Reading the Chunksters discussion

I really liked this bio of Victor Hugo

https://www.britannica.com/biography/...

Also, you have to check out these amazing traveler photos of Hauteville House where Hugo was exiled in Guernsey for 15 years. I liked the personal photos much better than the commercial ones. Gorgeous!

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio...

by the way, what else have you all read of hugo? I read les mis in high school and remember little, although I did get a refresher from seeing the play in NYC last year.

Dianne wrote: "by the way, what else have you all read of hugo? I read les mis in high school and remember little, although I did get a refresher from seeing the play in NYC last year."
Hi Dianne, I've read only Les Miz way back when and couldn't get into it. I saw the stage play from the nose bleed section and couldn't get into it. But... ah... the film version. Loved it! Hugh Jackman grabbed my heart, tears flowed copiously, and the end left me with an empty pack of tissues. It was such an odd experience, once a few people in the theatre started crying, it was contagious, the lights came on and when we looked at each other we were at first shocked, then we laughed, what a wonderful movie-theatre experience!

I read hunchback of Notre Dame when I was either in middle school or high school and loved it.
Although I've seen Les Miz countless time in movie and broadway versions, have yet to tackle the book.

Afraid I haven't read any Victor Hugo, though I've seen my children acting in an amateur version on numerous occasions and I've seen the Westend production twice. I was blown away! At the end of the first performance we sat in a little Italian café nearby and uttered not a sound for a good half hour!

The first book I ever read by Victor Hugo was a novella called "The Last Days of a Condemned Man" which is a work of fiction, but reads as an example of why capital punishment should not exist. Knowing in advance that you will die in a matter of days is like state sanctioned mental torture. It really captivated me. Maybe because whilst the character in the books was terrifyingly awaiting his execution I was reading whilst nervously awaiting a dentist appointment.

Then I read The Hunchback of Notre Dame which was awesome. I loved all the digressions, the humorous elements of the book, the atmosphere because of the setting and the language. Gringoire is one of my favorite characters.

The last Hugo I read was The Toilers of the Sea, which is set in Guernsey. The first fifty pages was a tourist guide/love letter to Guernsey - and then the story began. Victor Hugo's books are always slightly weird, but that's partly why they are so great.

Ann Helen wrote: " Maybe because whilst the character in the books was terrifyingly awaiting his execution I was reading whilst nervously awaiting a dentist appointment. "

And I was just at the dentist this morning, and had to wait about 30 minutes. Obviously I should have been reading Hugo instead of George Eliot!

Ann Helen wrote: "The first book I ever read by Victor Hugo was a novella called "The Last Days of a Condemned Man" which is a work of fiction, but reads as an example of why capital punishment should not exist. Kno..."

thanks so much for your thoughts on these Ann Helen! I haven't read any of those you mention and they sound really interesting!

Everyman wrote: "Ann Helen wrote: " Maybe because whilst the character in the books was terrifyingly awaiting his execution I was reading whilst nervously awaiting a dentist appointment. "

And I was just at the d..."

Obviously, Everyman! Get on the bus!

(oh and I am waaaay behind on my eliot! I need to catch up!)

Don't worry Dianne! You have "plenty of time"! ; -)

Hey I just need to outsource my childcare and then I'm all set ;)

Ha ha! Perhaps I should quit my job and focus on the classics? ; -)

That sounds far more enjoyable, whatever your employment may be ;)