Les Misérables

“It is nothing to die. It is frightful not to live.”

― Victor Hugo

Why I’m Reading this Book?

Back in 2012, when Les Misérables musical movie came out, I went out with my roommate to watch it. I knew nothing about this story. Half an hour in, and I was so bored out of my mind (musical is not my thing), that I left the theatre (only did it once). From that point on, this story has been a thorn on my side. I always prefer book over movie, so this book was in my to-read list for a very long time. Last year, I finally build up enough nerve to pick up this book (1400 pages) and one year later, I can say that I finally completed it.

Synopsis

Story follows in the footsteps of Jean Valjean , an escaped convict, his motives, struggles and redemption. Other characters like Cosette, Fantine, Marius, Javert, Thenardier, Gavroache are some of the memorable characters who touches our Hero’s life in one way or another. Book is a social commentary on poverty, societal inequality and injustice, and above all , human tendency to strive for being better, and constant search for redemption. Not a happy book by any means, but a very impactful book.

My Review…

There is nothing new I can say about this book or its immortal characters that have not been said before. What I would say is that this book is a commitment. When you walk with it’s characters for 1400+ pages, you can’t help but involve.

When I started, my only motive was to finish the book and have a basic understanding of the story to understand the big hoopla about this book. That feeling continued for a very long time. The flowy , romanticized way Victor Hugo wrote, didn’t help either. But there comes a time, when you transcends all this and become just one more character to see the book to its end.

Last page were furtive reading if anything, I wanted to know badly what happened to Jean and would he finally get what he deserved. Last chapter was very bad emotionally, writer will give hope just to snatch it away, and he did it three times. I was crying and then was relived on a loop. I think this last chapter was the one, that made me love this book. You can’t be that invested in something to bawl your eyes out and just liking it.

My favorite chapters in this book are one with the Jean’s journey in sewers and the last chapter where Jean, Cosette and Marius unites. The chapter where Jean gradually stops his visit to Cosette is also very heart-wrenching.

Overall, it was a time , mind and emotional commitment, but it was well worth it. It took me almost 1 year to finish this book, and I may have rushed to get to the end, and now that I’m at end, I want to read it again but slowly this time. But I dont know if I ever will come around to do that given the vastness of this book. So the movie is in to-watch list now as well.

My Rating — 4

On the scale of: (1- Hate , 2- Neither like nor dislike, 3- Like, 4- Love, 5- Gaga)

Why anyone else should read this Book?

It’s a classic and timeless. Its a story of humanity triumph over adversity. No better premise that that.

Also, If you are a person, who likes to build a relationship with a book, who gets sad when that book is finished and crave for more, this book very well might be for you.

“To love or have loved, that is enough. Ask nothing further. There is no other pearl to be found in the dark folds of life.”

Love, Richa