Apt

Since I have listened to every minute of the 57 hours of this book, I will make the following review the antithesis of the work itself:
'The most aptly named book in history, Hugo outdoes many great writers .....he is more prolix than Tolstoy and more didactic than Rousseau.
Fredrick Davidson's narration (with what sounds like excellent French) is annoyingly superior, which suits the subject matter perfectly'

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Phew. Finished it :-)

After 56 hours, I feel I have spent a significant part of my life with this book.

I had seen the musical and wanted to know more so bought this audio book

Just like the series Lost, the story is great but didn't need as much padding but I am glad I didn't skip any I did feel really emotional at the end- a wonderful ending

When reading the prose, Frederick Davidson can be a bit grating and sound a bit pompous. However when he does the character voices, he comes into his own. The Thenardier is fabulously threathening, Javert sounds great, the women also, but it is really the children particularly Gavroche who sound fantastic. Hearing Frederick Douglas do the voice of Gavroche really breaks your heart.

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Incredible story of salvation and redemption

A labour of love both in writing, performing and as the listener.

Not for the faint of heart there’s so much going on and the stories are so intertwined. This book will have you weeping at the end.

My only criticism is the random seeming essays by Hugo which detracts from the story though clearly he was passionate about the subjects.

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Not finished with this book, yet!

I have taken a break from this book, to listen to other audiobooks but I may get back to it. It is a classic and anyone who has seen the musical or film will know the general story. But oh it is so long. There are long passages such as the battle of Waterloo, which serve to introduce a minor character or some anecdote that gives reason for someone's actions later in life.



I love all the passages that feature the main characters but some of the rest I'd gladly do without. I can safely say that I would never have read this book, for this reason audiobooks are perfect, for me, to listen to while I'm driving or in the gym. I may get back to this some day but for now I'm listening to something shorter and modern!



I was surprised at Frederick Davidson's narration at first and found his accent and deep voice a bit unusual but as the book progressed I quite enjoyed it and his voice characterisations are spot on!

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This is a must read book!!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would actually probally advise most people to read the abridged version if they are just interested in the book as a fictional story as I thought the writter had alot of un-needed description and historicle back ground included. I had 10 weeks off work so I went for it - un-abridged - whole version - Awesome Achievement!!!
Whether you have already watched the film or seen the stage production you really should read the book, its a gripping read.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Les Miserables?

Valjean leaves. Marius realizes Valjean saved his life. Marius and Cosette depart to find him. Valjean is dying in a local convent, Cosette and Marius rush in to bid farewell. Valjean hands Cosette a written confession of his past life telling her everything.

Which character – as performed by Frederick Davidson – was your favourite?

Valjean

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The End - Without giving too much away - I cried ;'(

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A joy to hear

Watch on stage read the book but listening to this was so interesting and spoken so clearly .

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Think you know the story? Think again.

Would you listen to Les Miserables again? Why?

Yes, it is long. Yes, you know the basic plot. Yes, you've seen it on stage and on screen. But there is so much more to the book than to the musical! The stage production is great, but it only scratches the surface. There is so much thinking behind each character. Their reflections and actions are so rich, complex and profound. You can always take something different if you listen again. I have lost count of how many times I have listened to Jean Valjan arguing with himself whether or not to turn himself in. It is a fantastic story which manages to belong and represent its time so well without ever ceasing to be relevant. Victor Hugo's preface about why books like this are needed says it all. For as long as there is injustice and miserable lives, it will be worth listening, reading or watching this mastere piece again.

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Wow

There is so much more to this than the film or stage show. I urge everyone to have a go at this one

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Beyond a marathon!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

No.

I did enjoy the book, but I'd recommend the abridged version. This is a classic, and rightly so but Victor Hugo's divergences from the story to demonstrate is vast knowledge on so many areas dragged the story out, and in the end detracted from whole.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Jean Valjean. It's his story and as a character he is so wonderfully portrayed.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

At times both

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Could have been better

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

The translation was a bit variable with some oddly chosen words.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Jean Valjean is the main character of the book and his journey is a fascinating one.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

The narrator did occasionally have some strange ways of emphasising sentences, which was a bit distracting.

Did Les Miserables inspire you to do anything?

I would like to listen to more Victor Hugo books now.

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