hit a wall

jenieliser · 12-01-2009, 02:12 PM

So, I've been reading Les Miserables. I started about 3 weeks ago and am only a third of the way through. I feel like I've hit a wall of disinterest. Anyone who has read this please give me a hint of good things to come so I'll keep reading. No specifics, just some hints-what to look forward to. Thanks!

BeccaAnn · 12-02-2009, 09:39 PM

Sorry, can't help you. I got stuck reading of the years they lived in the convent(I think?). I had totally enjoyed the musical (one of my favorites), and the Liam Neeson(sp?) movie version was okay. This was several years ago and I still haven't gone back to complete it.

Katti's Cat · 12-02-2009, 09:40 PM

Had the same with the book. Best to move on, get the DVD and grab some popcorn. Too many books waiting to waste time on a book you can't gel with

jenieliser · 12-03-2009, 08:38 PM

Ha! Funny that's where you stopped, that's exactly where I am right now! Sigh..I think I'm going to keep trying.

ardeegee · 12-03-2009, 09:18 PM

You should at least read it to the point where Lea Salonga sings.

carlobee · 12-03-2009, 10:21 PM

Hmmm. I haven't read the book yet. And yeah... ^^ Lea Salonga is really great!

SteveK · 12-03-2009, 11:18 PM

Les Miserables definitely builds quite a wall. I always read unabridged editions, but that was one novel I should have read an abridged edition - that is, if I bothered to read it at all. I felt like I was reading a thesaurus of phrases, as he seemed to find half a dozen ways of saying the same thing.

When I finished reading it, my main thought was admiration not for Victor Hugo, but for the composer(s) of the musical. That they were able to compose such wonderful music from such a boring novel is truly remarkable.

This is considered Victor Hugo's best book. If so, I'm certainly in no hurry to read his other ones!

SteveK

astra · 12-04-2009, 07:32 AM

Dunno what to tell you.
I read him when I was 20-21.
I read three books:
NOTRE-DAME DE PARIS
Ninety-Three
and Les Miserables
I loved all three, although very sad stories...but back then I loved Dumas too.
I didn't know anything about Fantasy and The Lord of the Rings.

Almiel · 12-06-2009, 06:06 PM

I got halfway through and decided to "return to it after reading a couple other books," but never did. I'd recommend the abridged version, which would cut out his philosophical ramblings and just tell the story. Don't be ashamed of doing so! I decided there's too many good books out there to waste my time with ones that don't interest me, even if they're considered classics or on some must-read list out there.

BookCat · 12-06-2009, 06:58 PM

Are there any good abridged versions in eformat?

Almiel · 12-09-2009, 03:16 PM

I found one on Amazon and one on Barnes&Noble. Not sure what the format is at BN. Aha, just found at http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24283.Les_Miserables. Look down the right-hand side to the download button and choose your format (mobi, pdf, or ePub).

Almiel · 12-09-2009, 06:14 PM

You could also try http://inkmesh.com/search/?qs=les+mi...nE=Find+Ebooks.

lene1949 · 12-10-2009, 02:13 AM

I read this book, when I was very young (in my 20's)... I found it very compelling (?) [English is my second language, and I'm not sure this is the word to use] - I read the whole book... loved it.

jenieliser · 12-10-2009, 08:41 AM

I've "sparknoted" the parts I can't seem to get through. That's helped a lot. I can find out what is important in all his ramble and move on.

12-01-2009, 02:12 PM	#1
jenieliser Zealot Posts: 140 Karma: 548 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Memphis, TN Device: Sony Reader 505, iPad 2	hit a wall So, I've been reading Les Miserables. I started about 3 weeks ago and am only a third of the way through. I feel like I've hit a wall of disinterest. Anyone who has read this please give me a hint of good things to come so I'll keep reading. No specifics, just some hints-what to look forward to. Thanks!

12-02-2009, 09:40 PM	#3
Katti's Cat Wizard Posts: 2,263 Karma: 175640 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Brisbane Australia Device: Sony PRS-600	Had the same with the book. Best to move on, get the DVD and grab some popcorn. Too many books waiting to waste time on a book you can't gel with __________________ Without the difference of opinions there cannot be democracy Best friends used to be strangers once Dignity of Mankind is untouchable, and so is my reader

12-04-2009, 07:32 AM	#8
astra The Introvert Posts: 8,308 Karma: 1000077497 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: United Kingdom Device: Sony Reader PRS-650 & 505 & 500	Dunno what to tell you. I read him when I was 20-21. I read three books: NOTRE-DAME DE PARIS Ninety-Three and Les Miserables I loved all three, although very sad stories...but back then I loved Dumas too. I didn't know anything about Fantasy and The Lord of the Rings. __________________ Only Two Things Are Infinite, The Universe and Human Stupidity, and I'm Not Sure About The Former. Albert Einstein Saving the Planet

12-09-2009, 06:14 PM	#12
Almiel regrets buying PocketBook Posts: 44 Karma: 10516 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Texas Device: CoolReader (Android), Pocketbook 360 Ivory	You could also try http://inkmesh.com/search/?qs=les+mi...nE=Find+Ebooks. Last edited by Almiel; 12-09-2009 at 06:20 PM.

12-10-2009, 02:13 AM	#13
lene1949 Wizard Posts: 1,966 Karma: 213930 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Ipswich, Queensland, Australia Device: Kindle 2, Sony PRS 650, Ipod Touch	I read this book, when I was very young (in my 20's)... I found it very compelling (?) [English is my second language, and I'm not sure this is the word to use] - I read the whole book... loved it. __________________ Lene

12-02-2009, 09:39 PM	#2
BeccaAnn Groupie Posts: 178 Karma: 660 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Spearfish, SD, USA Device: Sony PRS-505	Sorry, can't help you. I got stuck reading of the years they lived in the convent(I think?). I had totally enjoyed the musical (one of my favorites), and the Liam Neeson(sp?) movie version was okay. This was several years ago and I still haven't gone back to complete it.

12-03-2009, 08:38 PM	#4
jenieliser Zealot Posts: 140 Karma: 548 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Memphis, TN Device: Sony Reader 505, iPad 2	Ha! Funny that's where you stopped, that's exactly where I am right now! Sigh..I think I'm going to keep trying.

12-03-2009, 09:18 PM	#5
ardeegee New Musicians of Bremen Posts: 3,291 Karma: 916824 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: PRS-350	You should at least read it to the point where Lea Salonga sings.

12-03-2009, 10:21 PM	#6
carlobee Fanatic Posts: 535 Karma: 972 Join Date: Jul 2009 Device: The new iPad	Hmmm. I haven't read the book yet. And yeah... ^^ Lea Salonga is really great!

12-03-2009, 11:18 PM	#7
SteveK Groupie Posts: 187 Karma: 1004430 Join Date: Nov 2008 Device: 3G Kindle, Ipod Touch, Vizio Tablet, Kindle PW	Les Miserables definitely builds quite a wall. I always read unabridged editions, but that was one novel I should have read an abridged edition - that is, if I bothered to read it at all. I felt like I was reading a thesaurus of phrases, as he seemed to find half a dozen ways of saying the same thing. When I finished reading it, my main thought was admiration not for Victor Hugo, but for the composer(s) of the musical. That they were able to compose such wonderful music from such a boring novel is truly remarkable. This is considered Victor Hugo's best book. If so, I'm certainly in no hurry to read his other ones! SteveK

12-06-2009, 06:06 PM	#9
Almiel regrets buying PocketBook Posts: 44 Karma: 10516 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Texas Device: CoolReader (Android), Pocketbook 360 Ivory	I got halfway through and decided to "return to it after reading a couple other books," but never did. I'd recommend the abridged version, which would cut out his philosophical ramblings and just tell the story. Don't be ashamed of doing so! I decided there's too many good books out there to waste my time with ones that don't interest me, even if they're considered classics or on some must-read list out there.

12-06-2009, 06:58 PM	#10
BookCat C L J Posts: 669 Karma: 2524360 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Birmingham UK Device: Sony e-reader 505	Are there any good abridged versions in eformat?

12-09-2009, 03:16 PM	#11
Almiel regrets buying PocketBook Posts: 44 Karma: 10516 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Texas Device: CoolReader (Android), Pocketbook 360 Ivory	I found one on Amazon and one on Barnes&Noble. Not sure what the format is at BN. Aha, just found at http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24283.Les_Miserables. Look down the right-hand side to the download button and choose your format (mobi, pdf, or ePub).

12-10-2009, 08:41 AM	#14
jenieliser Zealot Posts: 140 Karma: 548 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Memphis, TN Device: Sony Reader 505, iPad 2	I've "sparknoted" the parts I can't seem to get through. That's helped a lot. I can find out what is important in all his ramble and move on.

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