Review: Les Miserables by Victor Hugo and SunNeko Lee

SUMMARY FROM NETGALLEY.COM:

The first release in UDON's new Manga Classics line!
Adapted for stage and screen, loved by millions, Victor Hugo's classic novel of love & tragedy during the French Revolution is reborn in this fantastic new manga edition!
The gorgeous art of TseMei Lee brings to life the tragic stories of Jean Valjean, Inspector Javert, and the beautiful Fantine, in this epic adaptation of Les Miserables!

MY TAKE:
It's been awhile since I've read a manga, but any future manga adaptations of classic literature that I read will be held up to the standard set by this book.

In Les Miserables, readers are treated to the manga version of the French classic by Victor Hugo. The story centers around the lives of Jean Valjean, Fantine and Cosette and how they lived and survived during the time of the French Revolution.

This book reads like a typical manga, back to front and right to left. Since it has been years since I read a manga, there were moments in the beginning where I would read left to right and wonder what happened before realizing that I read the panels and dialogue in the wrong order. For those who don't read manga, there's a guide at the start of the story.

The illustrations are amazing, and if you watch a lot of anime or read a lot of manga, you will feel right at home reading this book. The font used for the narration at the start is different from the typical font I'm used to but the font for the dialogue is just like the mangas I've read before.

Believe it or not, this is the first time that I've read the story of Les Miserables. I didn't watch the movie nor did I want to. I was familiar with the characters and I've sung On My Own quite a few times before, but something kept putting me off reading the book. I didn't think it was my cup of tea. Now that I've read it, I know why. There are a lot of evil people in that book! I especially despise the Thenardiers. I didn't think that they're final fate was enough punishment for them. They should have gone the way of Javert. At least I came to like Javert eventually, but those Thenardiers are now on my list of least likeable characters ever.

Thanks to NetGalley and Udon Entertainment for the e-ARC.

THE GOOD:

1. The style is true to manga.
2. You get to read a classic story but at a pace that won't bore you.
3. You really feel something for the characters. 

THE BAD:

1. If you're not used to reading manga, you may get confused sometimes. 

READ IT IF:

1. You've always wanted to read Les Miserables.
2. You like Les Miserables.
3. You like manga. 

RATING:


SOUNDS INTERESTING?