The Hunchback of Notre Dame Mass Market Paperback – March 2, 2010

While Les Miserables may generally be considered Victor Hugo's greatest and most popular work, my favorite by far is The Hunchback of Notre Dame.There are several reasons why I consider Hunchbank superior to Les Mis. First is that it is a more compact and tightly written story, covering only 6 months compared to the 20+ years of Les Mis. It has all the drama and emotion of Les Mis (more about that below) but without all the verbose divergences for which Les Mis is notorious. While Les Mis is filled with several of Hugo's lengthy discourses on topics having little or nothing to do with the story itself -- and which certainly do not advance the plot at all -- Hunchback has only one such divergence: Hugo's discussion of the architecture of Paris.Secondly is the setting of Hunchback -- Medieval Paris. I realize this is purely subjective, but for me the color, pageantry and drama of 15th century Paris -- which Hugo illustrates so effectively -- is the most captivating of settings. The superstitions which still had a stronghold on society at that time, and the half-barbaric city which Paris still was, add to the drama and bitter irony of the story.But for me what truly makes Hunchback the better book is the sheer power of the story itself. This is an action-driven plot from very first paragraph (as opposed to Les Mis which is more thoughtful and contemplative), and Hugo spends only minimal time describing the personalities and backstories of his characters, letting their full aspects emerge as the story progresses. The story is full of all the dark superstition and emotion that makes for a truly Gothic tale, and the misplaced loyalties, betrayals, misunderstandings and bitter irony that fill the tale make it heartwrenching and powerful.It is curious that the English title of this book focuses on the hunchback, since he is not the main character; one could argue that there is no single main character at all. However, Quasimodo is the only truly good, selfless character and the only one who manages to not lose the reader's sympathy by the book's end. That the only character who felt true, genuine, unselfish love was a hideously deformed hunchback, a total outcast of society, is perhaps the bitterest irony of all. Hugo's theme of the spider and its web is a perfect capsulation of the tale he spun in The Hunchback.As in Les Mis, Hugo has crafted a story that probes the darker aspects of human nature. And as with Les Mis, Hunchback is not a happy story with a happy ending. However, unlike the more melancholy sadness of Les Mis, the sadness of The Hunchback of Notre Dame is bitter and acute.This is my second listen to Hunchback and definitely won't be my last. I highly recommend this captivating classic. Frederick Davidson does a fine narration. He is growing on me since this is the third audio book I've listened to with his narration and I find that with each one the drawing, affected voice with which he speaks is less annoying. He does a fantastic job with character voices, and Hunchback provides the perfect vehicle for this talent. His weakest performance is that of Esmeralda, but I've yet to hear a male narrator who can do a young female voice well. All in all his narration adds color and personality to this already animated story.

This is a review for the quality and style of the book not the story itself which is of course a great classic!The book is of great quality with a gorgeous design of both the sky blue cloth hardcover and the dust cover, however the print is tiny which makes it hard to read without glasses unless it’s a quick poem but not that enjoyable when reading a long thick novel.I wish the size of the books and the font was larger as I would love to have an entire collection of my favorite books in this design.Absolutely gorgeous but small!

"The Hunchback of Notre Dame" is a classic novel written by Victor Hugo, and published in 1831. The novel is set in medieval Paris and tells the story of Quasimodo, the hunchbacked bell-ringer of Notre Dame Cathedral, and his forbidden love for the beautiful gypsy Esmeralda.One of the strengths of the book is its vivid and descriptive writing, which brings the medieval setting to life. Hugo's writing is rich with detail and atmosphere, and he paints a vivid picture of the sights, sounds, and smells of medieval Paris.Another strength of the book is its complex and well-developed characters, particularly the main character Quasimodo. He is a tragic figure, born with a physical deformity and rejected by society, but his inner beauty, loyalty, and generosity shine through. The novel also deals with themes such as love, acceptance, and the dangers of obsession and prejudice.Overall, "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" is a powerful and moving novel that will stay with readers long after they finish it. It is a must-read for anyone interested in classic literature and those who want to understand the beauty of human nature and the harsh reality of society.I would rate this book 4.5 out of 5 stars. The book is a classic and it is well-written, its descriptive writing and complex characters make it a great read. However, the book is quite heavy and it could be a bit challenging for some readers, but it is worth the effort.

I will admit, this is a hard book to get through. It was the first unabridged classic I've read and it's not easy getting through some of the monologues, historical descriptions, and rants about philosophy. The first half of the book was especially difficult, because so many of the characters and scenes don't seem important to the plot. But trust me, they are. Victor Hugo brings everything together in a powerful ending that scrubs your heartstrings with iron wool and leaves you reeling for days! But this book, as Victor Hugo himself explained, isn't just about the adventure and romance. It's supposed to kindle in the readers a deep appreciation for gothic architecture. It's also supposed to capture and bring to life the culture and lifestyles of 15th century Paris- a time period that is increasingly overlooked and forgotten. So even though the tough parts of this book feel long, they still have tremendous value, and I'm so thankful I didn't stop reading halfway through (like I almost did). This book has had an incredible, lasting impact on me. It is now one of my most cherished reads.So, yes, I absolutely recommend this book to anyone willing to read it. I also recommend listening to it on audio. The reader Philippe Duquenoy is phenomenal! He brings the characters to life and even reads through those long, tedious descriptions in an engaging way. Plus, if you get tired of the the descriptions, you can just tune them out until the actions picks up again, without giving up on the book! Also, really make the time you spend reading it fun. Watch the play. Listen to the soundtrack. Learn the music on an instrument. And whatever you do, don't give up on this incredible book!! It's a world-reknown classic for a reason. And you don't want to miss out.