I need a quick book.Is the Hunchback of Notre Dame any good?

[Ryduce]

I need something to read on the go because I'm reasonably busy at the moment.Someone recommended this to me,and it looks short enough.Any comments or suggestions?

[chmpman]

I've never read it, but I think someone in this forum mentioned that Hugo spends too much time describing French architecture, but that the end is great.

[bluevictim]

The Hunchback of Notre Dame is far less digressive than Les Miserables, but it's still Hugo, so if you don't like digressions from the plot, you'll find some parts rather tedious. If you like Hugo, The Toilers of the Sea is also very enjoyable, and a bit more of a page turner (I thought) than THOND. Both are far easier to read than Faulkner (at least, the English translations I read were).

If you're going to be too busy to have longer chunks of time to devote to reading, it may be a good idea to try a collection of short stories.

[silver]

Try to read The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.

[Charles Darnay]

Hunchback of Notre Dame is a faboulously entertaining book, and not too long at all. There's one part where he takes you on a 60 someodd page tour of Paris during the 1400's (1432?).... but you can even skip that part and come back to it if you dont have the time.

But when it comes to Hugo, everything is worth reading.


And yes - Toilers on the Sea is also a very enjoyable book - even shorter then Hunchback - but I much preferred the latter.

[rachel]

I absolutely have to agree with you on the Hunchback Charles. And you can skip the pretty picture stuff if you want. The story is very soul shaking and moving, in my opinion at least.
Go Ry go.

[Sarah's_Chanson]

I wasn't planning to read this book, but an entire chapter on 1400's Paris sounds amazing! Thats the kind of deviation I like in a book!

I did consider reading this once after I listened to some of the songs from the musical, but never got round to it!

[chmpman]

If you do read it Ryduce, be sure to post your thoughts on the book.

[Ryduce]

I'm going to check it out first thing tommorrow.

[rachel]

can I come, I need to get away from the mundane. I'll treat you to dinner afterwards.
In our little city, such books don't sell very well and one can purchase them for such a small amount of money it seems almost a crime not to go out and buy it. So I think I will tomorrow.

[Ryduce]

can I come, I need to get away from the mundane. I'll treat you to dinner afterwards.
In our little city, such books don't sell very well and one can purchase them for such a small amount of money it seems almost a crime not to go out and buy it. So I think I will tomorrow.



I think some Taco Bell would be nice.

[rachel]

you've got it. see ya later.And hey I'll buy you your own copy too.You deserve at least that.you are too cool. :cool:

[Pensive]

I watched its movie once, which I loved but I have not read the book.

[2AddersFanged]

I loved Notre Dame de Paris and enjoyed its dark, rather fatalistic themes concerning romantic love. It explores the mad, destructive, blind, selfish and selfless aspects of love with a refreshing minimum of judgment for its characters (the one exception perhaps concerning Phoebus, the impossibly shallow, self-absorbed object of Esmeralda's blind affection). Hugo allows us to learn from the characters: to fear them or become frustrated with them at times, perhaps, but always to understand them.

I find it interesting (but not surprising) that the story has been done in film and on TV so many times, and yet few (if any) productions go where the book goes. It's as if the public has the impression somehow that this is a happy story, and they want to see things "work out". Because the novel explores the destructive nature of romantic love, it cannot end happily (nor would I want it to).