Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Amaretto*Sour--Les Mis Check-in #1
Are you ready for the first check-in? This first section covered up to page 359--Book Two (Cossette).
I am finding the book more enjoyable and easier to read than I expected. This has been a pleasant surprise. In some ways, I think a slightly abridged version of the book might be "better" considering sections like Hugo's long discussion of the Battle of Waterloo. I found most of that to be fairly irrelevant to the story at hand, but unlike the tangents Russian authors love, I still found that part interesting. However, at the end of it, I found myself wondering what Hugo had been talking about before and where exactly the story was going. I also feel like this "distraction" gave me a bit of historical context and brought me into the story a little more, so that was kind of nice.
I appreciate the way Hugo introduces characters. He seems to bring them in quickly, but over several pages slowly tells the reader more about these characters. It seems to be an effective way to introduce many important people without overwhelming the reader.
I find Jean Valjean such a great literary character. I originally read parts of Les Miserables in a lit class in high school and it is really my love of Jean Valjean that made me want to read the unabridged version. I think it is beautiful the way he changes and the way he exemplifies the transformative power of charity and kindness. I think he is the poster child for second chances. He is dynamic, multi-dimensional, and real. I love that he remains somewhat flawed.
The Thenardiers are such terrible people. While Javert is the main villain in the story, the Thenardiers are just so easy to hate. Neither of them seem to have any redeeming qualities.
Poor Fantine. Her story is so tragic. I so hoped she would be reunited with Cossette, even briefly. Still, I appreciate Hugo's description of her decline. I like that we see her as a young girl full of hope and promise. The part where she sells her teeth to pay for Cossette's care! Wow, such love and sacrifice.
What do you think so far?
Next Check-ins:
12/14 page 718
12/28 page 1069
01/04 after finishing
Re: Amaretto*Sour--Les Mis Check-in #1
So far, I like the book...I'm struggling a bit with it, but not too bad...I didn't quite make this checkpoint, but I was within about 10 pages of it
I fully agree about the Thenardiers...horrid people! They are very easy to despise.
Fatine made me cry...can you just imagine? That's a mother's sacrifice
Can you imagine never seeing your daughter grow up with you raising her 
So far, so good! See ya at the next check in!
Last updated 4/06/11