#LesMisReadalong on Twitter: Week 7 Highlights and a Les Mis Podcast
It’s been seven weeks since we started the Les Misérables Chapter-a-Day Read-along, and the discussion on Twitter is more interesting than ever. Several people are exploring the background of the book and its author Victor Hugo, and they’re sharing their discoveries with the rest of us. Others are tweeting about the reading experience and how it’s affecting them. You can check out the conversation at #LesMisReadalong. You don’t even need a Twitter account to follow along.
For those of you who may have missed it on Twitter, Briana Lewis has begun the Les Misérables Reading Companion Podcast. Briana is “Associate Professor of French at Allegheny College. I’ve been teaching, researching, and writing on Victor Hugo and Les Misérables since the mid-’00s. I’ve been podcasting since…. just now, when I started this podcast. ” Briana plans on 60 episodes and is currently on episode 8. I’ve listened to about half of episode 8, but I’m very impressed with what I’ve heard so far. Not only is the commentary interesting and relevant, but Briana also provides extras like a Google map of locations in the novel. Plus, you can hear how the names of places and names are actually pronounced! I especially appreciate that Briana is keeping the commentary spoiler-free.
I find it a wonderful instance of what Hugo calls Providence that Briana’s podcast coincides with our chapter-a-day read-along. Be sure to give it a listen. Each episode is about 35-40 minutes long, and you can listen to it on the web, on iTunes, on Stitcher, or on Google Play.
And now, here’s the roundup of some of last week’s tweets:
#lesmisreadalong Catch up time https://t.co/6gLvkAf1gW pic.twitter.com/BddwohQkwK
— 📚Brona's Books📚 (@bronasbooks) February 12, 2018
V1 B5 C4 #lesmisreadalong Vale Monsigneur Bienvenu pic.twitter.com/80CpL0lHmr
— 📚Brona's Books📚 (@bronasbooks) February 12, 2018
Got a copy from the library that I'm hoping to keep all year with their extremely generous renewal policy. "The supreme happiness of life consists in the conviction that one is loved; loved for one's own sake – let us say rather, loved in spite of one's self." #LesMisReadalong pic.twitter.com/9ymKBpCCOp
— Laura Roberts (@buttontapper) February 12, 2018
Didn't expect to return to Mons. Bienvenu. Farewell, Bienvenu. #lesmisreadalong
— Denise Gorss (@Denise205) February 13, 2018
Words to guide our ministry toward others: "The supreme happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved; loved for ourselves – say rather, loved in spite of ourselves." Les Miserables (Pt 1,Bk 5, ch 4) #lesmisreadalong
— Russell B Smith (@possiblehorizon) February 13, 2018
"The peasants of Asturias are convinced that in every she-wolf’s litter there is one dog, which is killed by the mother because otherwise as it grew up it would eat the rest of her young. Give this son-of-a-wolf dog a human face, and you have Javert." V1,B5,C5 #lesmisreadalong pic.twitter.com/NpO2IRoUuJ
— Nick Senger (@nsenger) February 13, 2018
Started reading "The Novel of the Century" by David Bellos today. From the Intro: "[Les Misérables] is a work of reconciliation – between the classes, but also between the conflicting currents that turn our own lives into storms…" #LesMisReadalong (1 of 2)
— Laura Roberts (@buttontapper) February 13, 2018
Javert: "His whole life was contained in two words: waking, watching." V1B5C5 #lesmisreadalong
— Denise Gorss (@Denise205) February 14, 2018
V1 B5 C5 #lesmisreadalong There was an intensity about him that was almost a threat. His name was Javert and he belonged to the police. pic.twitter.com/WqA7GlLqjU
— 📚Brona's Books📚 (@bronasbooks) February 14, 2018
Fauchelevent: "He had watched the rise of the humble day-laborer… and, consumed with jealousy, had done what he could to injure Madeleine whenever the chance arose." (V1, B5, C6) #LesMisReadalong pic.twitter.com/ItgyDi9cKQ
— Laura Roberts (@buttontapper) February 14, 2018
Can anybody explain/point me to a source on the use of the title "Father" in this book? #lesmisreadalong
— Denise Gorss (@Denise205) February 15, 2018
#LesMisReadalong Juliette Drouet, Victor Hugo's life long mistress. She could not act, could not write…but she must have done smth right!#WorstLoveLettersEverhttps://t.co/Gpn2RCbQUt pic.twitter.com/66hWmAPzyW
— nancy burns (@burns_nancy) February 15, 2018
Entrusting Sometimes Means Giving Away: Connecting the Thenadiers to the beginning of Les Mis #lesmisreadalong https://t.co/YI3HvkZNhl pic.twitter.com/zSTNMz6IfG
— Carrie Adair (@MissCarrieLA) February 15, 2018
"The poor cannot go to the far end of their rooms or to the far end of their lives, except by continually bending more and more." I don't want to keep reading Les Mis but I don't want to stop reading Les Mis. 😭 #LesMiserables #lesmisreadalong #hugotheheartbreaker
— FanciedFreedom (@kimpineapple) February 15, 2018
On gossips: "Some people are malicious from the mere necessity of talking. Their conversation … is like those fireplaces that rapidly burn up wood; they need a great deal of fuel; the fuel is their neighbor" Les Miserables (P1, B5, C8). #lesmisreadalong
— Russell B Smith (@possiblehorizon) February 16, 2018
#LesMisReadalong It took me 3 weeks to read this book and a week to write this blogpost. Victor Hugo, vol 1 Avant l'exile (1802-1851)
Review: https://t.co/RL56UiUbr2 pic.twitter.com/cyghRfOsf0— nancy burns (@burns_nancy) February 16, 2018
"There exist beings who, for the sake of obtaining the key to [questions about others], …waste more time… than would be required for ten good actions…. Bk. 5, Ch. 8 #lesmisreadalong Social media??
— Tom Arceneaux (@TomArceneaux) February 16, 2018
I full-heartedly agree with this:
"His library was small but well chosen. He loved books; books are cold but sure friends." (V1, B5, C3) #lesmisreadalong #booklove— Carrie Adair (@MissCarrieLA) February 16, 2018
@nsenger I've just discovered you're leading a #lesmisreadalong — thought participants might be interested in a commentary podcast (coincidentally! launched last month too): see https://t.co/XDL1QubnsY for details.
— The Les Misérables Reading Companion (@readlesmispod) February 16, 2018
I'm finally caught up on the #lesmisreadalong!
— Carrie Adair (@MissCarrieLA) February 17, 2018
#LesMisReadalong OMG suprised as this owl
….I have fallen behind reading Les Mis!
I just had to finish that damn biography and one other non-ficton about VH. Those books are done…now it's #CatchUpSaturday!#NeedCoffee pic.twitter.com/tErsVx9v92— nancy burns (@burns_nancy) February 17, 2018
"If I only sleep 5 hours a night and work the rest of the time I can just about earn enough to live on. And when you're unhappy you eat less. So what with work and not much food on the one hand, and grieving on the other, I can keep alive." (V1, B5, C9) #LesMisReadalong pic.twitter.com/Mx7sSBCNHA
— Laura Roberts (@buttontapper) February 17, 2018
Her beautiful hair fell below her waist.
"What beautiful hair!" exclaimed the barber.
"How much will you give me for it?" said she.
"Ten francs."
"Cut it off."
She bought a knit skirt and sent it to the Thénardiers.
V1 B5 C10 #LesMisReadalong pic.twitter.com/mq2FhzdDCG— Rick Barry (@RickBarry44) February 18, 2018