The first 2 narrators are middling.

The story is a renowned classic and has lain unread on my shelf for years. I thought having an audio book version would help get me through and the sample for this one was good. Unfortunately, it was the 3rd narrator (Scarborough). They seem to have put the most famous yet least of the voices up front (Akhtar and Simpson) which for a book this size can be difficult to slog through. But the remaining 3 are good. Scarborough was the best. Owen-Jones clearly understands the material the most (from being in the stage show) and has the most emotional connection to the work from the way he emphasizes particular words and throws himself in. Fielding is good as well.
The book has great parts and the first volume definitely is a masterpiece but I can't help get annoyed at Hugo's lengthy unrelated tangents (The second volume is the most painful in this regard containing both the Waterloo and the convent rambles.) I also found I had to let go of any judgement towards contrivances in the plot (I.e. Disparate characters miraculously coming into contact again). It gets pretty ridiculous, in particular the end of volume 3.
I can't rate it perfect but it is darn good and well worth your time. The rating suffers from the first 2 narrators.
It's better than Anna and the french kiss.

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1 person found this helpful

Fantastic

An epic story that’s suited really well to the audiobook format. The first narrator could have been a little better, but he’s not so bad. Don’t be put off if you don’t like his style - the rest of the narrators are great.

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The musical tells a story, the actual book is so much more

I’m a fan of the musical so thought about listening but was daunted by its length

Surely a good story is proven by the fact you don’t notice its length. The book brings so much more than the musical could from a view of French history to a view of civilisation and the challenges of making social progress.

Undoubtedly the story is Hugo’s way to put his opinion across. But what an amazing story that is thought provoking, compelling and fascinating

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Great.!

Had always want to read this. But the shear size of the book is seriously off putting. (1600 pages) So Audible really helped. A story that could have been told in 400 pages goes off on multiple tangents. Religion, politics, class, war and even the lay out of the Parisian sewer system.! But is a great listen, painting a picture of revolutionary France 🇫🇷 Well worth it.

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5 people found this helpful

Great timeless story

Story superb. Ruined (forme) by a sudden and abrupt change of narrator a few hours into the story. Why? It completely broke my immersion in the story.

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Wonderful audiobook

Whilst long it was worth it - Hugo's story told with excellence. Well worth every minute.

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6 people found this helpful

Riveting to the last page

Put aside what you think you know from the musical or that dreadful film, and don’t be intimidated by the length. It will be one of the greatest reads of your life

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5 people found this helpful

An amazingly short book!!

I have never so much wanted a book to go on .
This is worth every minute . As we meet and finally understand each character or as the last chapters on Hugo himself describes alter egos?
I am not a emotional person normally but at times both filled me with joy, then disturbed and at times even look down to avoid a tear at the closing of the chapters but smiles abound as you ride this rollercoaster of time and Monsieur Jean Valjeans journey.
Highly recommend
Long but what a joy !!!

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5 people found this helpful

Spellbinding

This is a true classic and on such a grand scale. All the wonderful and varied characters blended with real life events being this story to life in a way that evokes a myriad of emotions. I can't praise this book enough.

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Dull narration

I did not get further than 5 hours, I really tried, but the first narrator was very dull. perhaps it might get better further on, but I couldn't bear to keep listening

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