A Journey Through Les Mis

Most people start their summers with a reading program or list to work though. I am ending mine with one. 

And literally one. For some time, I have had an itch to do some personal, soul-enriching reading. Something that's a classic. "The Count of Monte Cristo" was at the top of my list. But after a couple of failed attempts at finding a copy for my own, I went with Plan B. 

The copy I got at our local library seemed off though. Upon closer inspection, it was an abridged version. If I wanted abridged, I could just watch the musical movie again. I wanted the full meal not the appetizer. And thankfully, my wife had a copy she'd purchased years ago - the Fahnestock/MacAfee update of the Wilbur translation for all you nerds out there. 

Apparently this version has earned the moniker "The Brick" due to it's size and shape. I am 194 pages in as of this writing. 194 out of 1,463 or 13.3% of the way through.

I thought I'd use this blog to record my reflections as I work my way through this masterpiece. I will try my best to avoid significant spoilers but as Lenny says in That Thing You Do, "I make no guarantees". A couple general observations before some specific ones. 

• Recognizing the size of this book, I have also recognized that I'll need to pace myself. Hugo's writing is far removed from our social media sound-bite sized posts. If you're embarking on this journey, be ready for digressions. Abide the 19th century language describing a culture and time far-removed from us. Stick with the elongated prose. You'll likely find it interesting and the author does let it all pay off at different points. I have found myself stopping at random spots to let the story ruminate in my mind (for example, you'll note pg. 194 is not at a book, part, chapter or section ending).
  
  
• Having traveled in France twice, it's mind-blowing to consider some of the history of the places I've been. I don't know it in a comprehensive sense and it is not my heritage. Yet it is fascinating.
  
  
• I was familiar enough with the story, given the 2012 movie adapted from the musical. I did not have any history with the story prior to that film and found it to be excellent and stirring. 

Now here are my specific thoughts through Part 1 "Fantine" Book 5 "The Descent" (though not all the way through Book 5 as noted above):

• I was a little surprised and very much appreciated the book's early focus on Monseignour Bienvenu/Bishop Myriel the Bishop of Digne. Given my only frame of reference is the movie/musical where he is a minor character playing a major role in a significant moment (spoiler avoided!) - this fuller picture adds great profound beauty and meaning to the overall story. 
  
  
• I wish I had space, and no worries about your attention span, to quote all of page 51 but this should suffice:

"For after all, we repeat, men like advancement. A saint addicted to abnegation is a dangerous neighbor; he is very likely to infect you with an incurable poverty...in fact, more renunciation than you would like; and men flee from contagious virtue. Hence the isolation of Monseigneur Bienvenu. We live in a sad society. Succeed - that is the advice which falls drop by drop from the overhanging corruption...[Success'] false similarity to merit deceives men...Prosperity supposes capacity. Win in the lottery, and you are an able man. The victor is venerated...They confuse heaven's radiant stars with a duck's footprints in the mud."

• Again, the awareness of the plot prepared me for the transformational interaction between Jean Valjean and Bishop Myriel. To encounter it early in the actual story - and to see it coming as Hugo put the pieces in place - was gratifying. 
  
  
• Petit-Gervais!!! I mean wow. I had to google that character in hopes of some full-circle moment in the novel. (SPOILER ALERT) Alas, it doesn't seem like it will be amended. There's a life lesson there though - not all mistakes can be directly atoned for. 
  
  
• The despair of Fantine seems to be hitting its peak or better yet, it's nadir. This is the part where we grapple with societal injustices, systemic abuses, and our own personal biases.

TL;DR, so far so good.