3 stars
I’ve seen musical and film adaptations of the story, each choosing different details to include. But I never knew all the intense drama of the original. Despite my reservations, I was pulled in by the extensive details of the characters I only knew a simple version of (Esmeralda’s marriage, Phoebus’ womanizing antics, and Frollo not being a straight up villain – though to be fair, that doesn’t last long) as well as the ones I didn’t even know existed (the shenanigans of Claude Frollo’s brother, Jehan, the mysterious grieving woman in the Rat Hole, and Gringoire’s friendship with Djali).
Between long-winded descriptions and historical antidotes, Hugo’s novel has some surprising action including a pretty bloody massacre. Between abductions, stollen children, unexpected reunions, attempted murder, and Quasimodo going into Hulk mode, it’s hard not to get pulled in by the drama and action.
Yet there are certainly elements that haven’t aged well and don’t fit with modern views. There is the obvious misconceptions about Roma people. They are depicted as exotic at the best of times and straight-up thieves and baby-stealers at the worst. Deafness is treated as a sign of inferior intellect. Also, can we just admit that nearly every male character is a creep? Poor Esmeralda can’t catch a break. Pretty much anyone who isn’t a non-disabled white man does not have a great time in this book.
Interesting look at conceptions of appearance, differing versions of morality, and of course an appeal to save Gothic architecture.
Overall, I did like it. There were parts that were understandably outdated and pretty offensive in today’s world. Serves as an interesting depiction of the views of the time period. Much stranger and somehow even darker than I was expecting.