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Summary: When A Public Hanging Was Entertainment For The Masses
Review: Victor Hugo never wrote a book titled THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME. Some early translator gave it that name. What Hugo wrote was a book called NOTRE DAME OF PARIS (in French: NOTRE DAME de PARIS). This is not a book that is primarily about a hunchback named Quasimodo or a beautiful Gypsy girl named Esmerelda. It is a book narrowly focused on the Cathedral of Notre Dame situated on the Ile de la Cite in the center of Paris and, more broadly, on the 15th century city of Paris. This was a Paris where public executions or any form of punishment involving public humiliation were the highest forms of entertainment and drew the kinds of crowds that we would see at a major sports event today. If this book is not read with this in mind, the reader might well be disappointed because he came to it with a different sort of book in mind. I would like to congratulate the one previous reviewer who reviewed the book on the basis of its actual scope and intent.Now to the human aspects of the novel, the plot so to speak: There are no perfect angels in this book. After all, Esmerelda was a part of a band of thieves who came to public gatherings for the express purpose of seeing what they could "gather" for themselves. Quasimodo was not a misshapen humanitarian. He had been known to carry out a dirty deed or two himself. As for the rest of the characters, there's not a role model in the bunch. To Hugo's credit, we really care about Quasimodo and Esmerelda, "warts and all." This is one indication of good writing. The basic plot, devoid of any embellishments, is rather simple. Esmerelda, out of humanitarian instincts, comes to Quasimodo's aid in a small but meaningful way when he really needs a friend. Quasimodo, as best as he is able, falls in love with Esmerelda. When the arch villain, Archdeacon Dom Frollo, who is also in love with Esmerelda but has been rejected by her, tries to have her hanged, Quasimodo saves her, but only for a while. Eventually she is executed under circumstances where Quasimodo can't came to her rescue. Quasimodo throws our villain, Dom Frollo, to his death from the heights of the cathedral. In a way, its a shame that when an author creates a memorable character, or an opera composer writes an unforgettable aria, these creations take on such lives of their own that they overshadow the novel or opera from which they come. That has certainly been one of the fates of this book. Too many readers have come to it searching for the cute little Disney Quasimodo, or even Charles Laughton's unforgettable Quasimodo from the 1939 movie. When it turned out that the scope of this book was so much more comprehensive, they were disappointed for all the wrong reasons. A note about reading Hugo, or any other author worth reading. One should read for enjoyment, and, where it is available, for information that will increase one's understanding of this world. I have noticed that several reviewers, some of whom didn't like this book, talked of its length, or of Hugo's use of "similes and metaphors." Anyone who is busy trying to analyze a book for styles or techniques doesn't have the right inclination to enjoy the book, to enjoy the atmospheres the author has created, or to get the emotional impact that was the author's intent. I would recommend THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME as a book that is well worth reading if read for the right reasons. Don't read it, or any book, looking for "techniques" or for "neo-modernism," or "anything-else-isms." I guarantee you that's not what the author had in mind when he wrote his novel. He meant it to be read, not analyzed.
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Summary: Haunting Masterpiece
Review: This is the best book I have ever read; its characters in their frailty and flawed humanity move inexorably toward their collective dooms. Not a cheery work, but profound, touching, and overall a stunning achievement in literature.
Rating: 
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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