Jo (The Book Geek)'s Reviews > Les Misérables
Les Misérables
by
by
Jo (The Book Geek)'s review
bookshelves: classics, i-m-in-love, broke-my-heart
Feb 27, 2017
bookshelves: classics, i-m-in-love, broke-my-heart
Read 2 times. Last read March 2, 2024 to June 7, 2024.
2024 Reread:
There isn't much else I'd like to add to the previous review, as I feel much the same as the first time I read it nearly ten years ago; enchanted. I admittedly did find a couple minor irritations with select characters this time around, almost feeling the need to skim read their sections, but even with that being said, this still stands as one of my favourite books of all time, and I have no doubt I'll come back to it again in the near future.
This is one of the longest books I've ever read and it is, without a doubt, one of the best books i've been privileged enough to read. I mean, this is everything I seek in a book. I'm struggling to convey just how I feel about this, due to my excitement! Hugo had me smiling, laughing, raising an eyebrow or two, and most of the time crying, all in one chapter. This is in no way a happy tale, as one can probably tell by the title, but it has affected me more than I had anticipated. Hugo certainly knows how to captivate the reader, and captivate, he did.
"The power of a glance has been so much abused in love stories, that it has come to be disbelieved in. Few people dare now to say that two beings have fallen in love because they have looked at each other. Yet it is in this way that love begins, and in this way only
I am a die-hard fan of the West-end show of Les Miserables, as opposed to the pitiful offering of that 2012 film release. There was plenty wrong with the film, most of all the silly casting, the way it was ridiculously dressed up to be something it absolutely wasn't, and the general feeling of mockery of the book, but I don't worry, because the book tells the story as it should be, without the pathetic need to try and make money out of it.
There are not enough stars in existence in order for me to give this book it's true rating, so I'll just have to give the book five stars, and acknowledge the book's wonderful existence daily as it takes pride of place on my bookshelves. Thank you Victor Hugo, for breaking and mending my heart in 1232 pages.
There isn't much else I'd like to add to the previous review, as I feel much the same as the first time I read it nearly ten years ago; enchanted. I admittedly did find a couple minor irritations with select characters this time around, almost feeling the need to skim read their sections, but even with that being said, this still stands as one of my favourite books of all time, and I have no doubt I'll come back to it again in the near future.
This is one of the longest books I've ever read and it is, without a doubt, one of the best books i've been privileged enough to read. I mean, this is everything I seek in a book. I'm struggling to convey just how I feel about this, due to my excitement! Hugo had me smiling, laughing, raising an eyebrow or two, and most of the time crying, all in one chapter. This is in no way a happy tale, as one can probably tell by the title, but it has affected me more than I had anticipated. Hugo certainly knows how to captivate the reader, and captivate, he did.
"The power of a glance has been so much abused in love stories, that it has come to be disbelieved in. Few people dare now to say that two beings have fallen in love because they have looked at each other. Yet it is in this way that love begins, and in this way only
I am a die-hard fan of the West-end show of Les Miserables, as opposed to the pitiful offering of that 2012 film release. There was plenty wrong with the film, most of all the silly casting, the way it was ridiculously dressed up to be something it absolutely wasn't, and the general feeling of mockery of the book, but I don't worry, because the book tells the story as it should be, without the pathetic need to try and make money out of it.
There are not enough stars in existence in order for me to give this book it's true rating, so I'll just have to give the book five stars, and acknowledge the book's wonderful existence daily as it takes pride of place on my bookshelves. Thank you Victor Hugo, for breaking and mending my heart in 1232 pages.
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Quotes Jo (The Book Geek) Liked
“The power of a glance has been so much abused in love stories, that it has come to be disbelieved in. Few people dare now to say that two beings have fallen in love because they have looked at each other. Yet it is in this way that love begins, and in this way only.”
― Les Misérables
― Les Misérables
“When love has fused and mingled two beings in a sacred and angelic unity, the secret of life has been discovered so far as they are concerned; they are no longer anything more than the two boundaries of the same destiny; they are no longer anything but the two wings of the same spirit. Love, soar.”
― Les Misérables
― Les Misérables
“Nobody knows like a woman how to say things that are both sweet and profound. Sweetness and depth, this is all of woman; this is Heaven.”
― Les Misérables
― Les Misérables
“The first symptom of true love in a man is timidity, in a young woman, boldness. This is surprising, and yet nothing is more simple. It is the two sexes tending to approach each other and assuming each the other's qualities.”
― Les Misérables
― Les Misérables
“What Is Love? I have met in the streets a very poor young man who was in love. His hat was old, his coat worn, the water passed through his shoes and the stars through his soul”
― Les Misérables
― Les Misérables
“Marius and Cosette were in the dark in regard to each other. They did not speak, they did not bow, they were not acquainted; they saw each other; and, like the stars in the sky separated by millions of leagues, they lived by gazing upon each other.”
― Les Misérables
― Les Misérables
“Promise to give me a kiss on my brow when I am dead. --I shall feel it."
She dropped her head again on Marius' knees, and her eyelids closed. He thought the poor soul had departed. Eponine remained motionless. All at once, at the very moment when Marius fancied her asleep forever, she slowly opened her eyes in which appeared the sombre profundity of death, and said to him in a tone whose sweetness seemed already to proceed from another world:--
"And by the way, Monsieur Marius, I believe that I was a little bit in love with you.”
― Les Misérables
She dropped her head again on Marius' knees, and her eyelids closed. He thought the poor soul had departed. Eponine remained motionless. All at once, at the very moment when Marius fancied her asleep forever, she slowly opened her eyes in which appeared the sombre profundity of death, and said to him in a tone whose sweetness seemed already to proceed from another world:--
"And by the way, Monsieur Marius, I believe that I was a little bit in love with you.”
― Les Misérables
“She let her head fall back upon Marius' knees and her eyelids closed. He thought that poor soul had gone. Eponine lay motionless; but just when Marius supposed her for ever asleep, she slowly opened her eyes in which the gloomy deepness of death appeared, and said to him with an accent the sweetness on which already seemed to come from another world:
"And then, do you know, Monsieur Marius, I believe I was a little in love with you."
She essayed to smile again and expired.”
― Les Misérables
"And then, do you know, Monsieur Marius, I believe I was a little in love with you."
She essayed to smile again and expired.”
― Les Misérables
“There comes an hour when protest no longer suffices; after philosophy there must be action; the strong hand finishes what the idea has sketched.”
― Les Misérables
― Les Misérables
“A garden to walk in and immensity to dream in--what more could he ask? A few flowers at his feet and above him the stars.”
― Les Misérables
― Les Misérables
“There is one spectacle grander than the sea, that is the sky; there is one spectacle grander than the sky, that is the interior of the soul.”
― Les Misérables
― Les Misérables
“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.”
― Les Misérables
― Les Misérables
“Teach the ignorant as much as you can; society is culpable in not providing a free education for all and it must answer for the night which it produces. If the soul is left in darkness sins will be committed. The guilty one is not he who commits the sin, but he who causes the darkness.”
― Les Misérables
― Les Misérables
“He fell to the seat, she by his side. There were no more words. The stars were beginning to shine. How was it that the birds sing, that the snow melts, that the rose opens, that May blooms, that the dawns whitens behind the black trees on the shivering summit of the hills?
One kiss, and that was all.
Both trembled, and they looked at each other in the darkness with brilliant eyes.
They felt neither the cool night, nor the cold stone, nor the damp ground, nor the wet grass; they looked at each other, and their hearts were full of thought. They had clasped hands, without knowing it.
She did not ask him; did not even think where and how he had managed to get into the garden. It seemed so natural to her that he should be there.
From time to time Marius’ knee touched Cosette’s. A touch that thrilled.
At times, Cosette faltered out a word. Her soul trembled on her lips like a drop of dew on a flower.
Gradually, they began to talk. Overflow succeeded to silence, which is fullness. The night was serene and glorious above their heads. These two beings, pure as spirits, told each other everything, their dreams, their frenzies, their ecstasies, their chimeras, their despondencies, how they had adored each other from afar, how they had longed for each other, their despair when they had ceased to see each other. They had confided to each other in an intimacy of the ideal, which already, nothing could have increased, all that was most hidden and most mysterious in themselves. They told each other, with a candid faith in their illusions, all that love, youth and the remnant of childhood that was theirs, brought to mind. These two hearts poured themselves out to each other, so that at the end of an hour, it was the young man who had the young girl’s soul and the young girl who had the soul of the young man. They interpenetrated, they enchanted, they dazzled each other.
When they had finished, when they had told each other everything, she laid her head on his shoulder, and asked him: "What is your name?"
My name is Marius," he said. "And yours?"
My name is Cosette.”
― Les Misérables
One kiss, and that was all.
Both trembled, and they looked at each other in the darkness with brilliant eyes.
They felt neither the cool night, nor the cold stone, nor the damp ground, nor the wet grass; they looked at each other, and their hearts were full of thought. They had clasped hands, without knowing it.
She did not ask him; did not even think where and how he had managed to get into the garden. It seemed so natural to her that he should be there.
From time to time Marius’ knee touched Cosette’s. A touch that thrilled.
At times, Cosette faltered out a word. Her soul trembled on her lips like a drop of dew on a flower.
Gradually, they began to talk. Overflow succeeded to silence, which is fullness. The night was serene and glorious above their heads. These two beings, pure as spirits, told each other everything, their dreams, their frenzies, their ecstasies, their chimeras, their despondencies, how they had adored each other from afar, how they had longed for each other, their despair when they had ceased to see each other. They had confided to each other in an intimacy of the ideal, which already, nothing could have increased, all that was most hidden and most mysterious in themselves. They told each other, with a candid faith in their illusions, all that love, youth and the remnant of childhood that was theirs, brought to mind. These two hearts poured themselves out to each other, so that at the end of an hour, it was the young man who had the young girl’s soul and the young girl who had the soul of the young man. They interpenetrated, they enchanted, they dazzled each other.
When they had finished, when they had told each other everything, she laid her head on his shoulder, and asked him: "What is your name?"
My name is Marius," he said. "And yours?"
My name is Cosette.”
― Les Misérables
Reading Progress
August 26, 2016
–
29.37%
"Noting this is one of the classics, this is one of the most frighteningly beautiful books I've had the privilege to read. An Amazingly impressive read so far."
page
450
January 26, 2017
–
91.0%
February 9, 2017
–
Started Reading
February 9, 2017
– Shelved
February 27, 2017
– Shelved as:
classics
February 27, 2017
– Shelved as:
i-m-in-love
February 27, 2017
– Shelved as:
broke-my-heart
February 27, 2017
–
Finished Reading
March 2, 2024
–
Started Reading
May 24, 2024
–
48.96%
"I'm obviously enjoying this re-read, it's wonderfully grand, but I'm finding a couple of the characters difficult."
page
750
June 2, 2024
–
67.23%
"As I am nearing the end of this incredible and wonderfully well-written book, I am momentarily reminded of just how much I dislike the film adaptation."
page
1030
June 7, 2024
–
Finished Reading
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Aidan
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Feb 28, 2017 12:28AM
Adding it to my list. Thanks for the great review
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I've been cheering you on, as you were reading this long book! I'm so happy you loved it! I saw the film and loved it. I'm not brave enough nor young enough to tackle the book--too many shorter books to read. ;<] Wonderful review!!
That's lovely of you Linda! Yes, it took me a while, but was well worth the time! Thank you so much:-)
David wrote: "Great review, Jo Thanks! I've just put a hold on this at my library."
Thanks! It is such an amazing book!
Thanks! It is such an amazing book!
Thank you for the time and thought you put into this very well done review. I've only read portions of it before. I've heard it has lots of amazing detail. You've certainly convinced me that I need to read through the whole work.
Brian wrote: "Thank you for the time and thought you put into this very well done review. I've only read portions of it before. I've heard it has lots of amazing detail. You've certainly convinced me that I need..."
Sorry Brian, but I've only just seen this comment. I'm glad that I've managed to convince you to read the book!
Sorry Brian, but I've only just seen this comment. I'm glad that I've managed to convince you to read the book!
Long novels are my favorite. This is also the fiction I like to reread.
“You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.” ― C.S. Lewis
“You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.” ― C.S. Lewis
I love long novels -- Clavell's Asian Saga series are among my favorites -- but it never occurred to me to read this. Until now. One day ... great review, as always.
Doug wrote: "I love long novels -- Clavell's Asian Saga series are among my favorites -- but it never occurred to me to read this. Until now. One day ... great review, as always."
Thanks, Doug! :)
Thanks, Doug! :)
Michael wrote: "Long novels are my favorite. This is also the fiction I like to reread.
“You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.” ― C.S. Lewis"
Oh, I will definitely reread this someday!
“You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.” ― C.S. Lewis"
Oh, I will definitely reread this someday!
I was looking for a review to get me to read the brick... And maybe I will do it after I read your review. I like challenges!!
It’s always a treat that when you finish a book that you love. that you see down the comments of someone who has a great taste in book’s also give it a five star rating. With a big long review about how awesome the Think this book is filled my heart with joy.
Well done! I loved the 2012 movie, and the musical itself, but I haven't yet mustered the will to take on this gigantic book.