Buddhapants

Unabridged version of course.

In my opinion, the greatest novel ever written. If you don't agree, then put up your dukes and let's throw down.

Addison

Although The Wind in the Willows (yes, well - sorry, chaps, but that's how it is) and Tristram Shandy occupy the highest positions in my pantheon of favourite books, I'll admit my admiration for Les Miserables. It is certainly among my favourites, though not at the very top.

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Great God, how frail a thing is man; how swift his minutes pass:
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Le Fantome de L`Opera

Are you familiar with the musical adaptation of Les Miserables? It is so much better than the actual book which, in my opinion, read like a history textbook.

Basilisk

I'm going to agree with him on that. I doubt I would consider it the best, though it is certainly very good. And anyway, I liked the musical better, but then again, I just like musicals period.

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Winged Sandals

I actually haven't read the book, although I hope to someday soon. I saw the opera and... eh, honestly, I hated it for a lot of reasons. I found it repetitive and boring and it seemed like the play centered on the least interesting of the characters. The basic story intrigued me, though, and I think that the characters are probably much more developed in the book. If it's what I hope it is, the book should be very complex and good. Then again, though, all of my assumptions might be completely baseless and wrong instead. That's always a possibility too, heh.

MASK

I'm love Les Miserables. I've read the book several times, have seen several movie adaptations (why, oh, WHY do they almost always leave Eponine out, and end it early on a happy note? That's like the line from Gremlins 2 that plays over the loud speaker: "Casablanca, now in color and with a happier ending!"), and I have the musical on my Ipod. (the international cast with Gary Morris as Valjean and Kaho Shimada as Eponine, for those interested--best cast in my opinion).

The musical takes on an extra dimension if you've read the book. Makes it much more poignant. I also have an incredibly old version of the novel (split into three seperate books). It's tied for first on my list, with Phantom of the Opera (book and musical, natch), Fear Nothing (by Dean Koontz), and Seize the Night (also by Dean Koontz). I think it's a must read. Besides, didn't Hugo write it while in exile?

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"There I stood in the darkness, and before me lay the death of the world." -- Xavier St. John, 'Tenement of Clay'

"This is how the world ends. Not with a bang, but a whimper." -- T.S. Eliot, 'The Hollow Men'

LadyPenelope

I've never read Les Miserables, but I plan to. My Nan's best friend took us to see the musical a few years ago and I fell in love with it.
Mask, how can they leave out Eponine? Scandolous! She's my favourite character!

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mbolton29@mac.com

I read the book years ago and just recently saw the musical. I was apalled at home much was left out in the musical especially how they neglect that Gavroche is Thenardiers' son, which I considered the most powerful part of the story. Both are still amazing and I idolize Javert for his awesomeness more than his evilness.

Beethoven

I read the abridged version(it was about 815 pages).

Javert was an excellent character.

Amour

Haven't quite finished it, though I love every word I've read. With Hugo, however, I fear much is lost in the translation. Anyone read the French?

MiloDaePesdan

Les Miserables is up there, for me at least, with The Count of Monte Cristo, The Three Musketeers, and a bunch of other classics. I didn't mind the backhistory because unlike a fantasy epic, some of it--maybe most--is true. It's basically a rags-to-riches-and-down-again story.



Milo

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Aurora Asha Ila

Ohhhh finally, a group of people who read what i read.

The count of Monte Christo is sitting next to Les Miserables on my bed side table right now. lol. Two stories that i enjoy over and over again.

Hugo has some extreemly good advice to give on humanitarian subjects, and helps put poverty and blown up opinions into perspective. I am reading Les Miserables for the first time, however i did see the musical when i was younger.
I realise now how much they cut out of the true storyline from the translated version.
However this would be extra if, as Amour has mentioned, there are some parts that have been lost in translation.

The part where Cosettes' mother sold her two front incisors for the money for her daughters "medical bill" actually reduced me to tears. Not many books can do that.

What strikes me as more of an injustice, is the fact that so many of the people i know, as smart as they are, and as much as they enjoy literature, have not read this novel.

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MiloDaePesdan

Sigh. I only have the Gutenberg version of Les Miserables. Think I'll drop by the uni bookstore, grab a copy, and see what the dead-tree publishers omitted in comparison to the ebook.

But there's this game I really want to play... Oh, the uncertainty! The indecision! Horror!

...

I'll go buy the game tomorrow.

Let them find it for themselves. It's like treasure hunting, see? Like finding a real gem in the library. More enjoyment if a person discovers it on their own.



Milo
I haven't seen the musical, nor do I plan to.

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Aurora Asha Ila

good point.

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Everything changes. When you learn the truth behind a persona. Was Oscar Wilde really Oscar Wilde?

~Kouryuu~

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