Victor Hugo: Les Misérables (1862) - Translated by Norman Denny (1976)

    Victor Hugo’s tale of injustice, heroism and love follows the fortunes of Jean Valjean, an escaped convict determined to put his criminal past behind him (Goodreads).

    With a book this size, each reader's experience will vary largely, so take everything here with a grain of salt: This book was a journey, to be sure. Victor Hugo (and the translator, by extension) writes with such prowess and magnitude throughout each and every chapter, that the novel, though vast, rarely - if ever - feels like a slog. Hugo can go from the heat of battle, with fast paced prose that gets the heart racing, to an essay on literal crap, somehow without missing a beat. Certainly, not every informative aside lands, but for each dry section on the hierarchy of convents, there are three more wholly masterful ones on Waterloo, urchin vernacular, or the history of Parisian sewers. An exquisite picture of a relatively small moment of history is dictated so poignantly that it can hardly fail to resonate for anyone, regardless of time or location. Admittedly, one might be lost in the confusion of French history, and a basic understanding of the nation's past might be necessary for full comprehension, but that's as much France's fault as Hugo's. Regardless, the tale is full to the brim with memorable, excruciatingly human characters that go through individual torments and struggles in the midst of a story that is greater than the sum of its parts. The novel suffers from several of the classic 'old book' problems, there being some over-explication and below-average female representation, and there are probably too many recurring minor characters that have to be looked up to be remembered, but really, for a novel of this magnitude, one that provides a simply beautiful and profound experience, Hugo performs admirably. 8.9/10

Other Things Consumed Since April

It's been a while since my last blog post, and that is not without reason: It's actually been a while since I read a book. Well, I should be more specific: It's been a while since I have actually read a full-length novel that would merit a full-length review. I have read a fair bit, certainly, but the books I have been reading are either compilations, non-fiction, or audiobooks. I've been trying to refrain from starting any new series or buying (or renting) any new books, instead focusing on cleaning out my own already stuffed shelves of books I haven't read. With the world shut down in recent months, this became pretty easy, but most of what I have consumed would not do to be compared alongside the other standard fiction novels I review here. So here are just some small anecdotes on what I have read and listened to in the recent months.


PHIL VISCHER: ME, MYSELF & BOB (2007)
The true story of Vischer and his animation sensation is as engaging as any fictional novel one could contrive, so as a story it wholeheartedly succeeds, and it's easy to see how the author achieved success in the storytelling world with writing like this.
Rating: Good







C.S. LEWIS: THE PROBLEM OF PAIN (1940)
Lewis is obviously an established icon of literature, and thank goodness for that, because anyone else writing about this subject would probably be drier than a desert. That being said, it's still pretty dry, from Lewis maybe delving into the realm of semi-arid shrub steppe. Then again, maybe it's just not my favourite subject.
Rating: Probably good if you're into that kind of thing






J.R.R. TOLKIEN: THE LEGEND OF SIGURD & GUDRÚN (2009)
For epic Norse prose, it's pretty darn good (I admit I haven't too much to compare it to). Tolkien's voice is prevalent and yet it still retains an unmistakable sense of mythic grandeur. The other 50% of the book, Christopher Tolkien's essays, I'm sure are also interesting to people who like whatever he was talking about (didn't absorb much from those parts).
Rating: Probably good if you like either epic tales or essays about the translation and explication of those tales





SPAWNED OUT OF THIN AIR WITH NO AUTHOR: FANTASTIC BEAST - THE CRIMES OF GRINDELWALD: THE ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY (2018)
Hahahaha what was I even doing buying this. Full disclosure: I have not seen this movie. The screenplay was ok though.
Rating: Why would anyone read a screenplay before watching a movie actually I guess that's what everyone making the movie does so it's not that weird but still





J.R.R. TOLKIEN: TALES FROM THE PERILOUS REALM (1949)
Brilliant. It is wholly refreshing hearing Tolkien's voice in a range that is not fantasy epic, but rather children's bedtime story. It retains everything that people love about Tolkien and adds countless scrumptious bits of whimsy that are hinted at in tales like The Hobbit.
Rating: Perilously good




MICHELLE ALEXANDER: THE NEW JIM CROW (2010) - Narrated by Karen Chilton (2020)
The message is repeated, emphasized, and pounded into the listener's mind, and I'll be damned if it isn't an important message. Alexander's writing style is engaging and the information she dictates is, all at once, shocking, eye-opening, and wholly essential for everyone.
Rating: Yes. Read it.


AGATHA CHRISTIE: THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES (1920) - Narrated by Penelope Dellaporta (2006)
Having not read any other Christie, but obviously knowing of her acumen in the realm of mystery, I would assume I am not wrong in stating that this is not her best. It's well thought out to be sure, but it drags a little, especially towards the end.
Rating: 6 Little Gray Cells / 10



IJEOMA OLUO: SO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT RACE (2018) - Narrated by Bahni Turpin (2018)
A raw, personal account of racism in America combined with the sources to back it up. Simultaneously engaging and informative. An essential read that must be taken in if one wants to gain perspective.
Rating: Yes also read this




DOUGLAS ADAMS: DOCTOR WHO - THE PIRATE PLANET (Full Cast Audio Drama) - Narrated by John Leeson (2012)
Yeah it was good. Funny, unique, enjoyable. Not sure if this counts as a 'read' but whatever. Sorta weird and confusing, but I mean, that's classic 'Classic Who.'
Rating: Affirmative, Master




Okay so that's pretty much everything new that I've read and listened to since the world changed. It may be worth mentioning that I've also re-listened to a lot of books, from Percy Jackson to Lorien Legacies to Fahrenheit 451, and they all retain the same magic from when I first read them.

Thanks for sticking it out. I am currently reading an 'actual' full-length book, and so my regular reviews will be back hopefully soon - although my current read is actually the behemoth known as Les Miserables, so it might be a while yet.

Ransom Riggs: Hollow City (2014)

    Having escaped Miss Peregrine’s island by the skin of their teeth, Jacob and his new friends must journey to London, the peculiar capital of the world (Goodreads).

    For a book about children with superpowers, the second installment of this series is rather underwhelming. It is rather exciting and well paced, making for an easy and fun read, but the entire book feels an awful lot like one long midsection in an altogether longer book. I suppose this could be the case for many a second novel in a trilogy, but overall in this particular one, the action is repetitive, and while it is not a slog to get through all of the scenes, well written and engaging as they are, the plot does not really build up to anything until the last two chapters, where the book ends with a very good twist and intriguing conclusion. Again, the pictures are very neat and the characters are all likable enough, but this sequel feels more like a stretched out bridge between two better (though I obviously have yet to read the third) bookends of a series. 7.4/10

Eoin Colfer: Highfire (2020)

    The swamp can make strange bedfellows, and rather than be fried alive so the dragon can keep his secret, Squib strikes a deal with the scaly apex predator (Goodreads).

    For a novel that was hailed as a departure from his middle-grade fantasy, Highfire remains a story that is distinctly 'Colfer.' From the witty dialogue and detailing to the ever present Irish elements (despite taking place in backwoods Louisiana) and sometimes overly convenient plot points, Colfer's established and brilliant voice remains the linchpin for what becomes a very enjoyable story. The characters are not especially unique and the relationships between them are not entirely fleshed out, but the overall plot is highly entertaining, and once one gets past the crude language, the dialogue is hilarious and often surprisingly heartfelt. Overall, an entirely enjoyable tale that, while unique in spirit, is wholly and entertainingly the author's. 8.4/10

Volker Kutscher: Babylon Berlin (2007) - Translated by Niall Sellar (2016)

    When a car is hauled out of the Landwehr Canal with a mutilated corpse inside, Detective Inspector Gereon Rath claims the case. Soon his inquiries drag him ever deeper into the morass of Weimar Berlin's 'Roaring Twenties' underworld (Goodreads).

    For a moment, let's ignore the wholly unremarkable depictions of physical relationships that often blur the line between appropriate, historically accurate grunge and just plain discomfort; the underwhelming and often dry phrasing and sentence structure (perhaps the fault of the translator rather than the author), the result of which is a story that seems to drag on a little too much; and a protagonist who does not do a whole lot to endear himself to the reader. Instead, let's focus on the unique and captivating setting of 1920s Berlin, an area where the author's creativity flourishes. The mystery that unfolds in this setting is captivating (when not broken up by the aforementioned negatives), and Kutscher unveils several brilliant and engaging twists. After a few, the plot (and eventual climax) is slightly convoluted, but for the most part, as a political/noir/cop/detective novel, this book does quite well. That being said, of course, there are several glaring detractors that lower the quality of what would otherwise be an extremely enjoyable story. 6.7/10

Pittacus Lore: Return to Zero (2019)

    Facing capture or annihilation from all sides, the only hope the Human Garde have for survival is to stand together once and for all to fight back against their true enemies (Goodreads).

    Admittedly, it has been a fair bit of time since I have read the preceding novels in this series, so that may have detracted slightly from my appreciation of this concluding novel, but this seemed largely like a rehash of the previous two books. The stakes and conflicts seemed to not evolve or develop more depth, and the grand scope of the Lorien universe, while impressive, seemed to backfire slightly, with so many characters popping in and out of significance. That being said, the writing quality established and developed over the course of the series continues to shine in this well-paced and action-packed final installment. What relationships between characters that do stand out are developed equally well, and most of the consistent main characters maintain a good semblance of depth and uniqueness. The final climax is slightly convoluted and wrapped up a little too quickly, but for the most part, this series ends on a positive note. 7.7/10

Neal Shusterman: Scythe (2016)

    Citra and Rowan are chosen to apprentice to a scythe—a role that neither wants. These teens must master the “art” of taking life, knowing that the consequence of failure could mean losing their own (Goodreads).

    The premise is grim and unique, and there is not a lot that Shusterman leaves to be desired when it comes to the basic lore and setup of his simultaneously dystopian and utopian world. As far as the actual story goes, that is equally as well done: Both lead characters are intriguing and developed along their own separate paths while still maintaining a decent semblance of a promising relationship. Wonderfully paced and extremely engaging, the only thing that is really left to be desired from this first installment in what promises to be a great series is the predictable nature of some of the plot elements, although there remain some intriguing twists, and the almost unavoidable nature of the fact that having a male and female protagonist in a young adult science fiction novel comes with its fair share of cliches to try to avoid and comparisons to previously written novels that will inevitably arrive in the reader's brain. 8.4/10