Fiction

Hugo has a lot to answer for as an author. Les Miserables is one of the most boring books ever written. At least a quarter of the book is used for Hugo to go off on massive digressions, on politics, history, religion, you name it. It takes fourteen chapters just to get to the beginning of the story of Jean Valjean.

I first read an abridged version of the novel -- back in college, I believe. I loved the story, and was thrilled when the musical was created. But when I later read the unabridged version . . . well, I made it through, but I gave strong consideration to personal eye-gouging.