The Reading Challenge Group discussion

PLAN: one chapter per day

The novel is divided into 5 volumes, each volume divided into several books, and subdivided into chapters, for a total of 48 books and 365 chapters. Each chapter is relatively short, commonly no longer than a few pages.

•• To avoid spoilers, please start your post with the name of the Volume you are discussing. ...

SCHEDULE
January: 31 days (V1, Bk 3, Ch 4)✔️
February: 28d (V1, Bk 7, Ch 5) 59d✔️
March: 31d (V2, Bk 1, Ch 19) 90d✔️
April: 30d (V2, Bk 6, Ch 3) 120days✔️
May: 31d (V3, Bk 1, Ch 6) 151 days✔️
June: 30d (V3, Bk 4, Ch 6) 181 days✔️
July: 31d (V3, Bk 8, Ch 12) 212 days
August 31d: (V4, Bk 4, Ch 2) 243days
September: 30d (V4, Bk 11, Ch 6) 273d+
October: 31d (V5, Bk 1, Ch 9) 304days
November: 30d (V5, Bk 3, Ch 7) 334d
December: 31d (V5, Bk 9, Ch 6 ) 365d


Book Division...
Volume 1- Fantine
Volume 2- Cossette
Volume 3- Marius
Volume 4- Saint Denis
Volume 5- Fantine

Volume 1 (Fantine). Books 1-8. (70 chapters)
Bk 1: 14c. Bk 2: 13c. Bk 3: 9c. Bk 4: 3c Bk 5: 13c.
Bk 6: 2c. Bk 7: 11c. Bk 8: 5c

Volume 2 (Cosette). Books 1-8. (76 chapters)
Bk 1: 19c. Bk 2: 3c. Bk 3: 11c. Bk 4: 5c. Bk 5: 10c.
Bk 6: 11c. Bk 7: 8c. Bk 8: 9c.

Volume 3 (Marius). Books 1-8. (76 chapters)
Bk1: 13c. Bk2: 8c. Bk3: 8c. Bk4: 6c. Bk5: 6c.
Bk6: 9c. Bk7: 4c. Bk8: 22c.

Volume 4 (Saint-Denis). Books 1-15. (76 chapters)
Bk1: 6c. Bk2: 4c. Bk3: 8c. Bk4: 2c. Bk5: 6c.
Bk6: 3c. Bk7: 4c. Bk8: 7c. Bk9: 3c. Bk10: 5c.
Bk11: 6c. Bk12: 8c. Bk 13: 3c. Bk14: 7c. Bk15: 4c.

Volume 5 (Fantine). Books 1-9. (68 chapters)
Bk1: 24c. Bk2: 7c. Bk3: 12c. Bk4: 1c. Bk5: 8c.
Bk6: 4c. Bk7: 2c. Bk8: 4c. Bk9: 6c.

Wait, what? Clearly this post is here to suck me in.

Oh, Renee! I really shouldn't, stop tempting me!

I read one chapter a day, usually before I go to bed. The chapters are very short about 5 pages. I am glad that I am reading it slowly. Not a book to rush through. It will be a door stopper all year. Would love to have lots of people and a good discussion.

I think it makes for a do-able doorstopper if done one chapter per night. When I read The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, I found that Hugo laced his novels with some pretty dense chapters on history and politics, while sucking the reader in with fascinating characters.

This is a book I have always wanted to read but has daunted me. When you put it like that... I'm in!

This is an amazing book. I love it. I read it over 20 years ago. So this would be a reread for me. When is everyone starting? I need to get a copy.

Some started on Jan 1. If joining now, you could set your goal at 31 chapters by the end of January. Volume 1 (Fantine) is made up of 8 Books or 70 chapters, so it will take us into March.

If we get a fair number of people reading, I might go ahead and post a thread for each Volume. So far it looks like 5 of us. Any thoughts on how you'd rather see it posted?

I would like to join you. I was always interested in reading it, but the page number always turned me down.

Glad to have you!

I've just downloaded my copy, now settling down with a cup of tea to get reading.

Fantine: Volume 1: Book 1

Any thoughts on the bishop?

I normally don't like to read 2 books at the same time but I just can't help myself. I'm going to play catch-up - I just downloaded Les Mis!!!!

Renee wrote: "Fantine: Volume 1: Book 1

Any thoughts on the bishop?"
I have spent two weeks with the bishop. Maybe that is a disadvantage of reading it slowly. I am wondering why Victor Hugo spent 14 chapters talking about the bishop. The bishop is almost portrayed as a saint. I am ready for the story to begin.

I'm liking how Hugo has introduced the bishop. He's not just telling us that the bishop is a good 'saintly' man & swiftly moving on. He's gradually building up a picture of this clearly respected man & by showing us his daily life, you see his kindness to the poor & infirm growing. And yes you do end up seeing him in that saintly light

I have to wonder if Hugo is laying down an example of goodness before introducing other characters or action.

Just a thought. I read this book years ago & loved it. Actually I found it easier to read it aloud. Yep! I did that! Took a while but well worth the effort. I saw the musical 3 times in 3 different places. I own the Liam Nesson version of the movie, and have watched it many times.

As you may guess I am a fan of this story.

Any thoughts on Valjean? Did you feel sorry for him.

Valjean has only just made an appearance for me, I'll post my views once I've got to know him a bit better!

Frantically trying to catch up as I only started in the middle of January...

Cindy wrote: "Any thoughts on Valjean? Did you feel sorry for him."
I did feel sorry for him, for a while, then admired how he picked himself up and never forgot where he came from.

IF you're on track, you've finished Books 1 and 2 of Volume 1 (Fantine) and your goal for February is to read about 28 chapters which will put you close to the end of Volume 1. No matter where you are in your reading, Volume 1 will be "fair game" for open discussion in February.

I hope I don't make anyone hyperventilate, but I've posted a breakdown of chapters per book in my opening post for reference.

I do get overwhelmed when I look at all those chapters. My kindle says I have 2000 pages left. I try not to look. I have to remind myself one chapter a day. I must be ahead of schedule I am on Volume 1 Book 4.

Just a few chapters ahead. I expect to be finishing Volume 1, Book 7, Ch. 4 at the end of February.

So Cindy asked last week if anyone felt sorry for Jean Valjean. Having read to the end of book 2 I think I am feeling a little sorry for him.

He has gone to prison a decent man trying to look after his family, he has come out institutionalised, only knowing how to commit crime to survive.

Even after a brief evening in the bishop's company I believe he is going to change Jean Valjean's outlook on life for the better.

Looking forward to book 3...

Yes, Heather, I agree with what you've said. I'm eager to see what happens next!

Great to have you join us!

Volume 1 (Fantine) Last chapter of Book 3

That was a mean trick! Poor Fantine! Frickin' Double Standard!

Volume 1 (Fantine) End of Book 4.
Isn't that every mother's nightmare? To be unable to care for your child and leave them at the mercy of someone who treats them with cruelty. How awful some people can be when they think they can get away with it. :(

Volume 1 (Fantine) End of Book 5

Oh, dear God, Fantine! I'm completely wrung out by her ordeals. That poor, poor girl!

I made it to Volume 2 and will slow down until March. Those small chapters make it easy to read ahead. My thoughts so far, sometimes Fantine drives me crazy. She is too naive. How could you leave your child with strangers. She kept writing to Cosettes father. It was easy to see he was through with the affair. The things Fantine had to do just to survive. I do feel some sympathy.

My take on Fantine is completely different. She's so young herself, with no one to give her guidance. She fell for a callus older man who was still behaving like a selfish, irresponsible child. What teenager wouldn't be lost after such a heartless breakup?

As to leaving her child with strangers... There, quite literally, wasn't anyone else. No family. No friends. No support system of any kind. And it would have been impossible for Fantine to get work if She were seen to be a "fallen woman." So she picked a couple who SEEMED to be loving. She trusted that the money she sent faithfully would ensure her child's well-being. She judged others based on herself, which is the response of an innocent, of youth, of most of us until we get battered and bruised for our naïveté. Only for an unprotected woman in those times and circumstances, the battering is quite literal. Look at how she is treated once her secret comes out. There is no pity for her from her peers, from her employers, from the state... Nor any justice.

For me, Hugo does a masterful job of showing just how helpless and desperate a person could become be under a system and an atmosphere of disparity and hopelessness. The smallest misstep could bring one to utter ruin. Both Fantine and Jean Valjean have had this experience. Only he was redeemed by the actions of the Good Bishop.

For March the goal will be to finish Volume 1 (Fantine) and also the first book of Volume 2 (Cosette).

Volume 1, Book 7, Ch 11

I've gotten a bit behind and am just getting ready to start the last book if Volume 1 (book 8). So I've just finished the exciting courtroom scene. Wow! The wild ride to get there in time for sentencing, the many obstacles, and equal number of opportunities. It had me on the edge of my seat!

Then the courtroom! I can imagine that people went wild for this when it was printed in serial form. What a decision to have to make!

I'm always struck by Hugo's little history breaks. Like a public service announcement... Here's a little something educational for the public good.

Okay, I'm a Philistine. I skimmed the Battle of Waterloo. Hugo's rendition of the battle IS very interesting and must have been so to his original audience... But if you're getting bogged down, bookmark it for later.

The last chapter of Volume 2, Book 1 tells us that Therardier was a sergeant in Napoleon's army who ended the battle by stealing from the dead soldiers. One of these "corpses" was an (Legion of Honor) officer named Pontmercy. Pontmercy gave Thernardier credit for helping him (although he really picked his pockets) and swore a debt of gratitude. Which might be important later.

The novel picks up Jean Valjean, the ex-mayor Madeleine, in Volume 2, Book 2.

I'm not certain who is still onboard for the year with Les Miserables, but here are a few questions to go with Volume 1...

1) It seems obvious that Hugo wants us to sympathize with Valjean/Madeleine, even to the point of making him unaware that Fantine had been fired from his employ. How would you describe him based on the events of Volume 1?

2) Were you surprised by the death of Fantine?

3) What about Javert? How do you find him as a character? Is he a villain?

April means 30 more chapters, putting us well into Volume 2 (Cossette). For discussion purposes, let's say all of Volume 1 and up to the end of Volume 2, Book 5 is fair game for comments.

I haven't read that far yet so my questions above only take us up to the end of Volume 1.

P. S. I posted a schedule at the top of this thread.

I'm a little behind thanks to a manic few weeks at work but hoping to get into catch up mode soon!

I trudged through the Battle of Waterloo. Wondering why there are 18 chapters of the battle? Fantine's death did not surprise me. She had that nagging cough that got worse. Living in the poorest places with drafts and little heat did not help. I am about 3 to 4 chapters behind. Will catch up this week.

My Kindle says I am 30 % done. We are making progress. I am reading Volume 2 Book 3. Some of those chapters are really hard to read. It goes into detail about the horrible abuse Cosette had to endure. It also shows the mean and nasty side of the Thenardier's. I could not believe they were so heartless, talking about throwing Cosette out the door in the middle of winter, she was dressed in nothing but rags.

Yes, they are quite heartless people.

Victor Hugo has many points to make in this book. Keep reading! It is not about Cosette.

I had a question about Javert. My opinion keeps changing. Is he a good policeman or an evil villain? I stayed up past my bedtime to see if Javert was going to catch Valjean. That was at the end of Vol 2 book 5. Really enjoyed the history of the Benedictine nuns. Could not believe they prayed for 12 hours on stone slabs.

The chase was terribly exciting! I was on the edge of my seat, too! I have mixed feelings about Javert, too. He's probably a good man, but he sees everything in black and white. I keep thinking about how hard he was on himself when he thought he had misjudged Madeleine/Valjean. However, he seems to judge everything based on what he's told by figures of authority, like the church or the courts.

I agree he is probably a good man and policeman. That was my first thought of Javert. There is a lot of misinformation, such as Cosette being kidnapped. He chased Valjean through the streets of Paris, with such determination. I started to think of Javert as a villain. Most were content to think Valjean was dead.

If you're on schedule, the end of May should take us into Volume 3 (Marius), Book 1, Chapter 6-ish.

I had so many other things on my plate that I read ahead to the end of April, then took a break to read the other things. I'm ready to get back to Jean Valjean and Cossette!

I really struggled with Volume 2, Book 7, all 8 chapters. I had some study guide help and that just made it worse. I read some of those chapters twice and still could not tell you Hugo's point about the monastery. It was annoying to me because I wanted to know what happened to Valjean and Cosette.