Reader's Journal

Title: Le Miserables
Author: Victor Hugo

Why I Decided to Read this Book: It looked interesting and pretty big, and my mom said I would be able to relate to it more than Dostoevsky.

Plot: It spans about a generation and a half, the main story is mostly about Marius and Cosette and how they're trying to be together, but the orchestrator of the whole book is Jean Valjean who rescues both Cosette and Marius at some point, Cosette because he made a promise to her dying mother, and Marius because he was going to get himself killed in the French Revolution.

Themes: Hugo was very active in standing up for the poor and abandoned. He said that it is the fault of the masters and people in power when the poor and weak are suffering. (paraphrased) Le Miserables means misery in French so a lot of the book does cover the number of miseries people go through, but there is also redemption, mainly the redemption of Jean Valjean who is often likened to Christ throughout the novel. Hugo also talks politically about the French Revolution.

Recommendation: For everyone that loves to think, it isn't all that sad, and makes you appreciate what you have to an extent.