Catching up on Classics (and lots more!) discussion

Feel free to discuss the whole book in this thread, spoilers allowed.

Beware Spoilers exist in this thread.

This is the thread for the 2024 year-long buddy read of Les Misérables. While the plan is to read approximately 7 chapters per week, participants should feel free to read at their own pace.

Wow, there are literally 365 chapters; a chapter a day for a year. It's so tempting

I just used one of my Audible credits to get the audiobook narrated by George Guidell. When looking at the older discussion threads in the Hugo folder, this seems to be the preferred narrator. I listened to the four that seemed best and it is the speaker I prefer, too.

I have read a little online about different translations.

1. I tried serial reader, and I just don't think that will work for me.
2. After sampling a few translations, I think the more modern version by Julie Rose that Guidell is reading will be fine for me. I like the older archaic language at times, because it suits an older book. Yet, Rose gives a more full translation with more connotation (emotional content) of the words included, imo. Still, I have switched translations mid-stream before, so we'll see how it goes.

So I have already broken my resolution not to spend money on books. Haha. Just bought the kindle version.

Slow reads, like this, are great for in-depth discussion as well.

I would like to join this. The translation English in this case is important because of the numerous abridgements and best notes as well as one's favorite translation. I love Hugo's digressions so I am looking toward an unabridged translation. This article on the different translations may help or hinder. You be the judge. I am going to probably go with the Christine Donougher because I like the audiobook that follows the translation and want the notes, but I am tempted to try the Julie Rose and if I am not satisfied, I may switch.

https://welovetranslations.com/2021/0...

Does anybody want to post a schedule?

I would also like to join the buddy read, with the French original. Will do me good to read some French ... and I've avoided the French classics far too often (an after-effect of the educational system, I'm afraid. I came to hate them at school ... )

... I went through the first pages to see whether I would have problems with Hugo's French. It does not look like it. The language does not even seem particularly old-fashioned, but that is often the case with originals: they tend to age better than translations.

Lynn wrote: "Wow, there are literally 365 chapters; a chapter a day for a year. It's so tempting"

I agree: Wow.

Les Misérables is such a mega-classic.... and I haven’t read it. I keep nominating it now and then. If it does not win in 2024 in will join this at some point.

A chapter a day it not going to happen for me: around 1400 pages divided by 365 chapters is 3.8 page/chapter. I don’t think I can read that slowly without forgetting the names.

In any case I want to focus on Swann's Way by Marcel Proust (and I almost dare not say so – the poll is so close - Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra in February and March).

Ahem....

2024 is a leap year ;-)

Sam wrote: "I would like to join this. The translation English in this case is important because of the numerous abridgements and best notes as well as one's favorite translation. I love Hugo's digressions so ..."

There is a free version of the Lascall Waxall 1862 translation on manybooks.com. That is one of the translations I sampled. It is complete and broken into separate books. Sometimes I like to compare translations, so that will be a nice secondary resource.

Also Gutenberg free edition
Translated by Isabel F. Hapgood, 1887:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/135

The Lascall Waxall 1862 translation is here:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/auth...

In thinking about schedules and the other books I would like to read this year, I may try to think of Les Miserables as five different books. (Although in the Table of Contents it's not exactly labeled that way.)

I mean, I may try to read Fantine, then take a break with a few other books... and so forth until the end of the year. I am also trying to decide what to drop from my Old and New Challenge so there's time for this book.

I was planning to read this in paperback, but I think I’m going with the audiobook, as well. I’m not sure what the pace will be. I generally listen on my commute, which works out to about 5 hours a week. at that pace, I’d finish in 12 weeks, which seems reasonable.

My initial plan was to read it over the course of the year, but if I do the audiobook, that frees up actual reading time for other things. I think I’ll focus on Swann’s Way first, and then start Les Mis in the spring.

Free kindle copies are available on Amazon and I have downloaded one . It's quite a long book and I hope the French names will not be a deterrent. Still , looking forward to reading with the group .

My plan too Regina--to use audio for the read and the text as backup for when I need more or clearer information.

For my audiobook selection, I will use NAXOS audiobook. I found it on Everand. Surely the same edition is available on Hoopla. If I had access to Hoopla and to the Recorded Books version, I might prefer that. (My library got cheap and opted for another eservice I wonder at.)

What I will be reading from
Les Misérables published by Penguin

and
Les Misérables published by Barnes&Noble

For my/another of my secondary works, I will read.The Novel of the Century: The Extraordinary Adventure of Les Misérables
(No bookcover available on Goodreads)

I found this book on Everand (part of Scribd) after.reading this article on Everand:
https://www.everand.com/article/34327...

Cynda will back full time 2024 wrote: "What I will be reading from
Les Misérables published by Penguin

and
Les Misérables published by Barnes&Noble
[bookcover:Les Misérables|11..."

The Penguin book you linked is translated by Christine Donougher. If you aren't satisfied with your Naxos audio and want a copy of the Penguin audio translated by Donougher, it is only $13.85 in the U.S. on Audible, which is pretty good for 65 hours of audio. It uses five different narrators but has mostly five star reviews. I only mention it because listening to a diffrent translation than you are reading can be difficult.

Right Sam. Although NAXOS usually does a good job does not mean it has this time. . . .Thank you for the information. . . .I mostly listen anyway, using the text to rehear, to consider, to record quotes, just checking like that--and to read the introductory materials and appendices,including notes.

I’m also reading the penguin edition translated by Christine Donougher . I’ve started reading and I think I’m going to enjoy this!

I hope you'll all forgive me this, but I started my twilight morning searching youtube for a song for inspiration and spent an hour listening to these various performances:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNNBr...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydpmz...

Pardon my failure to account for time differences.

Of course Sam. I have Audible membership. . . . I can use my credit for Les Mis. . . . Face Palm moment 🤦

I'm probably joining for this one. If I can I'll try and at least some of it in French.

Well I just ordered the Penguin Classics edition with Christine Donougher as translator. So I have decided to join.

I´ll try to get hold of a German translation from my library, but will start a bit later, as I have to lad a buddy read in another group.

this is excellent - I've been wanting to read this again and like how a year has been set aside to read this v long book, I'm in

Cynda will back full time 2024 wrote: "For my/another of my secondary works, I will read.The Novel of the Century: The Extraordinary Adventure of Les Misérables
..."

this looked interesting Cynda, so I had a look at a kindle sample and yeah - interesting

Yes Anisha. The Novel of the Century: The Extraordinary Adventure of Les Misérables by David Bellos is accessible to those who have watched a couple of movie versions or an abridged version. I highly recommend thos book to be read before, during, or after reading Les Mis. Hugo intended this book to be read by the elite literate and by the increasing number of non-elites who were becoming increasingly literate. This writing a novel for a popular audience was a new concept.

I found the book both at my local library and on Everand (Scribd), on Audible, and you on Kindle.

I am joining in this reading with the edition translated by Christine Donougher. This book has been on my reading list for awhile but seemed intimidating. A chapter a day seems very doable.

Read 6 chapters. I need to read more per week than I have. Waiting for other posts before I say more.

Luffy (Oda's Version) wrote: "Read 6 chapters. I need to read more per week than I have. Waiting for other posts before I say more."

I'm in chapter 6 ... and it's hard going. It's not the most gripping start to a novel ;-)

one chapter per day is the minimum I've set for myself. I hope that I will wish to read faster to get ahead in the story. It does not look like it just now - but well, we are only at the beginning.

I have to trust the author: I hope he has a good reason to make me spend so much time with Myriel's character.

The beginning of Les Mis was really slow for me too. Although I enjoyed Victor Hugo’s writing, I couldn’t really see where the story was going during the first book. But as soon as the second book starts, we are introduced to a very interesting character and it gets way better!

sabagrey wrote: "Luffy (Oda's Version) wrote: "Read 6 chapters. I need to read more per week than I have. Waiting for other posts before I say more."

I'm in chapter 6 ... and it's hard going. It's not the most gri..."

I am on Chapter 10 and I totally agree with you about spending so much time on Myriel's character. I don't understand the inclusion of Chapter 8 at all. It is an interesting philosophical discussion but doesn't appear to be relevant.

Victor Hugo on wrote more than a novel. He wrote a meditation on the nature of les misérables/the wretched of Paris during the revolutions and counter- revolutions that were supposed to allow more people--more of these wretched--the liberty, equality, and fraternity sought for years--yes half century.

Others here have read Moby-Dick or, The Whale by Herman Melville which is a meditation on the nature of whales and whaling. Others here have read War and Peace which is a meditation on war and peace in St Petersburg during The French Invasion of Russia. Dickens sometimes meditates of the working and underclasses of London and its environs.

Here in Les Misérables, Victor Hugo engages in a long mediation in his novel.

Secondary works help readers understand what they do not at first understand. I already knew I would need help, so I selected for my secondary work The Novel of the Century: The Extraordinary Adventure of Les Misérables by David Bellos which covers many topics, some more interesting and others less interesting. I listened all the way through because I read like that, knowing there will be little bits of information I may want immediately or later.

The book is available in book, ebook, and audiobook formats.
Let us know what you select as secondary work because some here may be interested. I will be.

Excellent three posts Cynda! Thanks for the Bellos recommendation. I agree with what Cynda said. The novel is more than the plot with which we are familiar. The term meditation is a fitting description for what Hugo is doing and the reader is being persuaded to meditate along with him on symbols, themes, and ideas as well. I am finding the first book defining through example terms that will be further explored later in the novel like compassion, and sacrifice.

I’m up to chapter 12 and while this isn’t how I expected it to start I’m enjoying it. It’s setting the scene for me with a bit of history and it’s such a long book I wasn’t expecting action from the start. I’m reading the Donougher translation and it’s flowing nicely for me.

Cynda will back full time 2024 wrote: "Victor Hugo on wrote more than a novel. He wrote a meditation on the nature of les misérables/the wretched of Paris during the revolutions and counter- revolutions that were supposed to allow more ..."

I agree with Sam when he says Excellent 3 posts , Cynda ! - even though I , myself , have yet to start this tome . Sam explains further that this novel is more than the plot ..... ( therefore ) the term meditation is a fitting description .... . I hope I am not wrong wrong in adding Dostoevsky 's Crime and Punishment to the examples of Moby Dick and War and Peace ? Crime and Punishment is more of a meditation on extreme poverty and its consequences on human behavior, and the powerful effect of real love on a bitter aethist , rather than a racy crime thriller / exciting romance . Novels by Agatha Christie and Daphne du Maurier ( Rebecca ) are more plot oriented, but with thought provoking characters caught in fast moving incidents . Then , of course , there are the racy who dunnit thrillers that are more for just quick fun entertainment than for being compelled to stop and ponder . I have not yet read War and Peace or Moby Dick , but now I am certainly going to add them to my TBR , thanks to Cynda and Sam .
I will be able to start Les Misérables only after I finish the lovely novelettes Anne of Green Gables and The Christmas Hirelings. That should be around end of January / beginning of February. I am so glad I chose to attempt this huge novel as a buddy read ..... already I am beginning to understand the way it's going to be.

Yes to your list Savita :-)

Thanks , Cynda ! 😊

I have no expectations that midway through, the book will morph into a fast paced thriller. But I do admit that the start seems slow because to my sensibilities it seems to be very artificial.

sabagrey wrote: "Luffy (Oda's Version) wrote: "Read 6 chapters. I need to read more per week than I have. Waiting for other posts before I say more."

I'm in chapter 6 ... and it's hard going. It's not the most gri..."

:) I agree with you on these points. The book has not aged poorly, but neither has it gained timelessness.

Luffy (Oda's Version) wrote: "I have no expectations that midway through, the book will morph into a fast paced thriller. But I do admit that the start seems slow because to my sensibilities it seems to be very artificial."

Luffy , I just couldn't help grinning and grinning at the mildly sarcastic and dry wit in your statement: I have no expectations that midway through, the book will morph into a fast paced thriller . Gosh , it's truly preposterous ( rather hilarious ) to talk about such an expectations ( even in a joke ) whilst in the middle of such a serious and dignified book such as Les Misérables 🤣 👌 .... Gosh , I am beginning to grin all over again 😅 !

On a serious note , hasn't Les Misérables gained timelessness ?

Luffy you make a good point. This novel was written in the Romantic style, written to read by all both elite and popular groups. More people were becoming literate enough to read long novels. For the elites, the Romantic style was the current writing style. For the newly literate, the Romantic style appealed to their desire to read something entertaining and emotionally engaging. So Hugo did a good job playing up the emotional aspects of Romantic writing.

Savita wrote: "Luffy (Oda's Version) wrote: "I have no expectations that midway through, the book will morph into a fast paced thriller. But I do admit that the start seems slow because to my sensibilities it see..."

I suppose it has gained a reputation of an immense classic, which is very impressive. However, one needs to prepare quite a bit to approach LM. Unlike for me, say, Dracula, or D Copperfield, which are both classics and IMO more modern than LM.

Cynda will back full time 2024 wrote: "Luffy you make a good point. This novel was written in the Romantic style, written to read by all both elite and popular groups. More people were becoming literate enough to read long novels. For t..."

Thank you for the info, Cynda. I think that I might give LM at least THRICE as many stars as what I gave Moby-Dick, haha. It will be very educative to read this book, for read it entire I will.

Luffy, this is where I politely/rhetorically disagree. This book is a classic that continues to be reprinted not only in a variety of languages. This novel gives rise to books about the novel. We have talked about secondary sources, such as The Novel of the Century: The Extraordinary Adventure of Les Misérables by David Bellos. From the local library, I have requested a children's retelling which there is listed as Les misérables / retold and illustrated Marcia Williams ; based on the novel by Victor Hugo which Goodreads has listed as Les Misérables . Plus there are at two movie productions that quickly come to mind.

I do understand that there are books considered classics that I do not enjoy reading, will probably not try to read or reread. Yet they are classics in the heart and minds of intelligent and aware people. I do have limitations to my understanding ;-)

Cynda will back full time 2024 wrote: "Luffy, this is where I politely/rhetorically disagree. This book is a classic that continues to be reprinted not only in a variety of languages. This novel gives rise to books about the novel. We h..."

Cynda, I know that I cannot match your knowledge of literature, so I am quite scared of you! I will post here not to engage you like your equal, but to make friends and to be in learned company.

Okay. I will let you be Luffy. Your comments do make me smile.

Cynda will back full time 2024 wrote: "Yes Anisha. The Novel of the Century: The Extraordinary Adventure of Les Misérables by David Bellos is accessible to those who have watched a couple of movie versions..."

thanks Cynda :)