Book Reviews

Book: Les Misérables

Author: Victor-Marie Hugo

# of Pages: 325? I think? (I had a majorly abridged version... unabridged is 1500 pages, can't get that from any library and expect to finish it in two weeks....)

Rating:

Date reviewed: 5/9/03

Summary: Jean Valjean, a convict for twenty years, leaves prison and becomes mayor of a town when he finds a very inexpensive way to make a sort of novelty item (I read it to fast to pick up on the actual thing, oops) and sell it for a much higher price. He changes names and is too modest throughout the rest of the book. When he rescues Cosette to avenge her dead mother, he falls in love with her as she is growing up and then must rescue her love from a battle he got wounded in, and let them have their happily ever after together.

Review: There is a very long explanation as to why I chose to read this book. Originally, for choir we first learned a medley of five songs from the musical derived from this book. I became interested in the musical and searched the internet for a sort of script, and realized it was from a book. I convinced Dad to borrow the book from the library, and then read it, puzzling more than several other classmates, including my three friends Lauren, Julia, and Laura.

Anyway, onto the actual review: it was a great book. I think I would've enjoyed the unabridged version, but I have heard (from my choir teacher) that Hugo tends to ramble about things. For entire pages. It's very advanced, old-fashioned reading, but I enjoyed it. The plot was a little slow to become apparent, a little slower than most books, but I was interested so I kept going. If you can make it past the beginning you can survive the abridged version. ;)

Purchase Les Misérables at Amazon [Unabridged]!
Purchase Les Misérables at Amazon [Abridged]!