Quote

"To sum it all up, if you want to write, if you want to create, you must be the most sublime fool that God ever turned out and sent rambling. You must write every single day of your life. You must write dreadful dumb books and glorious books, and let them wrestle in beautiful fights inside your head, vulgar one moment, brilliant the next. You must lurk in libraries and climb the stacks like ladders to sniff books like perfume and wear books like hats upon your crazy heads. I wish for you a wrestling match with your Creative Muse that will last a lifetime. I wish craziness and foolishness and madness upon you. May you live with hysteria, and out of it make fine stories--science fiction or otherwise. Which means, may you be in love every day for the next 20,000 days. And out of that love, remake a world."
— Ray Bradbury

Something Interesting

I promise whoever reads this that I have read a book this summer. I just haven't logged any of them into my blog. Bad me. Baaad. I've actually been reading and acquiring books like nobody's business. I'm pretty sure book shopping (especially antique book shopping) should be a Class I addiction. I've read books on and off the book list. And one play. More are coming. I even had a book dropped on my lap (well, desk) that I didn't know existed. These are the best kind. It's an account of a psychologist imprisoned at Auschwitz and Dachau during the Holocaust. If it weren't written in such matter-of-fact language and I didn't read this rather short novel in small spurts, I would probably cry. Which is bad in a work setting. The book is focused on the effect of true suffering on the human behavior. It's magnificent. Not just the account, the conclusions pulled from it. It's called Man's Search for Meaning. You can look it up, buy it, or borrow it from me, since I'm keeping the copy that was given to me.

But. The reason that I am blogging today was because I stumbled upon an article that confused me at first. It's about Brave New World and the approach threw me. It is an in-depth article that proves that the novel is not purposed as a defense to bioengineering. In other words, it's a dystopia not a utopia and Huxley was, in fact, proving that the aspects of the society he created are bad. This confused me because I thought "Duh. Who doesn't know that?" In fact, some don't. They fail to see the irony. Sigh. I personally don't want a post-atheistic, pleasure seeking society that makes the pleasures in life devoid of meaning and intellect useless and pain distasteful and love gone. Anyhow, draw your own conclusions:

http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/2uQ2Ne/www.hedweb.com/huxley/bnw.htm

*note: I didn't actually read the article in its entirety. If my conclusions about the article are incorrect, feel free to inform me. Politely.

My Book List

My summer list is narrowing! Ok, I haven't read much yet, don't judge. When I'm not unpacking and catching up on Doctor Who, I'm reading Easy to Kill by (guess who) Agatha Christie. Starting a familiar book is like slipping into a warm bath. I knew I was home as soon as started reading it. I just reorganized my bookshelf and I'm here to tell you that it's more good looking than ever. And one my dear friends at college gave me an American must-read book list to make me get over my aversion to American Literature. The irony is getting too much for me. Here is her list! :

1. To Kill a Mockingbird
2. Catcher in the Rye
3. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
4. Fahrenheit 451
5. Invisible Man
6. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
7. The House on Mango Street
8. The Sound and the Fury
9. Catch-22
10. Call of the Wild (okay, this is not really in my top 10, but I'm shocked at how many people haven't read it!)

I of course have read Mockingbird, 451, Huck Finn, Mango Street and Call of the Wild, but the rest are yet to be read. And at least 3 or 4 of them are on my big list. Score! So here is my list forming for the summer.

1. Oedipus Rex

2. Cuckoo's Nest

3. Invisible Man

4. Sound and the Fury

5. Catcher in the Rye

6. Catch 22

7. Shakespeare

Not that anyone reading this will really care, but it makes me feel better to make a list now and then. And I've decided to add to my repertoire of memorized Shakespearean monologues/soliloquies. Suggestions welcome. :)

Prosody

For some reason, I feel melancholy this evening. Don't read too much into it, but it's here. So I have some poetry, two of my favorites in fact, to illustrate my mood.

Tears, idle tears, I know not what they mean,
Tears from the depth of some divine despair
Rise in the heart, and gather to the eyes,
In looking on the happy Autumn-fields,
And thinking of the days that are no more.

Fresh as the first beam glittering on a sail,
That brings our friends up from the underworld,
Sad as the last which reddens over one
That sinks with all we love below the verge;
So sad, so fresh, the days that are no more.

Ah, sad and strange as in dark summer dawns
The earliest pipe of half-awakened birds
To dying ears, when unto dying eyes
The casement slowly grows a glimmering square;
So sad, so strange, the days that are no more.

Dear as remembered kisses after death,
And sweet as those by hopeless fancy feigned
On lips that are for others; deep as love,
Deep as first love, and wild with all regret;
O Death in Life, the days that are no more.

Alfred Lord Tennyson

WHEN I have fears that I may cease to be
Before my pen has glean'd my teeming brain,
Before high pil`d books, in charact'ry,
Hold like rich garners the full-ripen'd grain;
When I behold, upon the night's starr'd face,	5
Huge cloudy symbols of a high romance,
And feel that I may never live to trace
Their shadows, with the magic hand of chance;
And when I feel, fair creature of an hour!
That I shall never look upon thee more,	10
Never have relish in the faery power
Of unreflecting love;—then on the shore
Of the wide world I stand alone, and think,
Till Love and Fame to nothingness do sink. John Keats Too bad I fail at formating on blogspot.

Research paper. Minus the Research. On electronic paper.

Hi.

My name is Melora.

I'm an English major.

And I think the Bible is a pretty amazing piece of literature.

Now, this isn't just because I'm a Christian, though this is certainly true. The Bible is objectively an amazing piece of literature. For one, it's the only piece of ancient literature consistently read by people who don't have a doctorate in literature or archaeology. Now, I have no sources to back me up in this..essay..., but most consider, say, The Canterbury Tales or "Caedmon's Hymn", or gasp, Shakespeare to be fairly ancient. Well, those are still centuries into the C.E. Think earlier. The Odessey? Plato? Aristotle? Congratulations! We've reached before Jesus' birth, into the B.C.E. Now think earlier. Wait...weren't there only cave drawings? That's an exaggeration, but the truth is that the general knowledge of Great Works before the Greek/Roman era is sketchy at best. Except, for the most part, the Bible. Regardless of the date the early works were actually written, the Bible traces a history from the beginning of time to roughly 95 A.D. which has been proved fairly accurate from archaeological sites and other ancient civilization's documents. Whether most of Genesis was literal, physical, metaphysical, figurative, allegorical, grammatical, or metaphorical, an Egyptian find dates an "Israelite nation" with in its borders around the time of the supposed Exodus. But we like to argue, so let's say that the Bible is mythology and fiction and simply based very loosely around real world events.Still, the quantity and quality of the Bible far outweighs any other ancient document. Sometime, take a look at the Israelite and monk scribe process. It's quite a painstaking procedure and a rather fascinating process. The accuracy is so complete that the Dead Sea scrolls only differ in a couple words from the copies we have today. The accuracy rate in major Greek/Roman works pales by comparison.

Now, say you aren't very impressed by all that above. You must be a huge Homer fan or someone who reads way too many ancient documents for your own good. (I understand, I have Caedmon's hymn on the background of my computer as well.) Maybe - hopefully - this appreciation of literature in general will compel you to look twice at the content of the Bible. Let's say Genesis and Exodus and even Numbers and Joshua is pure mythology. Wow. Those are some awesome stories. Actually, the creation myth has strong similarities with the Enuma Elish and Greek/Roman myth. Also the "Noah and the Flood" story is similar to the Epic of Gilgamesh. Please, just imagine the 10 plagues for a minute (or ten). A George Lucas movie version might have a larger revenue than 2012. Actually, it would be much better. The stories in the Bible are epic. And I think I'm gonna pick on Leviticus for a second. Yeah, it's not the funnest book to read in the Bible. (Or most fun. Pick your poison.) But the laws actually make sense. The animals the Israelites were restricted from eating are commonly associated with disease that can be combated by measures like fully cooking food - knowledge and practices that wouldn't be fully observed centuries ago. The laws on letting the lands rest every 7 years is pretty smart too. The problem of crops stripping the soil of nutrients wasn't recognized and dealt with by crop rotation until the last several centuries. A field left sallow for a year would help restore the nutrients. All of the laws also focus on the well-being of the community, which practically is a very good thing. The Bible also contains many different literature forms such as poetry, which is quite good. It's overarching and connecting theme from book to book and century to century is staggering. Even Animorphs lost it eventuutally. The Bible, from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21, depicts the same God over and over. That amount of consistency and dedication should impress anyone at least a little bit.

No, the Bible is not the only ancient religious text in the world. And I'm not trying to prove that other ancient texts aren't awesome or worthy of mention. But the Bible deserves recognition as a piece of literature that has withstood the test of time and has literary merit and, dare I say, beauty in its text. No matter what you think of Christianity, at least consider its text to be one of significant literary merit.

Thank you, Shakira

Shakira gave me the greatest metaphor for my life at the moment. Literary lesson for today: poetry can be found anywhere. Right Smokebullets?

I didn't come on to rave about Woka Woka, but I do want to say that now is the time to start compiling my summer reading list.

It will reach my 50 book goal.

It will include at least 5 plays (for a burgeoning theatre major I'm very lacking in this area).

It will include at least skimming over Les Mis again.

It will include my favorite poet of the moment: Gerard Manley Hopkins.

Saying all this, any suggestions?

I also just realized I haven't actually shared my 100 book list for your perusal and purveyance. I should do that.

Another side note: next semester I will be taking Advanced Composition and Renaissance and 17th Century Literature (minus Shakespeare), and I am very excited for both classes.

Some Wishes, Wants, and Wequests (as they say in Spanish)

I realized today what I want. Something that's been hitting me over the past...Oh I don't know...several months, and culminated in the past few weeks. I want to write. I'm not saying I'm good and I'm not saying anything I do write will be worth a flip. I'm saying that the gift of being able to write something beautiful and amazing would be greater than any gift anyone could give me. Shakespeare and all the others were right. A thing of beauty is a joy forever, and to write something beautiful, something that would someone would love or hate, to write something that would make someone stand back and say...there...there is an idea. There is a surprising lack of options in this world in the terms of it has all been done before (thank you barenaked ladies) but you'd be surprised at the new or renovated vehicles in which these ideas arrive. And an idea doesn't have to be new to be good. So, in an effort to actually keep true to whatever I am trying to do here, I leave you with this:

A priest to the confessions of this world:

To hear the heartache - bitter memories

I cannot heal the gaping wounds so bold

And so I hide within my rectory

Against the troubles of this life to arm

Would take an army sure and strong - to heal

Takes more strength than to place the scars of harm,

To conquer hate takes more than cold sharp steel.

The dark and dismal hold of hurt is tight

And rips the hope from minds already weak

But dark is counterbalanced by the light

And goodness - Godness - into dark will leak

To trust int he Almighty with all my might

Will bring these dark confessions into right.

A Prayer For OWEN MEANY

I was told: Read this book. It will make you cry. It didn't make me cry, though I was trying very hard not to at the time. Though this novel by John Irving did take about 2 months to finish, it was a very worthwhile read. A brief summary: This is an account of Johnny Wheelwright's life as it connects to the life of one OWEN MEANY. Both boys grow up together and share the normal experiences of two awkward children, except for one vitally different event: the death of Johnny's mother. And OWEN MEANY had some sort of hand in it (I'd rather not give away too much of the plot, even though for the first 50 pages, you may doubt it's existence). The plot is includes a search for Johnny's father and the face that OWEN is haunted by the divine. If you are looking for a light read exempt of theology and other heavy matters, this isn't the book for you. The book doesn't deal with the question of whether God exists so much as how God exists.

Let me talk about Johnny. It's funny how easy it is to forget the supposed main character's name. This is due to the fact that a narrator wouldn't refer to himself in first person, and because John Irving wants to assert very subtly that Johnny, in fact, is not the main character. OWEN is. Johnny is exceedingly average: average intelligence, average extended family, average and mild. He grows up to be an English teacher in Canada and very single.

Let me talk about OWEN MEANY. I may be confusing those of you who haven't read this book by my caps lock. Those of you who have read it have probably grinned by now. I will explain. OWEN is extraordinary in almost every sense of the word. He is absolutely brilliant, compassionate, and very concerned with doing the right thing in the right way. He also has a special kind of charisma that either draws people to him or frightens them away. Part of that is his voice. His voice is so soft and high that he is forced to yell everything he says in order to be heard and he transfers this quality to his writing - writing everything in CAPS LOCK. In fact, every time he communicates in the book, vocal or written, it is in all caps. This odd puny quality matches his body structure; it is so light almost anyone could lift him, and sometimes did. And yet he works in a granite quarry which his family owns. The weak is strong.

This novel focuses on OWEN MEANY and his goal in life. As the novel progresses, you are very aware that OWEN has a special connection with God and divines from him, slowly, his fate. I would really like to say more about OWEN MEANY'S purpose, but that gives away a lot. Anyhow, A PRAYER FOR OWEN MEANY IS A VERY GOOD BOOK. IT WILL BRING MANY QUESTIONS AND IDEAS ABOUT LIFE AND FATE AND GOD INTO LIGHT AND WILL DEFINITELY MAKE YOU THINK. PLEASE READ IT, WHETHER OR NOT IT MAKES YOU CRY.

This has been a good week.

NO, this post isn't about a book I've read or some some sort of nice analysis. Though I have read A Prayer for Owen Meany recently and it will be appearing in a post down the line...I think I kinda decided Grendel didn't quite get that privilege. Time difficulties. I also read the nonfiction book How to Become a Writer or How to write fiction or Something Like That. It was proclaimed, oddly by the writer of Grendel, to be the Strunk and White of writing fiction. Written in the 20s or 30s, it was very good and focused a lot on the writer's disposition and good writing habits. Overall, quite wonderful. I would go more in depth, but I gave it away, as I would do to all my books if I weren't quite so in love with them. BUT. This post is about how this has been a very good week for me as far as books are concerned.

1. Far from the Madding Crowd. Thanks to Sheffield's Antique Mall in Collierville and fifteen dollars, I am the proud owner of my favorite Thomas Hardy novel. It is a very pretty 1932 edition. I loooooovvvvee this book. It is the sole reason why I keep on reading Hardy novels...hoping they'll be like the first I read. None have measured up so far.

2. Les Miserables. My lovely, beautiful friend Zach has most kindly given me his copy of Les Mis. Naturally, I am ecstatic. I cannot wait to dive into the novel I left behind 2 months ago...

3. One of Our Thursdays is Missing. BAAAaahahernar;j!!!!!! That stands for OH MY GOODNESS JASPER FFORDE IS MY FAVORITIST!!!!! This novel is the 6th in the Thursday Next series. My brother went to his booksigning in St. Louis. He got me an autographed copy for my birthday!!!!! In three weeks I'm going to have it to hold and to read. I'm veryveryveryveryveryvery excited. Thursday Next!!!

For good measure: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's a good week.

!

I can't help reposting this....

"Date a girl who reads. Date a girl who spends her money on books instead of clothes. She has problems with closet space because she has too many books. Date a girl who has a list of books she wants to read, who has had a library card since she was twelve.

Find a girl who reads. You’ll know that she does because she will always have an unread book in her bag.She’s the one lovingly looking over the shelves in the bookstore, the one who quietly cries out when she finds the book she wants. You see the weird chick sniffing the pages of an old book in a second hand book shop? That’s the reader. They can never resist smelling the pages, especially when they are yellow.

She’s the girl reading while waiting in that coffee shop down the street. If you take a peek at her mug, the non-dairy creamer is floating on top because she’s kind of engrossed already. Lost in a world of the author’s making. Sit down. She might give you a glare, as most girls who read do not like to be interrupted. Ask her if she likes the book.

Buy her another cup of coffee.

Let her know what you really think of Murakami. See if she got through the first chapter of Fellowship. Understand that if she says she understood James Joyce’s Ulysses she’s just saying that to sound intelligent. Ask her if she loves Alice or she would like to be Alice.

It’s easy to date a girl who reads. Give her books for her birthday, for Christmas and for anniversaries. Give her the gift of words, in poetry, in song. Give her Neruda, Pound, Sexton, Cummings. Let her know that you understand that words are love. Understand that she knows the difference between books and reality but by god, she’s going to try to make her life a little like her favorite book. It will never be your fault if she does.

She has to give it a shot somehow.

Lie to her. If she understands syntax, she will understand your need to lie. Behind words are other things: motivation, value, nuance, dialogue. It will not be the end of the world.

Fail her. Because a girl who reads knows that failure always leads up to the climax. Because girls who understand that all things will come to end. That you can always write a sequel. That you can begin again and again and still be the hero. That life is meant to have a villain or two.

Why be frightened of everything that you are not? Girls who read understand that people, like characters, develop. Except in the Twilightseries.

If you find a girl who reads, keep her close. When you find her up at 2 AM clutching a book to her chest and weeping, make her a cup of tea and hold her. You may lose her for a couple of hours but she will always come back to you. She’ll talk as if the characters in the book are real, because for a while, they always are.

You will propose on a hot air balloon. Or during a rock concert. Or very casually next time she’s sick. Over Skype.

You will smile so hard you will wonder why your heart hasn’t burst and bled out all over your chest yet. You will write the story of your lives, have kids with strange names and even stranger tastes. She will introduce your children to the Cat in the Hat and Aslan, maybe in the same day. You will walk the winters of your old age together and she will recite Keats under her breath while you shake the snow off your boots.

Date a girl who reads because you deserve it. You deserve a girl who can give you the most colorful life imaginable. If you can only give her monotony, and stale hours and half-baked proposals, then you’re better off alone. If you want the world and the worlds beyond it, date a girl who reads.

Or better yet, date a girl who writes."

— Rosemary Urquico (via kblitz)

Less Miserable. Part III. (Fin)

Part of what makes this book phenomenal is the writing. It is 3rd person narrative and is kind of obvious about being the narrator. Some people don't like that approach, but Hugo pulled it off very well. And as everybody knows, the best way to get a good taste of a writing style is to read the quotes I post on my blog!!! Or something like that. So without any further ado: Victor Hugo.

As there is always more misery at the lower end than humanity at the top, everything was given away before it was received, like water on parched soil.

If the soul is left in darkness, sins will be committed. The guilty one is not he who commits the sin, but the one who causes the darkness. (one of my favorites!!)

This uninspired play on words had the effect of a stone thrown into a country pond...All the frogs fell silent.

For Cosette, read Euphrasie. The name of the little one was Euprhasie. But the mother had made Cosette out of it, by that sweet and charming instinct of mothers and of the people, who change Josefa into Pepita, and Francoise into Sillette. It is a kind of derivation that confuses and disconcerts the entire science of etymology.

There are souls that, crablike, crawl continually toward darkness, going backward in life rather than advancing, using their experience to increase their deformity, growing continually worse, and becoming steeped more and more thoroughly in the intensifying viciousness. (Description of the Thenadiers)

The supreme happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved; loved for ourselves--say rather, loved in spite of ourselves . (Favorite....)

As for methods of prayer, all are good, as long as they are sincere.

Superstitions, bigotries, hypocrisies, prejudices, these phantoms, phantoms though they be, cling to life; they have teeth and nails in their shadowy substance, and we must grapple with them individually and make war on them without truce; for it is one of humanity's inevitabilities to be condemned to eternal struggle with phantoms.

Laughter is sunshine; it chases winter from the human face.

Give a creature the useless, deprive him of the necessary, and you have the gamin.

What floods ideas are! How quickly they cover all that they are commissioned to destroy and bury, and how rapidly they create frightful abysses!

He was experiencing what the earth may experience at the moment when it is opened by the plow so wheat may be sown; it feels only the wound; the thrill of the seed and joy of the fruit do not come until later.

Beautiful with a beauty that combined all of the woman with all of the angel, a beauty that would have made Petrarch sing and Dante kneel.

Destroy the cave Ignorance, and you destroy the mole Crime...The only social peril is darkness.

"Seeing all those snowflakes fall, it's like a swarm of white butterflies in the sky."

A social deformity perhaps still more hideous than the evil rich: the evil poor.

Algebra applies to the clouds; the radiance of the star benefits the rose; no thinker would dare to say that the perfume of the hawthorn is useless to the constellations. Who could ever calculate the path of a molecule? How do we know that the creations of worlds are not determined by falling grains of sand? ( Oh just check it out and read the whole chapter. It's worth it.)

One evening, little Gavroche had had no dinner; he remembered that he had had no dinner the day before either; this was becoming tiresome.

If noone loved, the sun would go out.

Love almost replaces thought. Love is a burning forgetfulness of everything else.

With eyes closed is the best way to look at the soul.

Civil war? What does that mean? Is there any foreign war? Isn't every war fought between men, between brothers?

The barricade was trembling; he was singing. It was not a child; it was not a man; it was a strange mystic gamin, the invulnerable dwarf of the mêlée. (Gavroche)

He who does not weep does not see.

Before him he saw two roads, both equally straight; but he did see two; and that terrified him--he who had never in his life known anything but one straight line. And, bitter anguish, these two roads were contradictory. (Javert, thinking)

He is asleep. Though his mettle was sorely tried, / He lived, and when he lost his angel, died. / It happened calmly, on its own, / The way the night comes when day is done.

As we see, he had a strange and peculiar way of judging things. I suspect that he acquired it from the Gospel.

Ok....that was a lot. But give me a break! It's a long book.

Anything left? To listen to the soundtrack. But you can do that on your own.

Les Miserables, the segundo

Side note. I saw the David Tennant/Patrick Stewart 2009 version of Hamlet and it is PHENOMENAL. Whew. They actually did it on the stage first and filmed 6 months later. The filming is spectacular and I wish I had the costuming skills of whomever made the queen's dresses. It also made me laugh that Hamlet's casual costume was a Tshirt with a faux set of abs painted on. Also, I'm in love with David Tennant. End of story.

Well, let's examine themes, motifs and symbolism, shall we??? I'm excited. ARE YOU??? ;)

(snow days make me silly)

REDEMPTION/NEW BEGINNINGS

Every time there is an act of redemption, a realization of the sins or faults within and action taken to fix the faults, there is a new beginning. For example Jean Valjean is redeemed numerous times and always embarks on another life. The last time he does, it is in fact another life entirely he goes to. IN FACT, all of this redemption and stuff just happens to mirror the numerous French Revolutions. Hugo lived through the exact time period of the book, where barricades and cries of "Vive l'Republique!" were a way of life. Every Revolution gave France new birth, but just like Jean Valjean could never seem to attain the permanent stability it needed and gave much of itself to protect "Cosette", the innocent young of France bursting with life and happiness.

Alright. Possibly I read way to much into that. But I believe much of it is true. The book spends a lot of time at the barricades. (SPOILER: Amendment: Javert, Jean Valjean's foil, runs up against this redemption and for him it is too strong for him and he takes his life rather than live in a world where convicts can repent. Just thought I'd throw that in.)

LES MISERABLES

The miserable ones. That's probably not an exact translation but you get it. The book shows every type of misery in France and applauds their nobleness of character the better troubles are borne. Just read the book for Pete's sake. ...

THE STARS

There are several marvelous quotes about stars. From where I'm sitting, Stars symbolize perfection or peace that is unattainable and unreachable that looks down and offers hope to those who are struggling on earth.

LIGHT VS DARKNESS

When Jean Valjean is redeemed the first time, he receives a gift of candlesticks form Bishop Bienvenu. Wow. That can't be symbolic.... When coming out of the sewers t0 the fact that the poorer you are the less light you'll have is full of symbolism. It's pretty standard. The last chapter returns to this symbolism as it refers to the "new life" Jean Valjean and France is headed to: Supreme Shadow, Supreme Dawn.

One more post to come.

Les Miserables, the first.

This novel is epic. In so many forms of the word. The least of which is the 1463 pages in the paperback edition. The question is, where to begin? I don't want to give too many things away. Even multiple listenings of the soundtrack of Les Mis didn't quite prepare me for all of the nuances of plot. Well, I suppose since there are 53000 major characters (hyperbole) I should begin with them. At least for this post. I am convinced there will be more.

Bishop Bienvenu - The first major character you are introduced to. Hugo also introduces his minute attention to detail with the good Bishop. I know the blueprints to his house and his daily schedule, among other things. THIS MAN is Jean Valjean's savior. Hang on, we'll get to him in a minute. When Jean Valjean steals from him, he clears his name by "giving" him the stolen goods out of grace. He says he claims his soul for God. Don't cry yet, it's only been 100 pages.

JEAN VALJEAN (aka Madeline, man in the yellow jacket, Fauchelevent, Jean, Leblanc, + others) -

Jean Valjean, his conversion and his life and his grace, is the center of this novel. He has been abused by the system and, because of Bienvenu, decides to live out his life helping others, and eventually one person. He does nothing but assume another name and strive to lead a good life despite being a former convict over and over and over again. He is known by his size, his plant knowledge, his slight gimp, and his monstrous strength. He acts as benefactor to numerous people, including Fantine, and acts as Father Figure to Cosette. He is EVERYBODY'S savior. Christ figure, anyone?

Javert - is the complete antithesis of Jean Valjean. He IS the law and thinks that nothing is greater than Justice. Since being an Inspector in the town where Jean Valjean (JVJ) is mayor (yeah, that happens) he continually figures out JVJ's disguise and hunts him down under the belief that JVJ being a former convict must be and evil man and serve his justice behind bars. Forgive the french, they had not conceived community service beyond chain gangs at the time. Javert is the man hunting down Jean Valjean

Fantine - is the mother of Cosette. Strangely, the musical focused on her prostitution much more than the book, who just accepted it as a way of life. Huh. Anyhow, betrayed by her boyfriend of two years (whom she loved very much) she is left with a child. This child, Euphrasie aka Cosette is left in the charge of two friendly innkeepers (HA) so that Fantine may live alone and make money to send them for her child. The innkeeper being an extorter, she eventually sells her wealth, then her dignity, then her soul, and eventually her sanity for Cosette. She is redeemed by JVJ and dies, I won't tell you when, where or how. But this leaves Cosette to the care of JVJ

The Thenadiers - the Innkeeper is an extorter, his wife is the mother of his two daughters, adored, and his three sons, abhorred. He plays very much so into the plot. If you want any other information, you might as well listen to Master of the House on the Les Mis soundtrack. Half of it is dragged straight from text anyhow. Now for their children, in summary.

Eponine - Once loved, she is driven to near insanity by poverty by the time she is 16 and ends of falling in a sort of love/devotion/infatuation with Marius and makes sacrifices for his sake, even though he could care less. Tear.

Gavroche - The eldest son becomes a gamin, a parisian boy of the streets, and ends up having a good heart despite circumstances. A noble thief of ...what? ... 13? Tear.

Azelma/ the two other boys - You...see them around.

Baron Marius Pontmercy - I have saved the best two characters for last, which is fitting. Marius is a very politically confused young lad and thinks his life is just dandy until he *gasp* falls hopelessly in love with Cosette. He makes noble sacrifices, is of course, saved by JVJ once or twice, and is very pretty.

Cosette - Oh. Cosette. Jean Valjean is the backbone of this novel, but she is the heart. She gives renewed life to JVJ and falls in love with Marius back. She is the star everyone revolves around. Remember my post about the Stargirl stereotype (look it up yourself, I'm lazy!) ? She is Stargirl. Pure and good. Which is possibly why she gets the most boring songs in the musical. C'Est la Vie.

You thought that was it? You were wrong.

Kinda. According to Victor Hugo, there are two characters and I have only mentioned one:

"This book is a drama whose first character is the Infinite.

Man is the second."

God is the major character and is mentioned over and over as the impetus and savior in the novel. It's amazing how God is woven into the manuscript by Hugo. Really. Not that it's pounded over your head that he's there, well, maybe in the convent section. But he is always watching over the doings of man, and eventually their souls. GAH. This book is amazing.

I know I've written way to much, but my next venture is A Prayer for Owen Meany and Redigging the Wells. Today I finished Searching for God Knows What and read Grendel in it's entirety. Still not a fan of modern novels....goodness. After Les Mis and because it's been a slow week, my reading at work is voracious. I finished two books today and still had 1 hour and 20 minutes left. I was bored out of my mind...Oh well. More Les Mis posts to come. Yayayyaayayaayayyayaa!!!!!!!!!y

Coming Soon

Les Miserables.

You should get excited. This post is going to be epic. Just like the book.