On March 11, 2018 I officially finished the first section titled "Fantine" of Hugo's massive tome. As a reminder, I am taking part in the Les Misérables one-Chapter-a-Day Read-along hosted by Nick over at One Catholic Life. I have to admit, I haven't always stuck to the one-chapter a day format: occasionally I read more than one chapter a day and on some days no chapter at all. But I am pretty much pacing myself and so when I do read ahead or have to catch up, it is only two or three chapters at a time.
And I admit, I really am enjoying this slow way of reading. I was a bit worried that I wouldn't remember earlier events, but I think I am actually remembering more than I usually would because of the slower pace. Go figure!
The story so far is pretty great. I had never read Hugo before but he certainly reminds me of Dickens in his use of the novel as a form of social criticism and an appeal to the reader for social justice and compassion. Also, characters like the terrible Mme and M. Thénardier are very "Dickensian" in their depiction. I suspect, however, that using the novel as a form of social criticism was the thing to do in the mid-nineteenth century in Europe. I don't mean to suggest that Hugo was influenced by Dickens or vice-versa.
I am not going to give a plot summery here, but I had certain expectations entering into this book based on its reputation and bits and pieces that I have picked up without having ever read it or having seen a full adaptation of it. It has been interesting in reading first third of the story to see where my assumptions are wrong, such as the majority of the the story takes place (so far) outside of Paris, how Fantine and Jean Valjean meet, etc.
Now I am knee deep in the next section, named after Fantine's daugther: "Cosette". Allons-y mes amis!
I remember a copy being at my grandmother's house. I belonged to my mother or my aunt. I was always reading, so I gave it a try, but it definitely wasn't for a ten-year-old, and I never gave it another chance. Love the Classic Comic pic! I read those as a child and cried over the scene in Silas Marner when the mother dies in the snow. Every time. Classic Comics were great introductions to the classics.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment Jenclair! I also picked up stuff as a little kid that was way over my head. Precocious readers :)
DeleteI wish I had read Classic Comics as a kid! I just picked the image because it was fun. What a great idea to get kids interested in these stories. Along those lines, I remember my little brother years and years ago when he was
about 10 very excitedly telling me the story of Les Miserable because he had watched the miniseries.
Hi Ruthiella, that's great that you have joined the Les Miserables read along challenge. Some of these big classics, War and Peace is another one, need to be mapped out as to how we are going to read them. Never read Les Miserables I do know that the story of Fantine is so tragic.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment Kathy! Yes, it is funny how culturally one picks up bits a pieces of theses stories whether we want to or not.
DeleteI have a copy of War and Peace waiting for me and should look for some sort of read-along structure to help me tackle it. I am also hoping to try Don Quixote at some point in the near future!
I sometimes wonder if I should reread this but I have such a fond memory of when and why I devoured this book as a Senior in HS. I recall just bawling, physically heart-wrenching sobs for the last 60 pages. I might have that memory wrong and so don't want to know that!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment Care! Don't mess with that fond memory! I'll bet it is accurate. No need to re-read!
DeleteI love slow reading books like this--actually, I totally understand why you remember the characters better. You get to know them over time, live with them, they become familiar. The books I don't remember as well as those that I fly through. I read A Woman in White over almost a year, and it was a wonderful experience. Maybe I'll put Les Mis on next year's slow boat.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment Jane! Yes, reading a big classic in this slow manner has its advantages! I hope to travel on the "slow boat"(great expression!) with a few big tomes in future as well.
DeleteI've seen the movie that came out a couple of years ago?? Plus I went to a theatre production so I know the story generally but I've never read the book. I've come to appreciate the slow cooker reads. I'm doing that now with Sigrid Undset's trilogy, Karen Lavrensdatter. Roughly a few pages/chapter a day but it's such an engrossing read that I'm moving along nicely. Now War & Peace is another matter. I do want to read that this year but I was also hoping to read Anna K...we'll see.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment Carol! "Slow cooker reads" is another great expression for this type of experience. :) I also want to read the Karen Lavrensdatter trilogy some day! It sounds so good.
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