Book #4

My sister and I challenged each other to read the full, un-abridged, 1500 page version of Les Miserables before going to see the new movie.  We gave ourselves plenty of time, with the goal of 100 pages a week, to finish by Valentine's Day.  Two months into the book I got the reading schedule for a 5 Pillar class I'm taking.  Guess what was the first book on the list?  Yep, Les Miserable.  I now had to finish the first half by the 16th of January and the remainder of the book by the 30th.  I upped my pace and finished a week early! 

I'm so glad that read this book.  A few years ago I saw the musical and read a simplified version so that I would be familiar with the story.  This book, though, was so much better.  Victor Hugo does a great job of letting the reader see into the characters--we get to see their struggles, their thoughts, their development.  I enjoyed how everyone and everything tied together.  There is so much more detail in the book that is missed in the play.  Later I'm going to try to take the challenge of picking one theme and writing a paper, but for now I'm just going to introduce some of the characters. 

The Bishop of Digne (M. Myriel) is the first character we meet.  He is a true example of charity, compassion and mercy.  He is the man who brings Jean ValJean back from the dark. 

Fantine is the mother of Cosette.  Though she had her out of wedlock, she sacrificed so much to give Cosette what she thought was a good life. 

Jean ValJean, the main character, was a convict who, after meeting the Bishop, struggled to make his life right.  He is charitable, wise, and self-less. 

Javert is the police inspector who is always after justice.  He wanted Jean ValJean back in prison.  In the end he shows mercy and has a mental breakdown because the merciful act contradicted everything he was.

M. and Mme. Thenadier are the couple with whom Fantine places Cosette in hopes that they will provide a good home for her.  Unfortunately they are horrible people.  They abuse Cosette, they lie and steal, and they treat their children (especially their boys) badly. 

Cosette was just a baby when given up by Fantine.  She knew nothing of her mother.  She was probably 9 years old when she was rescued by Jean ValJean.  She lived with him as her father until she married Marius.  Cosette is an example of trust. 

Marius Pontmercy, the son of a colonel in Napoleon's army, fell in love with Cosette, fought in the revolution, and shows an odd allegiance to the Thenadier family.

Eponine was one of the daughters of the Thenadier's.  She loved Marius and saved his life during the fight at the barricades. 

Gavroche is one of the sons of the Thenadier's and probably my favorite character.  He provide comic relief to such dark circumstances. 

Even though this book was long and at time difficult to read I am so glad that I took the opportunity to read it.  It was a great story with so much to think about.  I'm looking forward to watching the movie.