Reading the Chunksters discussion

Kudos to everyone who has reached this point. A great and highly enjoyable reading marathon is finally over.

1. Did Thenardier play an important role in the novel? Is he only the 'evil poor' or is he more significant for Marius?

2. By modern standards, Cosette's attitude towards feminine intelligence is demeaning and belittling, but do you think her reaction was quite normal for that period when she only confessed that she was unable to comprehend the importance of the conversation between Marius and Jean Valjean, but was quite happy to hear their voices?

3. Why does Jean Valjean call Cosette Mme. Pontmercy and ask her to call him Jean after her marriage?

4. Why does Jean Valjean tell Marius only half of his story and skip some other noble parts of his past?

5. As well as people, characters are mortal in realistic fiction, but some have a habit of dying ahead of his or her time. Do you think Valjean dies too soon without seeing Cosette's grandchildren?

6. In the additional essay of my edition, its writer (unfortunately, I do not remember his name as I listened to the audio book) makes a point that the novel is an eclectic combination of great literature and populism. Do you agree with this interpretation?

7. Hugo, as well as Dickens, is known for his social stand for the dispossessed, the fallen, and the wretched. Is this novel a confirmation of the above postulated statement?

Great job, everyone, who has finished reading this novel.

I'll post the rest of my thoughts once I've finished, but I couldn't help but chuckle when Mr. "Thernard" entered and Hugo said "At this point, a short digression is necessary." As if ANY of his digressions have been short!

Thernardier is important for the story and for Marius, but he is certainly representative of a larger group. He's the nature vs. nurture argument, the rich vs. the poor, choice vs. circumstances, etc. He is a horrible being, but also a sympathetic one. I'm sorry he was free to go and put more people through further misery, but I suppose that is often the way of the world?

Cosette is an interesting question. Certainly she is pathetic by modern standards, and I think even by Hugo's time, but he does seem to venerate her. The men in her life obviously adore her, but for her to blindly listen and not have her own opinions is appalling to me. I'm never quite sure what to make of her.

Valjean has a fairly fitting end for him, and fits with the story, but it is certainly depressing. It was horrible to watch Marius' treatment of him before he knew the truth. It's hard to blame him, knowing that he thought Valjean had murdered a police officer and stolen a great deal of money. At the same time, however, he had seen Valjean's great care of Cosette for a great deal of time... could he really not bring himself to ask more details, to see all sides of the story? This sudden, bitter hatred of the man was jarring and horrible, although I suppose rather human. I'm glad Valjean insisted on seeing Cosette, though.

I love that it was through Thernardier that Marius inadvertently learned the truth. How fitting for a lie to turn into revealing the truth!

While parts of this were drolling and tedious, I'm glad I read it again. It's a beautiful story with lots of life lessons and words of caution and encouragement for society. It's definitely a classic for a reason.

Alana wrote: "and Hugo said "At this point, a short digression is necessary." As if ANY of his digressions have been short!"

Oh yes, I remember laughing at that part too!!

Alana wrote: "Cosette is an interesting question. Certainly she is pathetic by modern standards, and I think even by Hugo's time, but he does seem to venerate her. The men in her life obviously adore her, but for her to blindly listen and not have her own opinions is appalling to me. I'm never quite sure what to make of her."

I guess I assumed she was a typical woman of the time in terms of her blindly listening and not voicing her opinions (if she even has them, though). But I am by no means a historian, so I am assuming that this was the typical way women acted, basically to be second to their husband?

But yes, her lack of voice is quite appalling compared to today's standards.

Alana wrote: "I love that it was through Thernardier that Marius inadvertently learned the truth. How fitting for a lie to turn into revealing the truth!"

Ha ha! Yes, I me too. :)

This was my first time reading it and I'm glad I joined in. When it was chosen to be a side-read, I thought it was a good time to give this book a go, never having thought to read it myself for some reason. I found the long tedious parts were well made up for by the action and how all the character's stories intertwined.