nice, have you watched the show?

This makes sense, it really does. I also think Valjean wasn't aware Javert had committed suicide at that point, just that for some reason he let him go. He could have really still believed he was a threat to her way of life.

I didn't even think to just listen to it! I see it's on spotify and will check it out, thanks!

Haha, my apologies. I suggest you don't look at r/lesmis

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Reminds me of when I went to check it out from the library, I asked "Do you have Les Misérables unabridged here?" in my American accent (we are both in and from America). She retorted, "oh, you mean, LECH MICHZZERABLEHHH??" .. yes, I think we both know I did...

1. Because most teenagers and young adults are involved in romantic relationships at some point in that period, and also are interested in reading about them.
2. Because it's easy to write.
3. You've written exactly the reason.

I haven't seen the Broadway one, I will have to check it out, but I highly recommend the book hehe.

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I watched the 2012 movie with Hugh Jackman, and it felt so so so fast to me. Hundreds of pages and arcs condensed into 2 minutes of scene time hurt my heart. It also completely missed a side of JV in the book. In the book he has this deep, dark, terrifying, and threatening persona he brings out when needed. The movie has a fight scene with Javert where JV runs away, in the book he just straight up terrifies Javert.

Fair enough. I thought thag the publisher cut a deal with Amazon so Amazon ca print on deman the books from that publisher, and ordering from a different retailer they may have versions of the book from a different printer. I might be wrong.

Please reconsider using Sparknotes for this book. It spoils the plot of the book that you spent 350+ pages getting to, the part that the narrator hints at throughout the first half. I got it spoiled for me. Watch out!

Also, The P&V translation is closer to his real style but also clunkier and more difficult to read. I switched to the Garnett one and is was so much easier and I flew through the second half of the book, but I did lose some of the style by doing this. The second half of the book also is just easier to read in general, so once you hit the 400 page mark, I think you'll feel more confortable with the writing no matter which edition you read.

I am so glad I posted here. I am really enjoying the discussion. You make some very good insights too!

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for #5, I am just referring to how JV had his own place at Marius and Cosette's house that Marius had agreed to allow him to visit each afternoon. Instead of ever talking to JV however, Marius has JV's furniture slowly moved out of the room. He makes sure the fire isn't lit anymore either. It was just so freaking passive-aggressive

It's been a while since I read it, but as I recall he was confident someone would figure out his identity eventually, and then it would bring (what he saw as) unbearable social disgrace on Cosette (and Marius). I also think Valjean's whole perspective was, 'A life with me is forever a life on the run. So I have one mission: Get Cosette to the point where she doesn't have to be with me anymore.' Once that was achieved, I think his whole perspective didn't even really stop to consider, 'Can I stick around?' The idea was, 'She is unburdened of me, now I can disappear.'

The 2012 film had its strengths, but it is not the same experience at all as the Broadway musical. But I'm not suggesting you watch the musical (though, I mean, definitely do if you get the chance), I'm just suggesting you listen to it (specifically, the Original Broadway Cast recording). You already know the story, so you should be able to follow along pretty easily. If you find you enjoy it, then I suggest getting your hands on the filmed 25th Anniversary Les Misérables in Concert, where much of the original cast partially acts out the musical while singing it.

Your comment just made me cringe more when I think back about him getting ready to blow himself and everyone up. There were definitely some dark motivations in there.

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Man this book is good.

i think you are using a single example to cast judgment on a whole genre, with is not really fair. while YA does have a lot of romance, this is the case of 'all squares are rectangles but not all rectangles are squares'.

your romance example is also not limited to YA, or space fiction. i am currently reading a fantasy adult novel and the number of times i have rolled my eyes over the romance relationships are giving me eyestrain.

so i think if you were to re-frame the discussion as more of 'this is a trope i do not like in a genre i otherwise enjoy' you would get more interaction. rather than the 'don't like it, don't read it' reaction.

> Even when he lies to Cosette, he is only trying to protect her.

Hmm perhaps he believed since now that she married Cosette, he didn't need to protect her, so he didn't lie about his identity anymore?

I suppose this makes sense. It's not the "right" thing, but it makes sense in his mind it is. He truly believed he wasn't wanted anymore, and so he left. He just went too far on the self-denial route, but that's quite in character for him

>Why do most YA books contain romantic relationships when the protagonist(s) are/is a teenager or young adult?

Considering that many people have their first romantic adventures during or shortly after puberty, I'm honestly not surprised that YA books try to tackle such things.

Why doesn't it? Anyway, see the title of the post. It helps me process and think about them.

Whenever I post on Reddit I get such anxiety I am going to say something wrong and come back to comments calling me an asshole ^^;

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Your comment makes me happy :)

Oh sorry, I should have been more clear! I completely understand the part you are referring to. I absolutely loved (maybe loved is the wrong word, but I couldn't put the put down!) reading his internal struggle in his dark room over this. I haven't seen the Broadway cast yet, just watched the 2012 movie and it felt like everything went so quick haha.

I am referring to the end portion. Maybe my sense of time was off, but basically it seemed like Jean Valjean didn't want to keep being Fauchelevent (spelling?) even though it was a perfect identity. So instead he confessed who he was to Marius and moved away until his sadness brought him to death's door. I just don't completely understand the consistency in logic

I’ve just started this book! So far I’m loving it, thanks for this 😊

That's true! Fantine was pretty dang tragic as well. Right before I posted this I actually watched the movie with Hugh Jackman and was frustrated with how on the nose Eponine's love for Marius was. The book did such a good job making the reader question her motivations and come to the conclusion themselves that she is in love with Marius.

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I should have added Eponine's death to Marius' "little bitch section" because, if I'm remembering right, despite Eponine dying, Marius doesn't even hear her confess her love to him while she's bleeding out from sacrificing herself for him. He's too focused on Cosette's letter. Damn, you are right, that is truly tragic

Most teens might not, but you're not looking at stories about Bob and Brenda going to school with each other every day where their biggest obstacle is getting their homework done on time. You have the example of Illuminae - a massive futuristic space opera - and the suspension of disbelief ends at being too mature for the type of relationship you'd really attribute to a teenager in a 2023 school ?

It's also worth remembering who these books are aimed at. When you're at age, relationships often do feel central to your life. If you're going through a horrible circumstance, the one good thing in your life often is the most important. I think that works on a relatability that you move past as you age.

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Regardless of whether someone has one or not, negotiating the ins and outs of romantic relationships are huge part of being a teen. It's one of the last great unknowns for kids, so they tend to obsess over them and that obsession helps sell books.

Oh me too. Of course he did the only thing he ever did, run towards the danger to protect others. He told us over and over it was going to happen and it was still devastating to read.

Side note though, I watched 10 Things I Hate About You last night and now I strongly believe that young Heath Ledger would have been the perfect Benji.

Thank you for your opinions, first off. My real problem with teen relationships is that in books, mostly fiction, the couple are in horrible circumstances and they fight together against all odds. It feels like they make the relationship the most important to the plot and not the story. It also gives them an adult perspective which most teens don’t have.

I cried like a baby. I was so invested in Benji by the end.

I get that not everyone does, but you must have noticed all the ones going on around you - maybe with friends, but certainly throughout the school as a whole ?