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Summary: This is the second most boring book I have ever read....
Review: I'd like to first state that I am a big fan of long books, that's not part of my opinion. Now, this book is boring, simple as that. Descriptions are carried out over page upon monotonous page. Metaphors and similes come across every other sentence. The characters are extremely unrealistic and nothing anyone would care about. By the way-- I only read the abridged version and still could not finish it.
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Summary: Hugo provides the Rest of The Story
Review: Disney brings family films to the screen. Hugo's book has many lessons in it that Disney did not have the time or ability to show in 90 minutes. Critizing them is easy, unlike Hugo which after reading this book is extremely hard to do.Hugo provides a vivid look at 15th century Paris and its caste with soldiers, priests, performers, students and the many levels of Paris below and above the social lines. The tale of looking for goodness in the leats suspected place is vivid as well but Hugo touches on many other subjects, like the caste systems, the finality and justice of the mob and the death penalty and friendship and true love from the darkest corners of life. Hugo is a master story teller and this book obviously had great ramifications in the French Society that Hugo frequented. Its lessons still hit hard and do not end happliy as Mickey would have wanted. But I wouldn't want my younger kids reading this story anyway, espicially the way Hugo pulls you into the heart of a character that can suffer a horrible fate. Fascinating and a great read, I recommend this book with no qualms at all.
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Summary: THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME "Steps Into Classics"
Review: This very well written book takes Virtor Hugo's classic story of Quasimodo, the disabled bell ringer of Notre Dame and adapts it into a format easier to read for children like myself. My enjoyment of this classic story began when I saw the Disney animated masterpice witch was based on Victor Hugo's novel. When this book was given to me as a gift, I was thrilled. I read the entire book, and, although there is no pictures, felt like I was right there with Quasimodo and his friend, witch he loved, the Gypsy girl Esmeralda, Frollo, and all of the people in the book. The deaf bell ringer's adventures as presented to young readers like myself in this very special adapted verson of The Hunchback of Notre Dame (and in any other edition of the book I'm sure) offer thrills that don't stop even when you finish the book, adventure as only Victor Hugo can do it, scary moments that make you gasp in fear, heartfelt scenes that will move you forever, and much more. A garenteed great read! All in all, The Hunchback of Notre Dame has it all! And, (to me) it seems Bullseye Step Into Classics has made it step into everyone's library of classics-- again!
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Summary: Hunched Over Reading for Hours
Review: Like many, my only exposure to Hunchback has been through TV caricatures and the Disney bastardization. Forever distrustful of the mouse ears, I didn't know what to expect reading the real deal. Hugo is a master storyteller. While perhaps he could be faulted for rambling on at several points, his descriptions of 15th century Paris are vivid. His writing is very engaging to the reader; he always peeked my curiosity. Perhaps the strongest aspect of Hugo's work is his characters; while some of the secondary characters tended to be uni-dimensional, others had great depth. I found myself empathizing with the pitiable situations of the Hunchback and his beauty, and even with the antagonist - pathetic as he was. I also found myself thinking: "If only THIS had happened..." That is the badge of a good book. I didn't quite see the point of the chapters detailing the rise of the printing press and the inevitable downfall of architecture. Similarly, the chapter describing 15th century Paris would probably have been more interesting if I was living in early 19th century France so I could have had a basis of comparison. If they don't interest you, just skim them - missing them will not detract from the story. Just be sure to find a good unabridged translation - it can make all the difference. This book had it all: comedy and tragedy; fate and calculated plotting; innocence, ambivalence, and ugliness. And a performing goat. A true classic.
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Summary: Much better than I thought it would be
Review: The Hunchback of Notre Dame was a story that I thought would be a little bit adolescent and childish because they made a Disney movie out of it. But it wasn't. If your read the story, you realize that Disney obviously made the movie have more of a happy ending, because a sad ending is not characteristic of a child's film. Also, the Disney movie focused more on the moral of "Don't judge a person by the way they look", where the book obviously did not. The book just doesn't transfer well to screen. As far as the actual book goes, it was a very powerful story. Even though it's not really a mystery, you just want to read more to find out what happens. You begin to feel inside the story, in almost another reality. Anytime somebody talked to me or disturbed me during my reading, I would come out of the fictional dimension feeling almost hypnotic because of being into the story so much. This story is very deep, and certainly more than the Disney film portrays. I guess the main thought that I'm trying to send here is that the book is so much different and focuses on so many different subjects that in order to UNDERSTAND The Hunchback of Notre Dame you must read the book.
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Summary: Extreme Issues!
Review: Do not watch the Disney version to understand this! This is not a simple tale where the moral is not to judge people by looks! Hugo masterfully shows us a tragic but interesting dilemna. Claude Frollo is holy and virtuous enough to take care of an abandoned and physically deformed child. Yet, despite his virtue, he is unable to control his sexual frustrations towards the gypsy woman. It is also interesting that despite the kindness Quasimodo shows towards La Esmeralda, she can hardly look at him. Hugo masterfully increases our sorrow when Quasimodo sees her beauty and feels all the more ugly: "I never realized how ugly I am until now." It is also striking that the gypsies are sympathetic at first, but then their actions go to far and the soldiers of the church have no choice but to take direct action. Another phenomenal aspect of this book is that even though Claude Frollo shows his dark side, Hugo does not permit us to forget his good points. (Especially when Hugo shows the ingratitude of Claude Frollo's delinquent brother after all the kindness he treated him with.) Hugo presents us with striking images, powerful drama, convincing characters, some comic relief, tragic recognition and reversal, and harsh realities. Not one page is wasted. The harsh ending where Quasimodo sees everything he loved destroyed and leaves the cathedral in pure sorrow left me silent for days. If you are open to reading this in Quasimodo's and Claude Frollo's light (not in a modern light) I highly recommend this exquisite masterpiece beyond expectations. I DO NOT recommend the DISNEY version. Someone lent it to me, and I was so enraged at the destruction of Hugo's intentions that I would have loved to burn the tape. Read the book instead, or at least find a movie that tells the story the way Hugo wrote it!
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Summary: Great story -- complements the Disney movie especially well!
Review: My three-year-old daughter and I fell in love with the animated Disney version of this story, but I always sensed that there was more -- perhaps a deeper and darker message? -- and so I went back to the source to "hear" this story in Hugo's own words. While I, too, found scenes such as the "bird's-eye view of Paris" a bit laborious, Hugo typically paints his backdrops exceptionally well. His unique way of referring to you as "the reader" (and typically as a cultured one at that) -- eg, "the reader has no doubt turned over the admirable works of Rembrandt" -- does, in fact, add to the sensation of having this story told TO you (much in the same way that Clopin, himself, "tells" you the story of Quasimodo's life in the Disney movie). Understanding that the Disney account is necessarily a bit more dilluted (ie, a softer messaage), I was also pleasantly surprised by the twists and turns that Hugo's original offers... especially the climactic conclusion!
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Summary: The Hunchback of Notre Damme: A love story.
Review: Visit fair Paris in this intriguing tale of love,desire, lust and betrayal, and meet Quasimodo the bell man of Notre Damme as he fights corruption and monstruosity with a clear and gentle heart. Still, as you read how the old Church is sieged expect not a happy ending.
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Summary: read Les Miserables
Review: I did like this book, when I eventually persuaded myself I had to read it, but some parts were unnecessarily and tediously descriptive. I really didn't want to know about every stone in Notre Dame de Paris. A shorter description would still create the right atmosphere. I haven't seen the Disney version, but I have the idea it's a happy ending film, and I don't think that suits the book.
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Summary: Usually great but sometimes tedious
Review: After many years of this book sitting on my bookshelf, I finally picked it up. I have to be honest - I expected more. It was usually very well written and a good story, but at times too needlessly detailed. The descriptions of Paris were, I found, a bit much. Overall, though, a wonderful story written by a gifted author. It also helped that I've been to Paris and the square in front of Notre Dame so much - it allowed me to see the events happening in my mind even more than usual.
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