (view spoiler)[ happiness that Valjean and Cosette are enjoying life together and such suspense about the man. At first, I thought that Valjean just had a guilty conscience and was imagining Javert. Now, I'm wondering how Javert knew he was alive and where to find him. It's made me feel nervous. (hide spoiler)]

[Rebecca]

Part 2, book 5 was suspenseful. I found myself holding my breath, (view spoiler)[ worried Javert was going to catch Jean Valjean (hide spoiler)]

[Rebecca]

The long description of the history of the convent in Part 2, Book 6 felt like a sidebar. I struggled with this little section, but found some things with interest.

[Rebecca]

Finished Part 2, Book 6, which was full of thoughtful and conflicted writing. I felt like it really was, as Hugo labeled it, "A Parenthesis." It made me think of the times when I've had to write out how I feel about something to come to a decision about how I feel. I'm still ruminating on this section a little.

And this quote, "To assume as duty a strict error has its particular grandeur." I've lived that line at points in my past (and may be now without realizing it yet), and I felt seen.

[Rebecca]

Finally finished part 2 today. The last book (book 7) was completely delightful, and now I know why Hugo makes such a long sidebar describing the convent and the ideals and ideas of convents. I found (view spoiler)[ the whole thing with sneaking Jean Valjean out in the coffin and then keeping him from being buried to be both on-the-edge-of-my-seat suspenseful and absurdly funny at the same time. (hide spoiler)]

Now, onto Part 3, which is called Marius, so I'm assuming that it must introduce a new character.

[Rebecca]

Finished Part 3, book one tonight. I was so confused at first (view spoiler)[ because I thought gamin was someone’s name 🙈. Once I realized that he was actually taking about a category of young boys and about the spirit of Paris in general, I was able to step back and ponder a little. I also thought the specific gamin that he was taking about at the end would be M. Marcus, so I was wrong on all accounts in my guesses. (hide spoiler)]

On another note, I’m currently 40% of the way through this book and starting to believe I will actually finish it. (I didn’t believe it the whole first 250-300 pages because the length is so overwhelming.). If I keep reading at the same rate I’m reading now, I think I’ll finish around the end of April, but I might could push and finish late March or early April.

[TerryJane, Challenges]

I am at 57% and just started Volume IV: The Idyl in the Rue Plumet and the Epic in the Rue Saint-Denis. Book I includes 6 chapters of history, then Book II is Eponine. I look forward to getting through this batch of history. 😉

[Rebecca]

Part 3, book 2 really feels like it spins us in a different direction with a new character. I know it will tie back in, but I still found it a little disorienting.

[TerryJane, Challenges]

I can hardly believe that I am starting Volume 5: Jean Valjean and can see the light at the end of the tunnel! With less than 300 pages left, I may binge the rest and finish within a day or so. 😲

[Rebecca]

Yay, TerryJane!! If I were you, I might do the same thing, especially if it were exciting at that point.

I finished part 3, book 3 today, and was a little surprised to be thrown into this domestic drama. . . . all these relationships (view spoiler)[ ruined by politics. It just makes me want to scream because of what might have been. (hide spoiler)]

[Rebecca]

Finished part 3, book 4 today and Marius (view spoiler)[ has really found a devotion to Napoleon that seems religious in nature. That doesn't seem like something that's going to benefit him. (hide spoiler)]

[Rebecca]

I'm still plugging away at this one, and I admit that part 3, book 5 added a few elements at the end that I haven't quite processed yet, tying them back into the story, but just I have to say that (view spoiler)[ all the stuff with Marius and his grandfather just breaks my heart. And I'm super frustrated with Marius at this point in the narrative. . . . I struggle with feeling like he's a spoiled, lazy child. but maybe I'm projecting my frustrations with my own teenagers on it? (hide spoiler)]

[Karin]

Rebecca wrote: "I'm still plugging away at this one, and I admit that part 3, book 5 added a few elements at the end that I haven't quite processed yet, tying them back into the story, but just I have to say that ..."

You have to give that character time to grow as a person :) However, I do want to say that (view spoiler)[the Musical makes him much more aware of other's feelings than he actually was. Bear in mind that when this was written, that was much more common for boys and men. I liked the musical, but it was far from accurate about many things. (hide spoiler)]

[TerryJane, Challenges]

I finished this book on March 17, and failed to post. Obviously, the novel includes far more information than the musical, but aside from the very lengthy history lessons and a handful of omitted/modified scenes, I feel like the musical captures much of it very well. When I see it again this summer, I will certainly have a better understanding of what's going on. I'm curious to seek out some of the movie adaptations as well. (view spoiler)[I always though Marius and Cosette's relationship came on far too quickly. Now I know there was more to it than just glimpsing each other on the street. (hide spoiler)]

[Rebecca]

I discovered in part 3, book 6 that Marius (view spoiler)[ has a little crush. He got a little stalkerish too!! When he's into something, he really goes for it! LOL (hide spoiler)]

[Martha]

I'm about 250 pages away from the finish line and I think I'll be finished before March 31. Once the insurrection not revolution starts the book flies. What a trip it's been! I admire the book and I think I'll love it more as I reflect on it. I certainly will remember the story line. I doubt I'll read it again.

I love the musical and keep playing the song "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables." I keep thinking this book is more about Marius than Jean Valjean.

I love Eponine and Gavroche as characters.

[Martha]

I finished and I lied. I want to reread this book again right now. From the barricades, through the sewers, to the last page, my mind was changed. I feel a sense of accomplishment and gratitude that I pushed through to the end.

[Regina]

I finished on Sunday. Overall, I really liked the book. I found the last bits, despite being edge-of-the-seat reading, to be a bit (view spoiler)[too pat. I'm not a fan of a bunch of coincidences leading to all basically working out in the end. I thought Marius treated Jean Valjean rather shabbily until he found out that Valjean actually saved his life. I understand his motivations, but I still didn't like Marius much for it. Also, I found Cosette's character to be rather annoying once she married Marius. (hide spoiler)] So, the book came in at a very respectable 4-4.5 stars, but not quite a 5-star read for me. I am glad I crossed this one off my bookish bucket list, though. Also, also, Gavroche is the best character in the book!