Les Miserables: Part 1 Book 1

[Trisha]

Post your comments here for the first chunk and lets see if we can get a good discussion going!

[Trisha]

After reading this section, I was surprised by how much effort Hugo puts into the description of everything. Whether it is describing the grittiness of the town, clothing, personal appearence; he is really able to paint a solid picture of it in your head. Some people enjoy all of the description, while others feel that it slows down the story. Where do you stand?

I would also like to get some feedback on Monseigneur Bienvenu, especially his conversation with the dying man. Hugo works very hard to bring this character to life and to show how pious and giving he is.
Thoughts?

[Mo]

I just finished the first book and had many of the same thoughts you did. I normally don't care for books with this much narration,but I figure there has to be a point to it. I'm sticking it out to see where Hugo goes with this character. I can't wait to see!

[Jenn]

I have a love/hate relationship with books with a lot of description. For instance, I just finished Vanity Fair, and I felt that the author of that book used too much unnecessary description, so much to the point that I was often lost and ready to give up reading the book altogether. Hugo, on the other hand, also writes with a lot of description, but it seems to be in such a way that the reader is not bored or confused, but instead drawn further into the book. At least that is my take.

As far as Monseigneur Bienvenu, I agree with you Trisha that Hugo is trying to bring this character to life by painting a very detailed picture of him. The reader has to truly understand this character to be prepared for the rest of the novel. Having read the abridged version in high school, I know the basic story, so I will try not to spoil it for everyone.

[[deleted user]]

Hey everybody,

I discovered this group just a few days ago so I am a bit late, but I hope I'll be able to catch up with the rest of you soon. Thank you, Trisha, for organizing everything.

I, too, am intrigued by this first part. There are many brilliant moments, yet at times I felt like Hugo was playing a game of "How many clever quotes and incidents can I think of from the elder days of this person? Surely I can do a hundred!" But even though he certainly has his way with words, that's not really what I would call "great writing"! Just like painting the same spot over and over again doesn't make a great painting. So why did he put so much effort into it?

I don't think M. Bienvenu comes across as a truly complex character. Quite the opposite. Even though his choices are different from the ones most of us would make, he seems to me to be remarkably easy to understand. One doesn't need a large canvas to capture his essence.

So I worry that I missed the very point Hugh wanted to make, even after he went to such great lengths to make it, and try to come up with explanations. The only reason I can think of for Hugo's attention is that all these images from his life must be meant to illustrate the depth of his conviction, as if Hugo wanted to really emphasize, with oh, so many words, the idea that "He truly is not playing an act. This is who he is, to the very core of his soul."

When I am in the conspiratorial corner, I think maybe the point isn't what is said, but something that is not said, despite the words. Maybe it could be something shocking, like maybe bishop Bienvenu is the biggest hypocrite of them all! His reversal of the biblical idea of "one tenth", for example. He keeps one tenth for himself rather than give one tenth away. Does he think that by exceeding God's requirements he will earn his place in heaven? He is far too learned to believe so. He even mocks (he's not perfect!) the merchant who wants to buy his way into heaven by giving a coin to the poor women each Sunday. So why does he do it? Who does he think he is? Or what about his sister and maid -- is it pious of him to force his austere lifestyle onto them, at least partially against their will? Will there be a backlash eventually?

I'll go take my pills now :-) Whatever the reason is for the first part, I am curious to see how the story unfolds.

[Katy, Quarterly Long Reads]

No wonder this book is so thick, if Hugo describes all characters in this detail. Good start to this book that I have been putting off for several years. At least it has now moved from my TBR list to Currently Reading List.

[Mel]

I'm roughly halfway through "An Upright Man", and I have to admit I'm struggling a little.

I can appreciate that all these incidents from the Bishop's life are intended to give a detailed illustration of his character, but they're starting to get a tiny bit tedious. I even caught myself speed-reading my way through one part and had to make myself go back and re-read it properly.

But it is at least making me appreciate the advantages of reading something with a book group. The other comments so far have reassured me I'm not the only struck by the amount of description and (at present) lack of plot and it's made me more determined to stick with it, when I think I might otherwise have given up on the book by now.

[Trisha]

I am just hoping that this fella' is a major character in this story since Hugo is putting so much detail and description into him.
Does anyone have any thoughts on his sister? She is described as a very plain spinster who lives quietly with him, never questioning or speaking her mind.

[Lisa of Hopewell]

I loved this quote: "[He} had to undergo the fate of every newcomer in a little town, where there are many mouths which talk, and very few heads which think." (Victor Hugo, Les Miserables)

I also loved the description of the woman "her whole life had been nothing, but a succession of holy deeds, had finally conferred upon her a sort of pallor and transparency."

I know very little about this book. Only that it was mentioned in "Gone With the Wind" as a favorite of the Confederate soldiers and that Queen Elizabeth II had the West End production of Les Mis brought to Windsor Castle for the state visit of the French president a few years ago. This is my first time reading Victor Hugo.

Books with tons of descriptive detail are either great or too boring to finish. We'll see which category this one falls into.

[Jane(Janelba)]

Was a little bit overwhelmed by the first part of this book due to the immense amount of detailed descriptions but I have continued and hoping that all the creation of Seigneur Bienvenu is really relivant.

[Mandy]

First part is packed with details and information..I may hve to re read it before moving to the next part. I enjoyed reading so far but feel I might have missed something.

[Lisa of Hopewell]

"Things will not go well, M. le Comte, until the Emperor has freed us from these black-capped rascals. "

From Chapter 2. I sure hope this gets a little more interesting quickly!

[Jim]

Trisha wrote: "After reading this section, I was surprised by how much effort Hugo puts into the description of everything. Whether it is describing the grittiness of the town, clothing, personal appearence; he ..."
Remember that in movies and TV you can see the street, and the music tells you the mood. Novels often recreate a whole world of sights and sounds by their descriptions. I can picture streets of Paris from Dickens descriptions in Tale of Two Cities. Sometimes an author would use the setting to tell you something about the characters (a person acting like they are aristocracy when their living quarters were more humble) and sometimes the setting is foreshadowing (a gloomy setting can be like the foreboding music before someone gets shot on TV)

[Katy, Quarterly Long Reads]

I made it through this section. Took forever.
Perhaps I will switch to the free abridged edition on the Kindle.

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

I finished this book last year and found Hugo to be long winded, at times even boring. As you continue you may have the same experience. Don’t miss understand, this book is worth the effort and is on my top five best reads list. In the context of the whole book I feel that the Bishop is indeed a small character. However, this interaction between the Bishop and Valjean is pivotal to the rest of the story.

I also think the story of the Bishop is telling us Hugo’s thoughts and feelings about religion. I confess I do not remember the specific section that refers to “atheist”. It maybe that Hugo is saying that a person who does not believe in God has no fear for their soul. This lack of fear makes it easier for a non-believer to act criminally when dealing with other people.

[Christine]

I just finished Book 1 and I am loving it so far. I see that many other people found the author to be long-winded, but I loved all the description. That might be because I am mostly listening to the book on audio, and the narrator (George Guidall) gave an amazing reading of this book. It might be worth noting that I am listening to the Julie Rose translation, and while I see online that this translation has its critics, I am finding it much more comprehensible than the free edition I have on my Kindle (which I believe is the Hapgood translation, but I'm not 100% sure).

I am keenly aware that I am not picking up all the subtle points Hugo is making because I am woefully ignorant when it comes to the history and politics of France. I know a very little bit about the French Revolution, and a very little bit about Napoleon, but much of that discussion is going over my head. I think I'm still able to grasp enough to understand the story, however. Someday if I read this book again, I think I will try to plan plenty of time to look things up as I go along.

I love M. Bienvenu, and I love the detail with which Hugo has painted him, and also the huge gap in his personal history that Hugo left. I wonder what experiences he's had in his life that shaped his character? I was fascinated by Hugo's contrast of him as a young man in comparison with his present. I was also intrigued by Hugo's description of M. Bienvenu's approach to his faith.

I'm excited to finally read this book! Anyone reading with me for the 4th Quarter Long Read?

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

I think that Hugo took so much time in developing and describing the Bishop’s character, simply to show him as being completely devoted to God, almost Christ like. The Bishop who in his piety, lives poor, cares for the poor, provides comfort and companionship to the condemned and dying, and fears no bodily harm when confronted with dangerous situations. He resolutely believes that if his life on earth is lived virtuously and in obedience to the laws of God, he maybe worthy of reward in the hereafter.

Hugo must have believed, only a man of such true faith and devotion could (view spoiler)[have effected the spiritual transformation of a man who suffered 19 years of prison for his crime of stealing a loaf of bread. ValJean was an extremely hardened man, who had never known such kindness. (hide spoiler)]

[Andrea AKA Catsos Person]

I do like description, but I felt that it did not take me as long as VH thought that I needed as a reader to "know" Bishop Welcome.

I think that VHs explanation to show the reader who the Bishop is and and to understand his profound faith went on for too long.

This is the sort of thing that makes me aware that author of the novel that I'm reading was paid by the installment.

I don't dislike the book, despite my complaints.

[siriusedward]

I liked this book.and the bishop.He is a good man with flaws.who leatned from his life.became better.

[siriusedward]

Though the story went nowhere I loved the Bishops thought and the authors comments in this section.

[Karin]

Andrea (Catsos Person) is a Compulsive eBook Hoarder wrote: "I do like description, but I felt that it did not take me as long as VH thought that I needed as a reader to "know" Bishop Welcome.

I think that VHs explanation to show the reader who the Bishop ..."

I think this was an extremely important part of the novel even if it was a bit long. Victor Hugo was not a religious man, nor is this a religious book. What he was showing was a man who did what a Bishop was supposed to do, which was the complete opposite of how most Bishops he knew lived (they were complete hypocrites as a rule, greedy and using their positions for power).

This story is political and pushing for political and social reform, starting with the church, but also government and the view of people (which was that people couldn't change--Javert epitomized that view, plus a few other things as well). It also sets the stage for showing how an act of kindness and forgiveness, along with words to show that he thought Valjean could change, for the entire novel.

[Brina]

Karin and Elena, can I join your group?

[siriusedward]

Do Brina.
I was reading alone though not as part of a buddy read.

Are you reading the book too Brina?

[Brina]

Yes. I have the 1463 page book and am on page 120. Aiming for 30 pages a night. But I've fallen behind and now if I have a buddy I can stay motivated to keep going.

[siriusedward]

I am nearing that.I would like to read with you too Brina.
I keep getting sidetracked by òther books too.

[Brina]

That is my main problem too. So excited. I would like to finish in time to read Anna Karenina but we shall see.

[Loretta]

Brina wrote: "Yes. I have the 1463 page book and am on page 120. Aiming for 30 pages a night. But I've fallen behind and now if I have a buddy I can stay motivated to keep going."

Are you not enjoying the buddy read with our other group Brina?

[Brina]

I am loving it, Loretta, but with my holiday last week, and my body adjusting to the time change, I have fallen behind. I am able to post in both places and might actually catch up.

[Karin]

Sorry, I'm not actually reading it now and didn't notice this was a Buddy read comment! (got it in my notifications). But I've read this novel more than once and it's one of my favourites.

[Loretta]

Brina wrote: "I am loving it, Loretta, but with my holiday last week, and my body adjusting to the time change, I have fallen behind. I am able to post in both places and might actually catch up."

I see!

[Katy, Quarterly Long Reads]

I do hope you all enjoy this book -- it is long and what i know about the French Revolution is in part because of this book. I will admit there were a few places that I just needed to skim read a bit.