Rochelle ✿'s Reviews > Les Misérables

If there ever was a book that took me by surprise, it would be Les Misérables. And I am not just talking about the many plot twists.

This book contains, quite possibly, the largest number of literary themes and personas I have ever encountered in just one single body of work. Rogues, rebels, police officers, prostitutes, bishops, the poor, the rich, social injustice, love, hate, compassion, redemption, death... All merged together into one gigantic mishmash of storylines and character backgrounds and set up against the background of the political uproar following the French Revolution.

The central character, ex-convict Jean Valjean, is one of the best characters I have ever read about. After stealing bread to save his sister's starving children, he is sent to the galleys to waste away as a slave for years and years. His trauma is hinted at in every corner of this book, and it is all so beautifully done. The arc of redemption Hugo gave him kept me hooked until the very last chapter.

"A few minutes only separated Jean Valjean from that terrible precipice which yawned before him for the third time. And the galleys now meant not only the galleys, but Cosette lost to him forever; that is to say, a life resembling the interior of a tomb."

Jean's story alone would have kept me reading, but Les Misérables throws new characters your way any time you are not expecting it — bringing new bits of philosophy and insight into the human psyche as they come. Each character is connected to Jean in some way, but also has enough distinct features and characteristics to never fall into the background. Gavroche, for example, only really becomes important to the storyline once the June Rebellion starts; however, I spent enough time reading about him to know exactly who he is and what he stands for.

This book made me cry (multiple times, oops); as the title states, this is anything but a happy story. But the author's humor shines through very often too. At times, the characters are made fun of; at others, there is some light-hearted remark or witty dialogue to lighten the mood:

"Monseigneur, you who turn everything to account have, nevertheless, one useless plot. It would be better to grow salads there than bouquets."
"Madame Magloire," retorted the Bishop, "you are mistaken. The beautiful is as useful as the useful." He added after a pause, "More so perhaps."

The pacing is slow. Very slow. Which shouldn't be a surprise to anyone, as the page count is what the story is notorious for. I took the book with me and read it everywhere: in a city apartment on the 46th floor, outside in the garden, and even on the boat I took a trip with last summer. Luckily, the story is divided into "books", which are in turn divided into small chapters. It makes reading this more manageable. And even when you aren't particularly invested in a certain chapter or character, there's always pretty writing to look at!

The sole reason I can't give Les Misérables ALL of the stars is because I am very strict when it comes to five-star ratings. I sure as hell won't be re-reading this book. I think. Plus, those endless chapters with elaborate explanations of battle strategies, Waterloo, and sewers did not impress me. As much as I appreciate the way Hugo's mind worked, I would have liked to see him stray less from the actual plot. Hugo's area of expertise is very clearly the flip side of life in 19th century Paris, but I could have done with a little less information.

That said, read this book. Please. Maybe an abridged version, though.

"Nothing oppresses the heart like symmetry."

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Additional Notes:
- It took me so damn long to finish this book that I'm starting to think my reading slump was partially caused by it. Literally a book hangover
- The fact that I read this over lockdown makes me even more attached to it, I think. I'd recommend this to anyone with a bit of time on their hands :)