Les Miserables

???To die is nothing, but it is terrible not to live.???

Was on my TBR since as long as I can remember.
Finally got my hands on the audiobook. Will have to read it someday though. Victor Hugo's writing is effortlessly beautiful.
Now that I think about it, we did have an excerpt of this in our school curriculum.
Jean Val Jean and the candlesticks with the bishop. That is why this name and the story has been stuck in my brain since forever.

Jean Val Jean's story and his life long animosity with Javert is a joy to read, or in this case, listen.
Having watched the musical, the only Fantine I could imagine was Anne Hathaway's brilliant performance. Will have to definitely rewatch.

This particular dramatization is exactly how a story should be. Full of imagination.
Not only is the prose narrated, but the background noises add to the whole experience where you feel you are fighting in the rebellion alongside Marius.
I wish more audiobooks were produced this way. Creating your own personal movie in your mind's eye.

It touches on so many complex themes. The fact that this was written in 1862 and is still relevant to this day, blows my mind.

A classic tale of love, revenge and forgiveness. A must read.

In an effort to branch out into reading more manga, I decided to give this a chance. The story of Les Misérables is one that I've loved since the first moment I read it. I've read the original story, seen the musical, and of course seen the movie adaptation. So, why not add the manga to my list of formats in which I have experienced this moving story? I went into this excited, and a bit wary.

I must say, Fantine and Cosette transfer perfectly into manga format. The big eyes, sweet faces, and all around adorable nature of manga female characters is perfect for these two. In terms of Jean Valjean and Marius, I was a little less sold on the way they were drawn. Maybe it's just me, actually it probably is just me, but I like my Jean Valjean a little more on gruff side. Personal preference and all that, but it's the truth.

The story of Les Misérables is a little watered down in this version, which I understood. There simply isn't space for all of the little nuances that this story generally has. I did appreciate that they kept some of the more important lines intact, and manga honestly does convey emotions well. It was a fun ride. I think what I missed, more than anything, was the music. I remember that I read the novel before I saw the musical, but after I experienced the musical I could never go back.

So, this three star rating is simply based on preferences. Fans of manga should definitely pick this up, especially if you haven't experienced the story yet. I also think that readers, like myself, who are looking to branch out will appreciate starting with something they know. I know I'll be on the lookout for more of these! I love the fact that I can experience stories that I love, in a new way.

Victor Hugo's classic Les Misérables is a good story bogged down by many digressions. It's probably what anyone should expect from the era. Authors of the time did frequently step away from the narrative and give their opinions about this matter or that, then tell you about the historical context (Hugo departed from his opinions occasionally to tell the story). More than once, Hugo wrote, “The following is an authentic incident which, although it has no bearing on our story...” “Although it has no bearing on our story”–this is a problem. Half the book could be eliminated and you'd still have the same story. Fortunately, the tale that is the backbone of Les Misérables is memorable enough than the reader still recalls the story by the time Hugo finishes his thirty or forty page rant.

So I will say flat out that Hugo was not a great novelist as we think of it today. Not only did he try to lure the reader into a book of philosophy, political theory, and whatever other train of thought Hugo wanted to follow, but he tried (unsuccessfully, I believe) to trick the reader with moments of suspense. He played this game where he tried to suspend the revelation for several chapters. Maybe it's effective the first couple times, but it becomes clear too early that it is a gimmick. This man, the man you've been reading about for the past thirty pages, is really...

All that thrown to the streets and left to beg, Hugo was a wonderful storyteller. The tales of Valjean, Fantine, Cosette, Marius, et al are epic. They may only be loosely connected to one another, but their bulk is comprised of one theme. Parallels can certainly be made to the Bible when viewed as a work of literature. Both are filled with tragedy, history, love, and enough digressions to reinterpret and make a religion out of. But the stories that many people remember from the Bible—Cain and Abel, Joseph and his brothers, Moses and the exodus, the birth of Jesus, the prodigal son, Paul on the road to Damascus, et cetera—these stories carry much of the same love, jealousy, anger, and hope that the stories in Les Misérables impart on the reader. And when you take a step back, look at the story in its full context, try not to let your annoyances or biases get in the way, you'll find a story of redemption. That is the Bible. And that is Les Misérables.