Victor Hugo may have passed up Dostoevsky in my mind.

Seriously, Les Miserables is a superb book.  And that doesn't do it justice.  It is superb as The Brothers Karamazov is superb, and maybe even more so.  And I never really expected to say that.

I've only read one section out of five.  Already it strikes me as one of the most compelling, insightful, glorious, challenging books I have ever read in my life.

Who of my fellow Franciscans has read it?  Those of you who haven't, should.  It's public domain.  So if you have a Kindle, like I newly do, you can read it in a happy booklike form for free.  ^__^  If you don't, well, you can still read it online or on something like Kindle for PC for free.  And if you really, really want a bound copy, well, it's totally worth buying.  Timewise, it is of course an incredibly giant commitment... it reminds me of Brothers K for more than one reason, yes.  But, well, you can read it slowly and savor it.  And I think you will wind up, like me, being kind of glad it's so long because it's just... so... good.  I shall certainly be reading the rest of it, and then I do believe I shall track down The Hunchback of Notre Dame as well.

"He sternly asked himself what he had understood by this: 'My object is attained.'  He declared that his life, in truth, did have an object.  But what object? to conceal his name? to deceive the police? was it for so petty a thing that he had done all that he had done? had he no other object, which was the great one, which was the true one? To save, not his body, but his soul.  To become honest and good again.  To be an upright man! was it not that above all, that alone, which he had always wished, and which the bishop had enjoined upon him! ... Alas! that was the greatest of sacrifices, the most poignant of victories, the final step to be taken, but he must do it.  Mournful destiny! he could only enter into sanctity in the eyes of God, by returning into infamy in the eyes of men!"  -Les Miserables, Fantine VII.3.