I have to read it for summer reading. Anyone else done it? Is it good or do i have to dread all summer? I know the musical's good, i've never seen it but i've heard great things, but i don't know about the book. Unabridged version, all 1463 pages of it, plus two other books. Blech. Happy summer!

But anyway, anyone got any comments about it before i read (without giving away the entire book please?) Thanks!

I saw the movie (and you know what Uma was in that movie also)..damn she's been in like every movie.

I havent read the book but i have seen the musical and just to add to what you have heard about it... it was awssssssssssssomeeeeeeeeeeee!!! so im guessing the book should be good

I read the unabridged Les Miserables when I was about your age, and I loved it. Just consider this: the musical based on the book is three hours long (and severely abridged) so you can imagine the amount of detail covered in the book.

There are some parts of the book where you wonder what kind of crack Victor Hugo was on when he was writing (the Waterloo chapters, for example), but I read every word of it and think it was worth it. If you start early and keep up a steady pace, you'll be able to enjoy all the epic detail without feeling rushed.

I plan on reading it again before I die, but I'll need a serious block of time to dedicate to it before I start.

Good luck to you and enjoy!

Well it depends on how you feel about the classics... I have seen the musical 4 times, saw the movie, which was a pretty good adaptation, and I have read the book at least twice, for fun. I love reading, so that is my bias.

It is very good, in my opinion.

Have fun!

that's one book I have in mind to read this summer as well. I've heard the musical but not seen it-if you can, you'll have to catch it on U.S Tour. As far as I know it's closed in both New York and London. It came by this year near where I live, I just couldn't afford it. *stupd unemployed balogna*

The story is amazing. If you don't like reading you might find it daunting, but if you're bookminded you should enjoy it.

<3/Katie

I don't really know much about that, but while we're on the subject of summer reading, I have to read Huck Finn and The Scarlet Letter... ugh.

Well, sounds good. Thanks everyone. See, if it's a book i like, i could have it done really fast. I read the harry potter series in a day, but that's really easy reading. I don't especially like the classics writing style (ie, hated Oliver Twist) but i loved things like the Count of Monte Cristo, etc, with good plots. So as long as i get the complicated plot figured out, i like complicated plots.

Did that make sense? lol.

Well I loved reading the book myself but I do enjoy the classics on a whole! I hated the movie and loved the musical and CD that I own from the musical. I hope you enjoy it too or it will be quite long book!

Good Luck!

AmyBeth :)

you're such a cheater, go and read that book lol, but if you don't want you, why don't you just search in google, it'll be really usefull, the search button is your friend everywhere, don't 4get it

you're such a cheater, go and read that book lol, but if you don't want you, why don't you just search in google, it'll be really usefull, the search button is your friend everywhere, don't 4get it
Oh, i'm going to read it! I was just asking how it was, what i have to look forward to/dread. I will read it before school starts definitely. :)

If you can, get hold of the CD or video of the stage version. It's AMAZING, seen it twice in London and my school did it. The story might be slightly different but it'll give you the kind of feeling and an idea of the times and emotions they felt.

IMHO Les Miserables is the pinnacle of musical theater and, when performed well, can be a deeply moving, emotional experience. if you can get a hold of one of the theater recordings, do so. Otherwise you might want to consider buying a used cd off of amazon.com and listening through it to get an idea of what the story is like. I haven't read the book yet but ive seen it performed numerous times by different acting companies. its stellar. I havent read the book yet, but, unfortunately, ive heard that the book isnt nearly as good as the performance. Still, with a production like Les Mis, even being able to hold a candle to it is quite an artistic accomplishment. Happy reading!

i absolutely LOVE the book - but then i love victor hugo in all his hugoness.
the first time i read it i was a bit to young i think, i skipped over a lot that i realise now was really awesome stuff. i've read it twice since.

the point being, if you really aren't enjoying the writing you can still get the main bits of the plot, if not all the intricacies. and in my experiece that's all a high school english class ever asks for, which is sad but that's an entirely different rant. (hmm maybe i'll go post a thread in whine n cheese)

and if you really get into it, it's an AWESOME novel.