Les Mis is among my favorite books. I don't remember how I came across it, but I first read the (unabridged!) work several years ago. We had a sort of informal NarniaWeb reading group, and I remember exchanging observations with Lysander and Cymru, among others. It added so much to the experience!

So many Christian themes appear in this book: adoption, grace vs law, and forgiveness among them. Valjean, and his usually-gracious response to all the suffering in his long life, is my favorite character, though there are others I like almost as much.

Hugo's famous (or infamous ) 'detours' into other subjects such as the Battle of Waterloo, politics, or the sewers of Paris seem to be unrelated diversions until he ties them into his main plot.

I haven't seen any live-performance adaptations, though I own the 1998 movie adaptation with Liam Neeson (Aslan) as Jean Valjean and Geoffrey Rush (recently in The King's Speech) as Javert. This version has its detractors but I think it does a good job given the massive scale of the original book.

I would be remiss if I didn't link one of my favorite video clips of the musical: the finale of the 10th Anniversary Concert, featuring "Do You Hear the People Sing?" and "One Day More" performed by 17 Valjean-portraying actors from different countries. I really enjoy hearing this song of freedom performed in so many different languages:

I first came across Les Mis when my family received the Focus on the Family audio drama of it as a thank you gift around Christmas time. I loved it and listened to it dozens of times. One whole scene, in which Marius talks with two or three of his college friends, I memorized and could quote. It was a very funny section. I finally borrowed the book from the library and read it and was kind of disappointed. It was quite different in places from the audio drama and I didn't like near so well.

I haven't seen any adaptions although I'd like to someday.

I hardly remember the book so I don't have a favorite part. My favorite part of the audio drama (I'm sure it was in the book too) was the scene mentioned above with Marius and some of his friends talking. My favorite characters are Marius, Cosette, and the little boy

Came across the book when my mother read it aloud to us for school. I was probably in high school then.

Unlike 99% of the people i see on here, i didn't like it in the slightest, and not just because of the lengthy treatises on unrelated topics (battle of Waterloo, sewers, etc.). I didn't like any of the characters, i didn't like the way it was written, the story didn't pull me in, and in the end i just didn't like it.

I saw the movie version stargazer mentioned before i read the book. I liked it a lot, which might have had something to do with how little i liked the book, but probably not a lot, as i generally like books better than movies even when i see the movie first.

Also before reading the book, i saw the high school version of the musical, starring one of my cousins. I remember liking it, and the music was certainly very good.

Next week, my sister and i get to see the full musical in Milwaukee. I'll probably report later on the experience.

Edit: Favorite character/favorite part? Well, i don't remember particularly liking any part of the book, but for favorite character i'll go with the bishop (from the beginning).

I actually grew up watching the the 10th anniversary edition on VHS (lol vhs... ) as a kid, I really only remember hearing the songs 'look down' and 'castle on a cloud' so I went back and watched it again and am loving it I'm working on the book right now (it's so big ) and the neelson movie is in my quene on netflix

stargazer, what's the unabridged version? I have no idea which version i'm reading... i just know it's published by 'modern library'... is there much of a difference??? And yeah, that's one of my favorite parts in the 10th anniversary version

i think in the musical the boy is gavroche... but I'm not sure about the audio drama... or the book

Next week, my sister and i get to see the full musical in Milwaukee.

I am seeing it in Madison next month with a whole group of friends. You have no idea how excited I am!! 29 days!!

Stargazer, I love the 17 Valjeans! It is so cool to hear it in all the different languages. My favorite is the Irish Valjean. I heart his big voice. Also, doesn't the English lines sound strange after all of the foreign ones?

I do not know how long I've known what Les Mis is. I cannot remember not knowing. My siblings and I have been singing the songs for forever, we listened to the Radio Theatre drama all of the time, and my dad read us the very abridged version (200-300 pages). He never read us anything else so this is a special memory.

I think I've always liked Les Miserables but I've only recently (last couple years) learned to really love it.

I watched the 10th anniversary concert a couple of years ago. Probably two years? I rewatch clips of it on YouTube all the time. The songs are all so amazing and the actors--oh!--the actors. Michael Ball is so amazing. I heart him, he is kind of really old for the part of Marius but he is such an amazing singer and actor, he sings the songs with such emotion. Colm Wilkinson is the perfect Jean Valjean, he sings amazingly but he also really looks the part. And, I'm sorry but Susan Boyle has got nothing on Ruthie Henshall in I Dreamed a Dream. Ruthie is amazing, Lea Salogna is good to and has something on Ruthie but Ruthie is the best.

I have also read the complete unabridged book and I didn't really think his tangents were really worth mentioning. Maybe I'm just really patient when it comes to old authors? I would rather read a bunch of French history than have the author skim over everything except the adrenaline-inducing parts like modern authors seem to.

I have not seen the 25th anniversary DVD but I plan to eventually. I'm going to like it, a lot. I just wish that they'd picked someone else for the part of Marius. They've got all these amazing singers and amazing actors up there singing their lungs out and then...Nick Jonas. His voice is okay, maybe. He just doesn't have hat full, robust, operatic voice that Marius is supposed to have. I don't know what they were thinking when they put Nick Jonas up there. He looks so silly next to Ramin.

I've also see 2-4 different movie adaptions and I thought they were all dreadful.

I AM SEEING THE MUSICAL NEXT MONTH.

i think in the musical the boy is gavroche... but I'm not sure about the audio drama... or the book

Yes, that's right. Thank you! I was thinking it was Ahnjorah (how do you spell his name? It's French; I have no idea! So I spelled it the way it's pronounced. ) but I knew that wasn't right.

I think I first came across this story when my mom (johobbit) bought the Focus on the Family Radio Theatre version, and we listened to it together. And I must say, what a captivating story it is!

...the story didn't pull me in...

Unlike what you said, Arwenel, the saga of Valjean, Cosette, Javert, etc., pulled me in right from the beginning. I remember loving it and hardly being able to wait for the next part as the story unfolded! Edit: I actually haven't read the book as of yet (*makes a mental note to do so*), but I love the audio version!

That was a few years ago, but from what I remember, my favourite part was probably when Javert is watching the mayor of *forgets the town's name* lift a heavy object off of a civilian, and the strength of that man rings a bell in his mind.

Spoiler

I had no idea whatsoever at this point in the story that the strong man lifting the object was Valjean, but when Javert can only remember one other man he has ever known being that strong, and concludes that it is, in fact, Valjean, I was blown away!

I always found it interesting about the names of the two main men in the story: Valjean and Javert. I noticed that the syllables of the two names are basically reversed; it's very fitting considering how opposite the characters are!

I don't remember if I saw the musical done by a local high school before I found the Focus on the Family Radio Theatre version, but I/my family really liked them both. I remember how the songs really captured my imagination and drew me into the story.

Three years ago I was complaining about not being able to find an unabridged copy of the book, and wisewoman found a copy and sent it to me. That was the same time my little sister Cosette was born, so you can see the story has a very special place at our house. (Not surprisingly, Castle on a Cloud is her favourite song.)

My favourite "digression" is Waterloo; but that might be because it helped make other descriptions of that particular battle make sense. I also like the story of the bishop and his sister, and there is a little old man who "...never went out without a book under his arm, and he often came back with two." I don't remember exactly what he had to do with the overall plot, but I love that description.

I've also seen a play adaption, which was also put on by a local school group and I saw the 25th Anniversary musical in concert from the O² on PBS. I thought the singers did an excellent job... I'm not sure how I'd compare Nick Jonas with David Bryant, but he didn't sound out of place to me (and colour me easily impressed but he looked good in his suit and cravat too. )

Nellie of Narnia, I've never made that association with the names and storylines before, how interesting!

I had the opportunity to watch Les Miz on Broadway back in 2007. It was wonderful- and that is an understatement. My favorite character was Eponine. My favorite song was One Day More.

Haven't read the book yet, believe it or not.

orious, you didn't like Lea Salogna????? oh... nevermind, hehe i had to reread that for a second hehe, but yeah, Lea Salogna was good, but Ruthie Henshall is the best I've seen so far. Much better than that Glee stuff ...

Irish Valjean is my favorite as well, his voice is so broad and majestic and it makes me say "me, me! I'll fight in your crusade!" every time i hear that line

I haven't seen the complete 25th anniversary show yet (I only saw bits and pieces on PBS), but so far I prefer the 10th muuuuchhhh more. And it's not cuz of Nick Jonas (although I still don't like him)... it just seems so much more..... glamorized... like, all of the performers (who aren't like the worst or anything, talent wise they're ok) are so young and clean... it's weird for me after seeing the 10th where they look a little more miserable/poor/dirty. And I really don't like how they changed "master of the house." The only thing I will give them props for is how they explained some things a little bit better (i.e. how eponine got to the barricade), the bits more of acting in between/during the songs, and I liked grown-up Cosette more because the 10th seemed a little stiff.

Actually, one of the high schools in my area was doing the musical this semester, but I didn't see it in fear of it not being as good

Favorite songs are "Do You Hear the People Sing?" "One Day More," and "Castle on a cloud"

On a book note, I found and bought an unabridged version of the book and I've finished book two of Fantine

I'm a big fan of the book version of Les Mis - I haven't seen either the musical or any of the film versions though so I can't comment on those. My two favourite parts in the book however were the opening and the ending because for me they epitomized what the book was all about. The absolute devotion shown by the bishop at the start of book I found to be really inspiring. It's a great example of how the example of goodness can inspire others to change their lives.

The development of Valjean is done so well throughout the book. We go through each of his struggles until we feel like we are experiencing themselves and then at last we get to the end. I must say that the ending when I first read it nearly blew me away. It's just a beautiful depiction of acceptance and final realization of what life is all about.

I can understand though that for someone starting out reading the book it can be a bit of a shock seeing how big it is, and there were some parts that I found a bit tedious (Waterloo, the sewers) but the story that goes through that is absolutely wonderful and personally I found it to be a real inspiration.

btw I was so please when I saw this thread - I just LOVE period books and I equally love discussing them

Glad you found an unabridged copy, outlier. Enjoy! (I think an abridged version might help a new reader get through some of Hugo's diversions, but that reader is at the mercy of the editor who's decided what to omit and what to keep. I recall, as I was reading it the first time, I began taking notes of quotes and ideas I liked. I had access to an abridged version as well, and noticed that some of my favorite quotes had been left out of the abridged).

That reminds me...here are just a few of my favorite quotes:

[The bishop] meditated in the presence of the great spectacle of the starry firmament...He contemplated the grandeur, and the presence of God...and, without trying to comprehend the incomprehensible, he saw it. He did not study God; he was dazzled by Him.

I was surprised when Hugo devoted so much attention to the bishop, but really liked his character development. And of course, anyone who enjoys the sight of the night sky is a winner in my book.

And so, from the very first day, everything that thought and felt in [Cosette] began to love this kind old friend.
-----
When [Cosette] entered the old place, she filled it with paradise. Jean Valjean basked in her presence and felt his own happiness increase by reason of the happiness he conferred on Cosette. The delight we inspire in others has this enchanting peculiarity that, far from being diminished like every other reflection, it returns to us more radiant than ever.

The book's theme of adoption - and how Cosette and Valjean helped each other heal at the same time - resonated with me, since friends and relatives had (at the time I first read it) recently adopted infants from China and Korea.

“Because things are unpleasant,” said Jean Valjean, “that is no reason for being unjust toward God.”

Valjean suffered so much pain and injustice in his life, and yet in the end he did not blame God.

Eowyn of Lantern_Waste, your descriptions of the book and how inspirational it is to you really make me want to read it now! (As I mentioned in my previous post, I haven't read the book yet; I've just heard the audio dramatization.)

I think an abridged version might help a new reader get through some of Hugo's diversions, but that reader is at the mercy of the editor who's decided what to omit and what to keep.

stargazer, that's a good point. I guess therefore the content of an abridged version all depends on the editor. And that's interesting (and unfortunate for you) that some of your favourite quotes had been left out of the abridged version. By the way, I really like those quotes, too.

EDIT:
One of my favourites is this one by Valjean:

“Because things are unpleasant,” said Jean Valjean, “that is no reason for being unjust toward God.”

Valjean suffered so much pain and injustice in his life, and yet in the end he did not blame God.

That's quite amazing (albeit fiction ), that someone could suffer that much and not blame God. It reminds me of Job in the Bible. Now that is a true story, and if my memory serves me correctly, Job did not blame God either. What awesome examples of faith!!

With so many people praising the book, and certainly if some of these great quotes are left out of an abridged version, I'll definitely have to get myself a copy of the unabridged version to read!

The unabridged version I have claims it is the "only complete and unabridged version in paperback"... which either means it's a good score or good advertising I got it at borders btw for.... $10 I think? somewhere around there... I had a coupon so it was cheaper

Anyways, as for abridged vs unabridged I haven't really noticed a difference between my two copies (I take the library abridged-but-still-really-thick version to school with me that way my copy doesn't get damaged )... the main thing that's annoying is that my library version always has dashes where the cities are supposed to be (i.e. instead of writing "Digne", it says D----) either way, both copies are pretty big

Nellie woah, I just kinda clicked for that Valjean/Javert, that's pretty cool.... and then afterwards I was watching the musical and I noticed how similar the two songs "What Have I Done?" (from the prologue) and "Javert's Suicide"(when I looked up the lyrics it was titled "Soliloquy")... there are a few random similar lyrics near the middle and the melody is pretty much the same, but what struck me was how the last stanza was *really* similar:
Prologue: What Have I Done?
I am reaching, but I fall
And the night is closing in
And I stare into the void
To the whirlpool of my sin
I'll escape now from the world
From the world of Jean Valjean
Jean Valjean is nothing now
Another story must begin!

Soliloquy/Javert's Suicide
I am reaching but I fall
And the stars are black and cold
As I stare into the void
Of a world that cannot hold
I'll escape now from that world
From the world of Jean Valjean.
There is nowhere I can turn
There is now way to go on...