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highly recommended |
You must read this book. 
Les Miserables is the greatest book I have ever read. I have never seen a theatrical adaptation, and I never will because I hate musical theater with a passion; but the book is far better than any I've ever come across. If you go through life without reading this book, you're lesser for it! And don't go the abridged route; abridiging a book is evil in my eyes; read the unabridged version, you will be better for the experience.
Good Book with Some Detriments 
Let me just say this first of all: I am not going to spare Les Miserables in a critique because it is a famous novel and it is an extremely famous play. I have to say that this is one crazy novel. It's very indescribable. Sometimes you just want to put it down and sometimes you just can't put it down.
I have to say that this is a milestone if you read it. It is very boring in some parts because of the rambling of Victor Hugo. Its very unlikely that you will have the same interests as Mr. Hugo (sewer systems in Paris and how Waterloo turned out). So somewhere in this novel you will be extremely and I mean EXTREMELY bored out of your mind, but the reading must go on.
But there are moments in the story when it is entirely readible and is actually exciting (!). You have to learn to feast on these moments like it's your last piece of chocolate. At these times, the story is very enjoyable and you will be in a good mood wiht all the drama, action, and emotions.
Victor Hugo I have to say was an excellent writer in his time. His stories are timeless due to the fact of their universal emotional appeal. He bases this book on many emotions of different characters, which has lead Les Mis to its survival for a few centuries. Suspense and secrets are great in this novel and you will definitely have fun guessing characters in disguise (I've gotten most of them!). The characters are intertwined in very many ways and Victor Hugo is great at adding little by little information into the story. There are so many characters, but he adds them one at a time and certain chapters and mini "books" only have a few main characters in them, so its not that confusing.
So in conclusion, it's close to miraculous if you finish this book, but its also its excitement moves it along a little bit. There is extreme drama, sadness, teary eyed happiness, anger, confusion, the whole emotion in this book. And even if you haven't watched the musical (you're not alone), this is a great book and is indescribable. Victor Hugo is absolutely a fantastic writer, but its inevitable that the book would become a little obselete within so many years.
Amazing Read - More than a book
There is an excellent reason why Les Miserables has been rated as one of the best books to be ever written and the writer deserves every bit of credit he has received.
Les Miserables is more than a read; it's a life experience. It gives the reader the pleasure of digging deep into what life can and does offer to people living in different conditions, though it tends to focus on those who face abject poverty. There are so many complicated thoughts expressed in the book, it'll be difficult for you to perceive the material for a train of philosophical thoughts. Philosophy has debate written all over it, meaning that 'you're never wrong as long as you argue correctly'; 'there are two sides to every coin'. But, after reading this book, you'll be surged with ideas that will be incontestable to the very last page.
Victor Hugo has an intimate understanding of human nature and his writing reflects that in the best way possible. You'll be amazed as to why you kept yourself from reading this book before. A note to those who like their read to be precise :: you know the saying "patience is virtue"...this is where it'll be worth working on that phrase. I am not sure how the abridged format of this book fares, but one thing is for sure and it's that the unabridged version will definitely not disappoint you. At the end of the read, I found myself comprehending this "If people like Jean Valjean exist, I hope I will be fortunate enough to realize when I meet such a person"....I believe that good thoughts/ideas usually are inspired by events from the past, so I'm sure there is some basis to where this story comes from. I have thoroughly enjoyed the authors style of writing and will highly recommend this book to a novice as well as a regular reader. Every great book leaves it's reader with a joy of learning something valuable and Les Miserables hits the mark splendidly. So, get hold of your copy soon and experience the great feeling which people all over the world share on this book. Enjoy!
The dichotomy of law and grace
Great fiction carries with it more than the story it tells. It contains also timeless and universal themes that continue to speak to us long after we finish the last page. Les Miserable is one of those great fiction works that will give us pause to consider where law and grace meet and diverge. At the same time it is a beautiful tale of love and devotion to truth. Do not miss this gem of literature. The musical is wonderful, the book is even better.
Hugo a la High School Francaise.
As the title suggests, I was introducted to Victor Hugo in my Honors french class in high school. Of course being in high school I never really took the assignment with any seriousness(not to mention it had to be read in french for which I was only partially listening) and forgot completely about him. Then a year later and in college-- I was reintroduced to the wonderful workings of this classy frenchman.
Set in 19th century france, this story follows several characters who ultimately cross over and influence eachothers lives without ever knowing it. Our "hero" Jean Valjean is an escaped convict, who decides to restart his life fresh and with a helping hand to every. The story is a somewhat domino effect, where one action of a character influences another and so on and so on. Upon finishing the book, I must have sat back for what felt like an hour and just reflected. The characters are so well rounded and detailed it makes it feel almost like a personal journey. I laughed hard, and cried at times. Very Recommended.
reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, page 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15
les miserables, miserables
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