Les Miserables

Les Miserables, originally pulped in 1862, has inspired dozens of films, one of the most successful Broadway plays of all time, plays, radio dramas, and even video games, but can it still inspire your heart when read today? I picked up this Barnes and Noble edition at one of their sales, never before reading this book, and wanting to get some classics into my reading queue. Les Miserables is a blast, the characters are bigger than life, and Jean Valjean is a symbolic representation of redemption, of leading an upright life though the world drags you down at every turn. This is an abridged version, and even so, parts of it aren't an easy read. Hugo mixes in philosophy, religion, politics, and even life lessons into his narrative, and at times this was great and other times it was difficult for me to trudge through. However, the book has a great story at the heart of it. This book is vast in what it covers: honor, war, nobility, neglect, poverty, thievery, inter-family conflict, love, and fait My favorite line: "Love each other foolishly, for the foolishness of man is the wisdom of God."

This is the most amazing non-biblical story I have ever read. I loved the musical and wanted the rest of the story. I read a much more severe (less than 300 pages) version and was left feeling like I still didn't know the whole story. Then I purchase this version and it was just right. Whatever they cut, I didn't miss (and there were still a few bits they could have cut without offending me). So if you want to experience the real Les Miserables and see what all of the fuss is about, I would skip the shorter abridgements and go with this one or, if you dare, an unabridged version.

I read the Hunchback of Notre Dame and was so impressed with Victor Hugo's writting ability that I wanted to read his grand achievement, Les Miserables. I decided however, that I wanted a slightly abridged version because Hugo has a tendency to go for numerous pages about the scenery etc that holds no value to the story but I didn't want a version that was abridges that it butchered the story. I found what I was looking for.... 830 pages of the best fictional story ever. This is a beautiful story about a man who comes across hard times who does a bad thing (stealing) to help do something good (feed his widowed sister's family). He gets caught and ends up spending 19 years in prision. He finally gets released and no one will let him in because of his criminal past except a bishop who later that night he steals his silver. When he is recaptured and they bring him before the bishop. The Bishop does something amazing, he tells the police he gave him the silver and that he forgot to take the candlesticks as well. Jean Val Jean later on gives his life to god and does so many remarkable heartwarming things that it will make you say, ahhhhhh. This story also has plenty of action, adventure and romance. Javert is one of the most interesting fictional characters ever. It also makes you feel sorry for the poor and desolate and lets you know that their problems are sometimes formed from bad luck not necessarily laziness. The story of Fantine is so sad it will make your heart wrench. Just a wonderful heart warming book with so much detail and story that you will never forget.

A wonderful reading of Victor Hugo's classic, Les Miserables. Read by Ben Cross, widely known from his role in the movie Chariots of Fire. What a classic book, what a great listening experience.

Les MIserables was too good. Everything made perfect sense and it all ties up well at the end. It's the only thing i've read by Victor Hugo so far but I hope to look more into his other novels because he is such a good writer. I enjoyed reading this very much and always read ahead when my teaher assigned pages for class. I didn't like the movie as much, it was too vague at times. Infact i want to read the unabridged version because i'm sure it is even better. There were some parts that got confusing but all in all it's a GREAT book and one of my favorites!!