Les Misérables

by Victor Hugo
Les Misérables cover
Good Books rating 4.31
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  • ID: 2401
  • Added: 2025-10-13
  • Updated: 2025-11-29
  • Formats: 3
  • Reviews: 4
Reviews
Coffee Books and Cake · 2023-10-10
profound 4.75

The characters are beautifully developed, with Jean Valjean standing out as a compelling figure. The book's exploration of conscience and care makes it a powerful read.

The reviewer at Coffee Books and Cake was particularly impressed by the depth and richness of the characters in the book. Jean Valjean, in particular, is portrayed with such complexity and humanity that he becomes the emotional anchor of the story. The book's exploration of themes like conscience, care, and redemption is both profound and moving. The reviewer found the journey through Jean Valjean's life to be deeply engaging and emotionally resonant, making it a memorable and impactful read.

Quick quotes

    The characters are wonderful, especially our anchor Jean Valjean. We journey with him through his agonies of conscience, witness his care and ...

    The book's exploration of themes like conscience, care, and redemption is both profound and moving.

    The journey through Jean Valjean's life is deeply engaging and emotionally resonant.

Tony's Reading List · Tony · 2020-10-19
ambitious 4.50

The book is an ambitious exploration of society, though it sometimes feels overstuffed. The depth of its themes and characters makes it a remarkable read.

Tony found the book to be a sweeping epic that captures the essence of society in a way that is both ambitious and sometimes overwhelming. The characters, especially Jean Valjean, are beautifully crafted, and the themes of redemption and justice are deeply explored. While the book's length and occasional digressions might be challenging, the overall experience is enriching and thought-provoking. Tony appreciates the book's ambition and the way it brings historical and social issues to life, making it a standout piece of literature.

Quick quotes

    It's a remarkably ambitious look at society as a whole, and even if there's a sense the writer is trying to pack too much in at times, it's a ...

    The characters are wonderful, especially our anchor Jean Valjean. We journey with him through his agonies of conscience, witness his care and ...

    The portrayal of ordinary people is particularly fascinating, and I loved learning about the historical context.

lucindaisreading.wordpress.com · Unknown · 2018-12-20
brilliant 4.50

Les Misérables is a vast, epic novel that covers a wide range of topics and is both inspiring and relevant to society today. The book's portrayal of ordinary people struggling through their lives is both tragic and hopeful, with Jean Valjean's redemptive arc lifting the narrative from depressing to inspiring.

Les Misérables is an incredible book that covers a wide range of topics and is both inspiring and relevant to society today. The novel's portrayal of ordinary people struggling through their lives is both tragic and hopeful, with Jean Valjean's redemptive arc lifting the narrative from depressing to inspiring. The book is massive, but the short chapters and interspersing philosophical/historical/cultural asides into the main narrative really work well. There are parts that drag, but overall, the book is compelling and well worth the time and dedication it takes to read.

Quick quotes

    The novel, apart from being massive, is amazing. And very…French. It’s political and idealistic and raw and gritty and factual and endlessly quotable and brilliant and sad and funny and despite being written nearly 200 years ago it’s still (sadly) relevant to society today.

    There are literally SO MANY life lessons to be learned from Les Miserables.

    Despite the heavy moral overtones, Les Misérables never comes across as preachy or judgemental.

The Guardian · The Guardian · 2008-07-11
ambitious 3.50

The book's length and exaggerated coincidences are not for those seeking subtlety. However, its grand scale and thematic depth make it a unique and impactful read.

The Guardian notes that 'Les Misérables' is not a book to be read for its subtlety or clever plot twists. Its gargantuan length and frequent coincidences can be overwhelming, but the book's grand scale and thematic depth make it a unique and impactful read. The reviewer appreciates the book's ambitious scope and the way it tackles complex social and historical issues. While it may not be a book for everyone, its grand vision and thematic richness make it a memorable and thought-provoking experience. The Guardian acknowledges the book's flaws but ultimately finds it to be a powerful and significant work of literature.

Quick quotes

    With its gargantuan length and exaggerated coincidences, Les Misérables is not read for its subtlety or the cleverness of the plot.

    The book's grand scale and thematic depth make it a unique and impactful read.

    The reviewer appreciates the book's ambitious scope and the way it tackles complex social and historical issues.

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