This book has the power to change your life.

Of all the books I have ever read, of all the poems I have admired, of all the movies which dazzled me, of every single story ever told in any format to me, I have found nothing that compares in the least to the absolutely brilliant epic Les Misérables.

I will spare plot details. Les Misérables is a huge novel full of intricate characters, situations, and ideas. It would be impossible to sum up everything important within this epinion. LM manages to successfully combine the aspects of social, political, and religious undertones. You will find a love story, a war story, politically charged thoughts and philosophies of the greatest of French authors.

Hugo is the master of authors. I have never read any book that displays the outstanding intelligence provided by Hugo's word. He speaks to the reader as if they were a friend. He had a motive in creating this novel, and it was to make man see there is more to life than the pursuit of money, and to expose the true horrors of the city of Paris in the 1800's.

Hugo himself describes this novel as dark and gloomy. Those who are poor in spirit, poor in mind, poor in heart have everything to gain from this most noble work. Anyone who has ever suffered will be able to identify and see themselves in at least one of Hugo's characters.

Spirtually, this book is a testament to the greatness of man's interpretation of God. I prefer reading this story to the Bible. It teached me more through observation of other's miseries than outdated, confusing passages of the Bible. Hugo alone as an author has the power to convert an athiest into a god loving man. This is what he did to me.

There are so many situations in this novel that will bring the reader to tears. Hugo describes human misery at it's worst, one cannot help but weep for the terrible fates faced by his characters.

Hugo can speak to one's soul like no other. He is gentle, he is comforting, he is an elightened mind that wishes to create happiness in others. Les Miserables is the bible of the poor. We see every single aspect of an underdog displayed in the characters of this novel.

Hugo's descriptions are outstanding. He has a style of writing all his own. A single action can be described over a gigantic paragraph. An aspect of his writing which is amazing is the fact that on almost every page is a noteworthy quote. I found myself highlighting something on every page. His words, almost 140 years old, still have as much meaning, if not more, as they did then. One has only to look at the suffering and misery of our world to realize it compares to that of France in the 1800's.

Jean Valjean. Hugo's protagonist. Against all odds, this man venerated himself. He was a wretched theif transformed into a saint by the end of his life. There is such depth in this character, he displays the primary example of Hugo's message that there is good in the heart of man and even a hardened criminal can become a father and a hero to many people. His dedication to Cosette is admirable. This man took Cosette from the depths of despair to the happiness of a true love realized.

This novel is tragic. It is terribly sad, it is depressing, it is painful to read at times. This is only to instill upon the reader that they must avoid creating any more evil in this world than there already is. By the end of the book, all the tragedies make sense. Every character that suffered, every character that sacrificed thier own lives to save another, would probably be seen sleeping with the angels. Their lives were full of misery, but the kingdom of heaven is their's for eternity.

It is hard to put into words a complete description for my feelings on this book. I can't really continue on without thinking I am leaving too much out, so I will simplify my thoughts. Les Miserables is meant for anyone who suffers in any way. This book has the power to inspire anyone. This book will make you a better, smarter person. I can garuntee, if everyone read this book and seriously considered it in their minds, the world would be a better place. Hugo is a master author and his novel is fulled to the brim with tragedy, drama, romance, action, and philosophy. It is the penultimate combination of all styles of novels into one massive amazing story. This book will bring tears to your eyes and a smile to your face. This book will make your heart feel a warmth that is indescribable. I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone. If you are looking for a good book to read, take the challenge, read all of this novel unabridged, and you will appreciate it fully. It is so worth it to read this book. It will affect you in a way which modern novels cannot. It is an epic for the soul. I love this book and I will never forget what it has brought me. This book brings light to the darkest of shadows. This book is the hope for a world free of poverty and misery. You owe it to yourself, you owe it to those who suffer, and you owe it to god to read this book.