/lit/ - Literature

I've read both... unabridged. Makes me feel like I won a gold medal or something. Hugo is good at setting up something epic, and giving you some characters who are very interesting (and some that are annoyingly naive). The problem with Hugo is that he wants to write a lot about social and political issues in his books. He doesn't try to make it work with the story, but instead takes long chapters and discusses these issues in the midst of the story. Sometimes the subjectmatter is interesting, often it isn't (no, I don't care about the goddamn Parisian sewers). I have a love-hate thing for him. He obviously was passionate and knowledgeable of history, but often I find he just putters around when he hits important climaxes of his stories. Still one of the best in France.

Also, hate to say it, but the Les Mis musical is my favorite representation of the story. I think it did a good job of focusing on the best aspects of the story and making it a real passionate piece. I could sing the entire soundtrack word for word. It's full of delicious Javert and Enjolras goodness. Only thing it lacks is enough Gavroche. There's never enough Gavroche, that cute scamp.