Indian Readers discussion

Hello guys! I am going to start reading Les Misérables from tomorrow, 18th June 2022. There is a reason why this classic book is termed as 'The Brick' within the reading community. It's humungous and from what I have understood, it's better to read it slowly, few pages daily.
Anyone who wishes to buddy read it with me, share their experiences are most welcome here.

Ayush wrote: "Hello guys! I am going to start reading Les Misérables from tomorrow, 18th June 2022. There is a reason why this classic book is termed as 'The Brick' within the reading community. It's humungous a..."

I wish I could join in but I am committed till end of October -- Crime and Punishment , then The Fields and then Lighthouse Island .
Happy reading , Ayush ! It's such a famous book . 📔 😊

Savita, we should do this one after October then😁

Ayush wrote: "Hello guys! I am going to start reading Les Misérables from tomorrow, 18th June 2022. There is a reason why this classic book is termed as 'The Brick' within the reading community. It's humungous a..."
It might be long, but is worth every single page and more. I hope you enjoy reading it :)

Savita wrote: "Ayush wrote: "Hello guys! I am going to start reading Les Misérables from tomorrow, 18th June 2022. There is a reason why this classic book is termed as 'The Brick' within the reading community. It..."

It's a classic in every regard and I am hoping to enjoy the journey of reading this book, apart from the content of course.
I hope you enjoy your reading expeditions as well. I can't praise Crime and Punishment enough. It's a jewel gifted to us by Dostoevsky. Enjoy reading!

Akanksha wrote: "Ayush wrote: "Hello guys! I am going to start reading Les Misérables from tomorrow, 18th June 2022. There is a reason why this classic book is termed as 'The Brick' within the reading community. It..."

I have definitely heard, read very high praises for this master piece by Hugo and am excited to indulge into it. My journey of Les Miserables has just started and am really looking forward to it.

Leena wrote: "Savita, we should do this one after October then😁"

Sure , Leena . But it's a big book - I looked up Amazon :: it's 1666 pages . Doing approximately 300 pages a montth , we would require about 5 months to read it ? If it's okay with you , it's fine with me too . 😊👍
Akanksha has praised it highly and we could follow up Ayush's comments as well meanwhile .

Akanksha wrote: "Ayush wrote: "Hello guys! I am going to start reading Les Misérables from tomorrow, 18th June 2022. There is a reason why this classic book is termed as 'The Brick' within the reading community. It..."

Does the book have a positive overall message , Akanksha ? I mean , it’s not very depressing ?

Ayush wrote: "Savita wrote: "Ayush wrote: "Hello guys! I am going to start reading Les Misérables from tomorrow, 18th June 2022. There is a reason why this classic book is termed as 'The Brick' within the readin..."

Thank you , Ayush !

Leena and I are going to be following up your comments on Les Misérables .

Im absolutely fine with it. So lets plan later in the tear for the Les

Leena wrote: "Im absolutely fine with it. So lets plan later in the tear for the Les"

Okay , fine , Leena ! We'll start Les in November 👍😊 .

Savita wrote: "Akanksha wrote: "Ayush wrote: "Hello guys! I am going to start reading Les Misérables from tomorrow, 18th June 2022. There is a reason why this classic book is termed as 'The Brick' within the read..."
Yes, the message is very, very positive, despite all the bad things that happen. It's sad but never depressing, and the story flows wonderfully so you don't really feel the length.

Akanksha wrote: "Savita wrote: "Akanksha wrote: "Ayush wrote: "Hello guys! I am going to start reading Les Misérables from tomorrow, 18th June 2022. There is a reason why this classic book is termed as 'The Brick' ..."

Thank you for your comment , Akanksha ! Looking really forward to reading this book in November , with Leena . Hope you'll also put in a comment or two 😊 .

Done Savita

Leena wrote: "Done Savita"

😊👍

Savita wrote: "Akanksha wrote: "Savita wrote: "Akanksha wrote: "Ayush wrote: "Hello guys! I am going to start reading Les Misérables from tomorrow, 18th June 2022. There is a reason why this classic book is terme..."

Looking forward to it:)

Akanksha wrote: "Savita wrote: "Akanksha wrote: "Savita wrote: "Akanksha wrote: "Ayush wrote: "Hello guys! I am going to start reading Les Misérables from tomorrow, 18th June 2022. There is a reason why this classi..."

Thanks , Akanksha ! 😊

I have read 5 chapters till now of section 'A Good Man' (Part 1 - Fantine). It has introduced Monsieur Myriel as Bishop of Digne. His character, nature has been described in detail and I must say that if most of us can have even 20% of the generosity that man has then our world will be a beautiful place. He even seems to have a very subtle sense of dry humor. I definitely like his character so far.

Ayush wrote: "I have read 5 chapters till now of section 'A Good Man' (Part 1 - Fantine). It has introduced Monsieur Myriel as Bishop of Digne. His character, nature has been described in detail and I must say t..."

Character wise , I think most of us lie in the grey zone - something good , something bad . A few of us lie in the black end of the character spectrum . Devilish.... Evil 😈 . And a few lie in the white end of the spectrum . Divine souls we come across just once in a lifetime 🪔 . Monsieur Myriel seems to be in the white end . Divine . So reassuring to come across such a person in real life.

Savita wrote: "Ayush wrote: "I have read 5 chapters till now of section 'A Good Man' (Part 1 - Fantine). It has introduced Monsieur Myriel as Bishop of Digne. His character, nature has been described in detail an..."

Completely agree! He definitely seems to be in the white end. Let's see how his character grows over the course of this huge story.

I loved Les Misèrables! Have you also already seen the musical from 2012 with Russel Crow, Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway, etc? I won't add the trailer because I don't know how much spoilers it could give away.

I decided to read the book after have seen the movie/musical. I cried a lot with the movie and then I cried even more with the book. I don't remember how much time it took me to read it, but at the end I was missing all those characters. I loved all of them. Each of them is depicted in such a unique way. The are alive for the reader.

It's not only a book about human beings and their feelings and emotions, about poverty and misery, injustice, but it's also a lot of French history, above all the revolution, so I hope you already know something about it. If I don't go wrong it is set some years after the French revolution, but it's important to know at least something about it to enjoy even more the book.

I hope you will enjoy it!

dely wrote: "I loved Les Misèrables! Have you also already seen the musical from 2012 with Russel Crow, Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway, etc? I won't add the trailer because I don't know how much spoilers it could ..."

Thanks for your beautiful review dely! I certainly have great expectations from this Hugo's masterpiece and reviews like yours simply solidify that expectation.

I have heard a lot about that musical but didn't watch it as I wanted to read the book without knowing anything about the storyline. But yeah, I know a bit about the French Revolution but since you have brought it up, I will read more to enhance my experience of reading this book.

@ dely : Oh , I see ! So it's necessary to know a bit about the French Revolution . Point noted . Thanks , dely !

It's been a slow start for me as I have been unable to read for a couple of days in between.
I have read 10 chapters till now and I hope to increase my speed in the nearby future else it would take me an year to complete this book. (365 chapters in total).

So far, Hugo has mentioned a number of instances, events that have further explained Monsieur Myriel's (Bishop of Digne) lifestyle, thought process and beliefs. He is definitely a unique man and some lines from the book will emphasize that further....

(view spoiler)[ This is what Bishop said in one conversation - "Never fear robbers or murderers. Those are dangers that come from without. Small dangers. Let us fear ourselves. Prejudices are the real robbers. Vices are the real murderers. The great dangers are within us. Never mind what endangers our life or purse! Let's be mindful only of what endangers our soul." (hide spoiler)]

Bishop of Digne continues to fascinate me and I can't wait to read more about him, about his ways.

@ Ayush : I was dazzled by the beauty of the Bishop's words - (view spoiler)[ " Never mind what endangers our life and purse ! Let's be mindful only of what endangers our soul . " (hide spoiler)] Sheer enlightenment ! Should be included in our daily prayers . These dazzling words light up the pathway to Salvation -- the very purpose of the human soul on this earthly journey !

When the book is very beautiful , its length ceases to bother .

Savita wrote: "@ dely : Oh , I see ! So it's necessary to know a bit about the French Revolution . Point noted . Thanks , dely !"

Oh well, I think the Wiki page could be enough. Just to know how much the poor were suffering and were starving. Maybe there is also an edition with a good and detailed introduction.

Ayush wrote: "It's been a slow start for me as I have been unable to read for a couple of days in between.
I have read 10 chapters till now and I hope to increase my speed in the nearby future else it would tak..."

He is a wonderful character and he also embodies Christian values. The whole book has at its base Christian values: to stay on the side of the miserables, the poor, who is suffering.

You will also see that it's a book about good and evil, in many senses. The bishop already starts with it saying to be (view spoiler)[ aware of dangers of the soul and that they come from within (hide spoiler)].

Going on with the reading you will see that there are a lot of situations that good has to deal with evil. There is a "hero" (in the case of this book a person that is a good soul, and then the antagonist that has a really dark soul).

I also think that you will fall in love also with many other characters :D

Savita wrote: "@ Ayush : I was dazzled by the beauty of the Bishop's words - [spoilers removed] Sheer enlightenment ! Should be included in our daily prayers . These dazzling words light up the pathway to Salvati..."

Totally agree! Bishop has said some very beautiful, enlightening words already and I have a feeling that this book will teach me a lot about humanity and moral duties.
This book is beautiful indeed!!

dely wrote: "Ayush wrote: "It's been a slow start for me as I have been unable to read for a couple of days in between.
I have read 10 chapters till now and I hope to increase my speed in the nearby future els..."

Really looking forward to the experience of exploring this book further.

dely wrote: "Savita wrote: "@ dely : Oh , I see ! So it's necessary to know a bit about the French Revolution . Point noted . Thanks , dely !"

Oh well, I think the Wiki page could be enough. Just to know how m..."

Thanks , dely ! I will look for the information in the Wiki .

Almost 2 years later, I am returning to this. Due to some unavoidable matters in my personal life, I was unable to read much. But things are better now and I am also feeling the thirst to read some classic literature lol.

So, if anyone wishes to join me in the slow read of Les Miserables, it will be great.

Start date : 11th May 2024

The aim will be to finish reading 'The Brick' within the next 3 months.

I have a beautiful copy of this brick gifted to me by an anonymous friend on my birthday 2 years ago. But am too busy at work right now. Shall attempt, but may not persevere.

Ahtims wrote: "I have a beautiful copy of this brick gifted to me by an anonymous friend on my birthday 2 years ago. But am too busy at work right now. Shall attempt, but may not persevere."

Les Miserables is a gigantic book, so it's bound to take time to finish. That's why it is absolutely fine to read whenever you can amidst your busy schedule.

By the way, I have Christine Donougher Translation.

I know, I too have attempted multiple times. Have even finished considerable amount of pages last time... nearly 300 or so...

Yeah, it can be tough at times to go through with big books like this. That's why I think it's better to read it with other people. Discussing it often helps in maintaining the motivation to read till the very end.

I hope I will be able to do that till July end.

I just finished reading Book 1 - A Good Man of Part One - Fantine.
I am left speechless and in awe of Monseigneur Bienvenu.
(view spoiler)[ His thoughts, actions and beliefs are truly remarkable. The love and pity he had for everyone in need is truly rare and I couldn't help but wish to actually meet a person like him in real life. (hide spoiler)]