Introducing one of the most famous characters in literature, Jean Valjean—the noble peasant imprisoned for stealing a loaf of bread—Les Misérables ranks among the greatest novels of all time. In it, Victor Hugo takes readers deep into the Parisian underworld, immerses them in a battle between good and evil, and carries them to the barricades during the uprising of 1832 with a breathtaking realism that is unsurpassed in modern prose. Within his dramatic story are themes that capture the intellect and the emotions: crime and punishment, the relentless persecution of Valjean by Inspector Javert, the desperation of the prostitute Fantine, the amorality of the rogue Thénardier, and the universal desire to escape the prisons of our own minds. Les Misérables gave Victor Hugo a canvas upon which he portrayed his criticism of the French political and judicial systems, but the portrait that resulted is larger than life, epic in scope—an extravagant spectacle that dazzles the senses even as it touches the heart. 

The Review

And . . .

So anyway, I stopped reading it at about 300 pages in, I just couldn't take it at that time, can you blame me? So I continued it, and it's pretty good, now that I'm reading it again.
What really drawn me in is the setting, 19th century France, on the brink of a revolution, its contrasting characters and locations; on the one hand the poor, living in squalid gutters, and on the other the rich, the well-to-do, the bourgeoisie. The complex characters and their (quite extensively illustrated) backstories, Jean Valjean with his run-ins with the law and becoming virtuous and moralistic, Cosette an orphan girl once abused by the Thenardiers, once frightful and meek now becomes this butterfly from this awkward caterpillar. And the drama of it all, and Victor Hugo's writing still is simply beautiful.

Don't be too intimidated that it's over 1400+ pages long, or that it was made by a Frenchman, or that it was made into a highly successful broadway and West Ends's musical, just treat it like multiple books all crammed into one, like A Song of Fire and Ice. I bet if that was the case, you'd be intimidated by the size too.

I suggest that you buy a good translation of this (preferably hardbound or trade paperback), since this is originally French. Unless you can read fluent French. Mine is the Lee Fahnestock translation by Signet, it's pretty good, some words or  phrases aren't translated, though, but overall pretty nice!

Anywaaaaay, we basically follow a set of characters in the story, namely:

Jean Valjean: The man who's hunted for life because he stole a loaf of bread and a bunch of other petty and non-petty crimes. Here we'll see more of his character development (which isn't just from being a 'bad' and grumpy bastard and into a virtuous saint), you'll also understand more why he's one of my favorite characters in this book, because he's just so awesome and nice.

Javert: The French police officer who has absolutely nothing better to do than to chase an escaped convict for about 20 years. I mean, I get it, he has a bunch of crimes and offenses, but 17-ish fucking years? Come on dude, you could've been more productive. Oh I don't know, track down someone more dangerous? Cheesus.  He was played by Russel Crowe (Philip Qaust in the play). Brilliant performance, though.

Cossete: The girl on the cover of the book. Also adopted by Jean Valjean (Spoilers!), she's one of the main characters here and who'll present one of the best character development catalysts for Jean Valjean.

Marius Pontmercy and the Friends of the ABC (Les Amis de l'ABC) : A bunch of revolutionary French Republican schoolboys who will join in the June Rebellion with their haphazardly constructed barricade, gotta say, I frickin' love these guys and their parts!

Thénardier and Madamne Thénardier: Basically crafty Borat and less crazy Bellatrix Lestrange (Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter) running a shitty inn where they serve piss-wine and mystery-meat sausages.
4/5, Windows were a bit drafty.

Bishop Myriel of Digne: Also known as "Omg-why-is-this-first-book-mainly-about-him" guy. I mean, he only appears for a chapter or three outside of his own little intro book, and then that's it! Victor Hugo even says at the start "Although in no way it concerns our story . . .", come on, man.

Victor Hugo used the plot to convey the political and social France during his time, it's shortcomings and its problems, child workers, corrupt or faulty law systems, poverty. He makes the reader reflect on society and the government, all in all it's kinda like a political and social satire but toned-down a bit. He not only tells a compelling story of a convict, a priest, a lawgiver, and a child, but he also gives us insight into what it was like back in his time, or close to it.

Like the Hunchback of Notre Dame, Les Misérables is also melodramatic, almost to the point where it doesn't seem probable anymore, which was deliberate.
And sometimes, he adds random speeches or narratives about things like politics at that time, some ideas, some irrelevant details, and some unimportant character profiles in between books/chapters, you'll randomly be barraged by his gigantic blocks of text in the middle of an important battle or during a chase.

If you're here because of the musical and because you wanted to know and read more of the musical numbers, then you're in the wroooooong neighborhood! I went and actually looked for the lines that might've inspired the songs, but nah. Couldn't find any, because the musical numbers were of original composition.

I really like Jean Valjean's character and his parts in the book, his development was really big and makes you think "Hmm, if he's an arse right now and later on he can be a saintly man, maybe I can too?", he was incredibly nice and caring for Cossette, she's his treasure. I also liked Cossette's part in the book, especially her childhood, it was a really interesting part in story, and it really showed a lot about the 19th century France back then, and the Thenardiers, and just how nice and awesome Jean Valjean is.

Digressions are EVERYWHERE. 'Nuff said.

It took me a total of about a month to finish this book (Technically two years, but eh), some days I woke up at 7 in the morning, and went to sleep at 1:30 in the morning reading this, it's that good and it's that long!

After finishing this, you might get any combination of the following: Strong arms, strong wrists, terrible eyesight, grounded for staying in your local library until it closed and then you were stuck in there for a day until they opened it again, a book with an arced spine, a deeper understanding of France, a better vocabulary, to be drunk on words (I'll tell you later), insanity due to digressions, and many, many more! :D

Below is a guide on how to make your own work in the likeness of Monsieur Victor Hugo! (More specifically, Les Mis.)

How to Write Your Own Version of Les Misérables:

Step 1: Write down a fragment of a story relating to a general plot line. (Pro-tip: Write lots of sub-plots)

Step 2: Randomly interject French history and French politics which will probably have no bearing in the plot whatsoever. (Pro-Tip: Attack society's flaws and shit)

Step 3: Write another story fragment of about 100 pages.

Step 4: Write about 50 pages or random stuff. (Pro-Tip: Make one about the Battle of Waterloo and the sewers of France, just because.)

Repeat Step 1 to 4.

End Step: Finish making a 1463 page book.

Happy Barricade Day!