Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die discussion

In May, we will be discussing the end of Vol 2.


Book Fifth - For a Black Hunt, a Mute Pack
Book Sixth - Le Petit-Picups
Book Seventh - Parenthesis
Book Eighth - Cemeteries Take That Which Is Committed Them

Finally getting caught up to where I supposedly am supposed to be (in Books 1-4 of Marius) and have a couple of thoughts:

1) I am still less than thrilled with a common 19th century literature meme, major coincidences. What are the odds that Javert would end up assigned to the town that Valjean goes to live. Or that Valjean would jump over the wall into the Paris convent where he had managed to get a job for Fauchelevent. Dickens does this all the time and I think it weakens the story telling as much as like both authors.

2) Why does Hugo feel the need to spend huge amounts of time telling us about irrelevancies. So far we learned all about Waterloo and now we have gone on for some 50 pages about what Hugo seems to see as the evils of monastic life. The book needed an editor.

Spence

James wrote: "Finally getting caught up to where I supposedly am supposed to be (in Books 1-4 of Marius) and have a couple of thoughts:

1) I am still less than thrilled with a common 19th century literature mem..."

I disagree with your 1st point. I think because Javert is a major character and Paris is a major city it shouldn't be seen as a coincidence that he shows up there. In fact I think that it's necessary to the story line for him to show up.

But I completely agree on the 2nd point. OMG he goes off on these long tangents that are almost completely irrelevant. I skimmed through most of those parts.

If it was just the coincidence of Paris I would agree but I was referring to Javert being assigned to M_________ sur M_________, what seems to be a relatively small town. That’s one hell of a coincidence.

James wrote: "If it was just the coincidence of Paris I would agree but I was referring to Javert being assigned to M_________ sur M_________, what seems to be a relatively small town. That’s one hell of a coinc..."

Ah, I see what you mean. But in this case Javert is one of the main characters and without him there the story line doesn't really progress. He ties in throughout the book. He's very important.

I finished reading it so I've been waiting for other people to finish so I we can discuss it. I couldn't put the book down.

There will be more of the off the wall info tangents - so a few some boring parts - but overall it's really really good. Especially towards the end. Lots of action!! Just could have done without the whole Bonapart lesson. Doesn't really tie in anywhere. I wondered why any editor would allow such tangents and irrelevant information.

I agree with you. This is actually my second read but overall I enjoy it so much that even his asides don’t detract too much. And of course you are right; without the coincidences, there wouldn’t be much of a story.