Our Les Misérables book banter

In my life, I have never watched a complete musical adaptation of Les Misérables, the epic story from Victor Hugo. In general, I don’t like musicals, so maybe that’s why the story never connected with me. However, once I read the book, I was overwhelmed with amazement. The story was multi-dimensionally good. Read our Les Misérables book banter and review, and see if you agree.

In this book banter and review, I promise not to reveal major plot sequences or spoil the novel’s intricate storylines or divulge the ending. Instead, I’ll write briefly about the major characters and the personality traits. In addition, I’ll discuss the themes of Les Misérables and why this masterpiece moved me so deeply as I read.

My paperback book has over 1,450 pages of small-print text. It looked very imposing when I picked it up for the first time to read.

Be aware that some versions have less pages, but that’s because they have been heavily edited. If you buy the book, please purchase the complete, unabridged version. (As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.)

The story, which spans decades, takes place in Paris from about 1815 to 1832. This was not during the French Revolution. Instead, the rebel scenes near the end of the book were from the 1832 June Rebellion.

For the first 100 pages or so, it seemed like this was a story about nothing happening. There was a bishop, and then there was a criminal who was released from prison. Along with details about their clothes, and daily habits, there was in-depth detail about what seemed to be trivial minutiae.

I mean, it was interesting, but I was wondering if this was how the whole novel would be. All 1,450-plus pages, with small print!

Then, before I realized what was happening, the story slowly grabbed hold of me, and didn’t let go. It was as if the author had tapped into my soul and was speaking directly to me.

And, I don’t know how that happened, but it did! There was the bishop, and the criminal, and their story just quietly grabbed my heart, my soul, or whatever you might call it. It was brilliant.

After that first emotional wrenching of my heart, I could not stop reading. It was magical, and I then understood why the musical would have been so popular.

All those intricate details that I thought were ‘trivial minutiae’ helped shine the light on each character and their side-stories.

For instance, later in the book, there were a massive amount of pages filled with intricate details about the Battle of Waterloo. At first, it all seemed irrelevant.

But, as the author described the brutal battle and its barbaric aftermath, there was one detail that, had I missed it, I would also have missed an important element of two of the characters.

In the battle’s aftermath, there were thousands of wounded soldiers and their horses slowly dying, some piled on top of each other. It was a barbaric scene, but one which had actually happened.

The striking part came when one young person accidentally encountered one of those desperately dying soldiers. And, their interactions, and who they were and how they related to the story was phenomenal. It blew me away—it was heart-wrenching.

So, the lesson from The Battle of Waterloo’s account is to never skip anything, especially the minute details that seem irrelevant. Because, they are probably very necessary to get the full impact from this masterpiece.

Browse for other very good books by Victor Hugo. I’ve read many of them, and they are good! (As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.)

Major characters in Les Misérables:

The main character was a poor peasant—he was imprisoned for stealing a loaf of bread. After his release 19 years later, his community shunned him. He was destitute, and he had to steal to survive.

Despite his desperate circumstances, he struggled to be a person of honor and integrity. As the years unfolded, Valjean met different people in similarly desperate situations. People who were unloved, who were poor, and who had lost hope.

Somehow, Valjean, as he struggled to do the right thing in his own life, also helped those hopeless people. His unexpected but miraculous encounters with these victims made it appear that he was an angel, maybe their guardian angel.

I remember when he accidentally met this poor orphan girl who was sent out into the forest in the dark—she had to perform an impossible task. Valjean accidentally stumbled upon her, and it was miraculous. I can’t think about that encounter now without getting emotional—that’s how much this story touched me.

That’s all I’ll reveal about Jean Valjean, but his story was just one of many that were so compellingly heartwarming.

This couple ran a motel, or an rundown inn—it was like a house but made into rooms that were rented out. There was a bar, and kitchen, and bedrooms. This couple was greedy, and would lie at every opportunity to grift money or things—they were cruel, lowdown dirt. They had a son and daughter, who they treated well, as well as an orphan girl. And that’s all I’ll reveal about that.

However, the husband was one of the soldiers who was wounded during The Battle of Waterloo. And, the young man who stopped to help him, and really saved his life, would appear later in the story. It was a remarkable connection, and that’s why it’s important to never skim over any of the minutiae while reading this book. You’ll miss something important.

There were many homeless children, or street urchins, in this story. They were abandoned by their destitute families, or they were orphaned. So these kids became tough, and with all the time on their hands, they became nuisances to local businesses and pedestrians.

However, they were all human beings. And there was one boy, a street urchin, who was one of the worst nuisances in the neighborhood.

Yet, this boy, when given a chance to do something good, quietly seized that chance and redeemed himself. Nobody saw his good works, but he did them fearlessly and without thinking twice.

This kid, who I initially did not like, really overwhelmed me and showed me that every person can be a good person. Every person can be noble. And, every person is worthy of redemption.

Throughout this multi-decades-long novel, there were other important characters, too. They were all flawed, just like we all are. And many were desperately poor, without hopes for a brighter future.

Yet, somehow, often by interacting with Jean Valjean in accidental meetings, they were able to show nobility and honor as they experienced redemption.

Common themes in Les Misérables:

Most of the main characters had all experienced discrimination, and an unequal dispensation of justice. Valjean was destitute—and he helped many people who were destitute, too.

The street urchins were outcasts, many were outcasts from their family, and all were outcast by their neighbors. Yet, all these characters, when given the opportunity, rose above their destitute circumstances.

Even though I couldn’t stop reading this book, I dreaded what might happen next. All of the struggles and failures plunged them into despair. And, those tragedies were difficult to read.

Our main protagonist, Jean Valjean, who had become hopeless, first experienced forgiveness. The unexpected forgiveness gave him his first glimmer of hope.

After being forgiven, Valjean experienced his first glimmer of hope. And through that flickering glimmer of hope, his nobleness blossomed.

Valjean developed a noble character, who always attempted to do the right thing. His virtuousness compelled him to stand up for the least fortunate in his world. In fact, sometimes his unwavering need to help the less-fortunate got him into trouble with law enforcement.

Despite the risks, Valjean’s nobility never wavered or surrendered.

Forgiveness brought redemption, not only to Valjean, but to all the other characters in this story. In fact, the most destitute persons experienced the highest degrees of redemption. It was a wonderful theme.

Buy Les Misérables today! (As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.)

Here’s a clip from the movie adaptation.

Which did you like best: the movie-musical or the book?

TAKEAWAYS:

Victor Hugo is an amazing author. I cannot imagine all the work he devoted to this complex masterpiece.

And, I think his Les Misérables novel is his best (although he has, and I have read, many of his other excellent novels). If you haven’t read this classic novel yet, I recommend you do. And if you have read it, do it again! It is life-changing.

Thanks for reading our Les Misérables book banter and book review. And before you leave, let us know which you liked the best—the book or the movie-musical.

Content and photos by Doug Martin and Our Book Banter

Browse for other classic novels to enjoy! (As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.)