Reading the Chunksters discussion

Posts for final section of book here!

Book VIII: Chapters VI-VII, Book IX & Conclusion
I’m going to do this backwards, beginning at the end.

Star crossed lovers get a star crossed ending…It did not disappoint! I was really worried, as with many older classics, how sometimes the novel drags on for ages while the ending wraps up much too quickly…I really thought that is what I was in store for here with Hugo’s tome, and I was glad to be “very” wrong about it. It was...No it “is,” a beautiful novel that I am afraid I have only scratched the surface of, in my understanding of the true essence, for what Hugo has attempted to deliver in this very underrated novel. His political themes, some of you mentioned in the preliminary sections, they do run rampant and heavy handed throughout his books; however, I feel safe to say (based on no frame of reference, just bias) that in spite of the themes, Gwynplaine and Dea are characters that are a cut above Shakespearian lovers, or even that of the legendary couple, Tristan and Isolde. Hugo’s two counterparts of one soul, their trajectory in this narrative took the story to a whole new level beyond the traditional mappings for a classic romance (?) novel.

The latter chapters in Book VIII, further solidifies the gross misconduct of the upper class and the egregious advantages they take at the cost of the middle and lower classes…The disparaging differences between social classes making a last stance before Hugo puts down his pen one last time. These people under the guise of royalty are just as deplorable, vile in behavior and wants, as the lowest of the low in society. The men and women adorned in the finest silks are no different than their societal counterpart once stripped of all the fineries...The point being, ugly and inhumane are skin deep, it is not a matter of class distinction. If it was not a waste of time, or considered repetitive, I would cut and paste Lord Clancharlie/Gwynplaine’s diatribe in front of all of his peers of privilege. Well, was it not the most poignant example of a speech having read it on paper...Because the crux of this moment is not about the impact of his words, but the effect of the expression on Lord Clancharlie/Gwynplaine’s face on his peers in conjunction to his speech-Hugo continues to write, capturing the air of the great hall, His words were an appeal in one direction, his face in the other. What a terrible position was his (563)! It has to be maddening moment for Lord Clancharlie/Gwynplaine, as his aesthetic distracts from the weight of his stance. Nevertheless, it was perfection on Hugo’s part to deliver as he did through the voice of our maimed hero. Although the majority of his peers considered him to have delivered a comedic harangue, I think the point that having one person who did take the speech to heart, and came to Clancharlie/Gwynplaine’s aid in the end, was a step in the right direction...Maybe an even better direction for a new movement on the rise-That person being Lord David Dirry-Moire, who also it ends up, is the half brother of our Laughing Man.

As much as I would have wanted an even happier ending for our hero and his loved ones, I would be wrong to ask for anything more than what I was given-As long as Gwynplaine and Dea ended up in the eternal embrace of one another, either amongst the living or in the after life, it would be considered a happy conclusion. In the end, my heart breaks for Ursus; since it is once again, only he and Homo- They have to begin anew in their old ages. Then, there’s the notion of how evil continues to prevail in Barkilphedro amidst the bright light Lord David Dirry-Moire will continue to cast in his future endeavors, or that populism in the 18th Century is not a thing of the past if we look upon the political climate around the world…Is it art imitating life, or life imitating art? It was a good read, 3.5 stars worth…Thank you to all who participated and indulged me in discussion.

WOW! It would have been such a happy ending IF Hugo did not write the last chapter "Nay; On High!" Did he really have to write the last 6-7 pages? The ending... It seems so cliche and over-dramatic. It's like Romeo and Juliet. To my knowledge no one can be as fragile as Dea (in real life). Unless, the person is really old or terminally ill (which Dea was not implied to be). It just did not feel convincing. How does everyone else feel about that ending?

Overall, some parts did not interest me (the peerage and the boats). It was nice to get a glimpse into that history, but I find that stuff kinda dull. Like I said before the ending feels cliche. I do love the why Hugo writes fluidly and poetically. So I give it 4 stars.

I felt the same thing...very Romeo and Juliet-ish at the end. I guess I was hoping for something a little different to happen at the end.

But I did overall enjoy the book...It has been a while since I've read a good long classic like this.

Hugo is an excellent writer - very descriptive (sometimes a little too much) but I could definitely picture each scene in my mind.

I finally finished!! What a slog! I wondered if Dea took something like poison when she decided she wanted to die but before Gwynplain returned. I suppose she did not since Hugo did not mention. I, too, thought the ending was not believable and too melodramatic.

I usually like long books like War and Peace and The Luminaries but I did not like this one. Too many extraneous information.

Congrats peg!! And jj and Denise glad you finished also! I really did like this book but agree that there were a lot of sidebars. Do we have any other readers still going along?