Oh! I didn't know there's a manga version! Very cool. Maybe I'll read that after I'm done reading the unabridged classic. Like, next year! 🤗

This book is a chunker. Would take a long time to read! Just sayin'... and I'm glad you like my van video. A long time ago when I first got the van I made a couple of "van videos" in it. This is like a reprieve, because I got a phone holder to put on the dashboard.

I'm glad you like it. It is evolving. I move things around a lot and am about to get a sewing machine table to put in there. Also, since this video, I put up a curtain.

@@Eldertalk sounds like its becoming a haven of creativity! ❤❤

I read classics mainly because I'm curious about the contents of these books that have stood the test of time. Some are better than others, that is for certain.

Yes! Framed in September... what a great idea!

I'm waiting until after I finish the book, to watch the musical and other movies. Sounds so good! At least you know the story, going into the book. It is confusing not knowing the story and there were a couple of times I had to go look at the plot summary on the Wikipedia page to find out who the characters are and why they were suddenly in the story. Like you, I went slowly through the Fantine section. Just before the Cosette section I got excited about the plot, but then.... there are 15 chapters about the horrible Battle of Waterloo that Victor Hugo thought were necessary to share with us. For us it is a history lesson, but for him it was recent news that no doubt affected his life. Anyhow, nice to hear from someone also currently reading this book!

@@Eldertalk I read a little bit more of Fantine on the exercise bike today. Haven't gotten to the Battle of Waterloo section yet... Yeah, I can see how it could be confusing to read the unabridged version first with everything going on. You almost need to have a cheat sheet next to you on your first go-around. I think the story is well worth the effort put into it, but I can well imagine how challenging it is to go in not having first read the abridged edition first. I think its smart of you to wait the movies and the musical until after you finish the book. Then you will be comparing the them to the source material instead of the other way around. Happy reading!

Happy Reading to you too. The Waterloo section is the first 15 chapters in Part Two: Cosette. I do appreciate reading the history, but wasn't expecting so much of it in a novel.

@@Eldertalk thanks. I'd heard how history-heavy the unabridged Les Mis is, so I'm now looking forward to that part, since it's completely new to me. I've heard that its pretty much a tangent, but I'm looking forward to seeing how the author manages to tie it into the overall narrative.

Spanish has been useful in sunny CA especially when I lived in the big San Joaquin Valley. I was in contact with a lot of Spanish speaking people including farm workers. At one time I got a county job because I could speak/read/write Spanish. I enjoy speaking Spanish. The one thing I haven't done, that I'd like to do, is to read a book in Spanish. One of these days, hopefully, I will.

​@@Eldertalk. Yes. I think it would be fun to be able to read a book in a different language.

I consider you the local expert on Les Misérables and thank you for your comment. It does intrigue me that you say the digressions make sense. That thought will no doubt help me get through the next one I get to.

@@Eldertalk The digressions don't necessarily work into the plot. So an abridged version taking out the digressions would give you the plot but plot is only part of what Hugo is doing. The digressions give so much more to the story he is telling. On many different and divergent levels. It may at times be from Hugo's view point and may seem preaching at times but as a whole I think it really works. Makes me as a reader think and question so much about the story and life as a whole.

The French words are not so bad... it is just my pronunciation of them that is lacking. The digressions are the hardest thing for me because they take me away from the plot.

Moliere sounds interesting, and I've never even considered reading anything he wrote. Now I'll go do some research on him, to find out more. Thanks for reminding me of him. To make the é symbol just press down on the alt key and type the numbers 130 at the same time. You can search with Google for lists of "Alt Codes."

@@Eldertalk Thanks for that tip! I know I should make the effort!

I guess reading this book feels like a rite of passage to me. So many people and authors mention it, I'd like to know what they're talking about.

I don't blame you for DNF'ing this book! The digression about Waterloo was over-the-top for me... details I didn't want to know about. Some terrible things have happened in France. I guess Hugo was recording the social conditions of the country during his era for posterity. The big problem with the digressions, for me, are that they slow down the story. Just when I am enjoying and understanding the plot, everything changes and I have to endure many chapters on a nonfiction topic, and the plot is lost. When it comes back, it is with different characters and I'm not quite sure who they are or why they're in the story. That's confusing to me. Then I eventually figure it out and start enjoying the plot again when....it ends and there's another digression. This is very frustrating for a reader. These days writers are warned against putting "info dumps" into their novels. I guess Victor Hugo didn't get the memo.

@@Eldertalk The Waterloo digression was the one I had a hardest time with. The other digressions, I actually enjoyed. I do agree that they slow down the story. I was always anxious to get back to the characters.

@@ariannefowler455 These days I don't think Les Misérables would ever be published as a new manuscript, at least not by NYC publishing houses.

@@Eldertalk I agree. I think an editor would take their red pen to it and slash a lot of things.

I do tend to like paints like pearlescent... I also have it in acrylic plus all colors of metallic acrylics and glitterpaint. I'm actually putting those on the painting that was in progress behind me on this video. I'm giving myself permission to do this because I know I love it and I haven't done anything like that since before the fire. I hope to do some folk art painting to donate to the annual auction of the Folk Art Society of America.

I hope England hasn't had any disasters as bad as this one, which was actually a small disaster compared to others in the USA. But I know England has been around a lot longer than our country so you've probably had your share.

If you have a copy of The Great Bridge it would be nice if you would read it with us now. But I know you've been reading a variety of other very interesting books so you may have something else planned.

​@@EldertalkI don't have a copy and you are correct I have a few books already in my line up.

Yes, imagine if all the McCullough books were about disasters! I would burn out on reading them soon, because it is hard to read about humans suffering to that extent.

Thanks, I'm glad you liked the creatures. I call that "The Secret Meeting" . . . and I imagined they were talking about a pregnancy... the one with the pink face was giving the one with the blue face the news. Then I wondered if I'd have to create more of them in my sketchbook.

Yes... sold them for scrap metal... I guess he didn't think the dam would ever be full again. But the main blame rests with the people who refilled the dam without consulting experts on what was needed.

That book was more horrifying than a horror genre novel (which I rarely ever read) because it was true. I felt so sad for all those people, some suffering in fear for hours. It is hard to contemplate. I'm glad McCullough decided not to write more disaster books.

@@Eldertalk I get you on that!

Thanks for co-hosting the event, Heather! I'm excited about reading art books as you can tell. I know there are other parts to this challenge. I'd have to go far out of town to find an art museum. We have a very small art display here in town.. in an old converted gas station. (I live in a tiny remote forest town.) I think for a new art experience I'll get a portable easel and go outside to do some plein air painting.

@@Eldertalk Well, that would be grand! For visiting art, there are excellent websites for national galleries plus there are many recorded well-illustrated talks on KZbin, to accompany exhibitions at the time. Maybe even on TV there will be a great art documentary? or even a TV adaptation of a classic book? Or looking at the book covers on your shelves as like visiting an art exhibition? I hope you have fun, whichever you do.

Thanks for liking my strange creatures. I named that "The Secret Meeting" because I thought it looked like they were communicating with each other. Les Miserables is a great novel, but there are many digressions, so be prepared for that.

@@Eldertalk Thank you. I have heard that. I've heard the same happens with Dostoyevsky and I think Tolstoy too. LOL I'm hoping to tackle them all. Thank you for the warning. 👍👍

Thanks for hosting Framed! I am sorry I need Zyrtec but if it keeps me from having the hay fever attacks, I'll keep taking it. I just did some research and found out it is okay for daily use.

@@Eldertalk Absolutely! I am in exactly the same boat!

I posted too soon! Love your art, so colorful and lively.

Thanks - I'm also looking forward to seeing what The Secret Life of Sunflowers will be like. I like bird paintings... and have done a few. They have such interesting faces!

Thanks James. Yes, I need to push through... I like the way you said that. Thanks for your visit and comment.

Thanks, good to get your comment!

Framed is a great event, thanks for hosting! I hope to finish Les Miserables before the end of the year... but I'm definitely taking the slow reading route with that one.

Thank you, Happy Sunday!

So true... I like your perspective about Van Gogh.

Thank you! Happy to see you here and get your feedback!

Thank you! I am so happy I took time to read that book, after all these years of knowing about it.

Yes, thanks so much for reading this with us. Are you planning to change your approach to art now? I think Vincent was a good teacher for us even though he didn't realize how many people he'd reach with the words he wrote.

@@Eldertalk He was such a good teacher. I have been inspired so much. I actually would like to do a little art outside, rather than just studio work. Even if it’s just taking a little sketch book along. Also I’ve been thinking about my painting and how I get a bit obsessed with it being perfect, especially the details. I think I have to loosen my painting up a bit, enjoy the process a bit more. Vincent inspired me with just how free he could be producing paintings really quickly. I enjoyed hearing how he was inspiring you.

Thank you Mindy! This was a fascinating book... but a slow read for me. I think it took a couple months to get through it.

Thank you for tagging me, Pat! Van Gogh was awesome. Too sad that it ended with insanity and early death. In a short time he gave his letters and over 800 paintings to the world, so that was a huge contribution even though he never saw his 40th birthday.

@@Eldertalk just incredible! And in such a short life!

Thank you so much for telling me about the Dr. Who clip. I just looked it up here on KZbin and watched it twice and now my eyes are full of tears. I will share it with Faith and Deirdre!

@@Eldertalk Yes, it is a fantastic piece of television. The other clip I go back to frequently is the 'nostalgia' clip from Mad Men to the Kodak management.

@@ReadingIDEAS.-uz9xk - I'll look for that one too. t/y

That’s one of my favorite episodes of Doctor Who

Thank you, James! You can make art... just get some art supplies and let your imagination go wild. The more you create, the better it gets. One day at a time. It took Van Gogh years to learn, but he was diligent about training himself.

Thank you. I saw an exhibit of Van Gogh's art at the De Young Museum in San Francisco when I was about 18. Maybe I was too young to completely appreciate it. I was already a fan of the more popular pieces, but a lot surprised me, especially the pencil drawings and watercolors! Reading this book helped me understand more about the process his art development took.

Thank you. I've been loving Vincent's art since I was a teenager.

@@Eldertalk awe🌷 I subscribed

@@blane1814 Thank you!!

How exciting, you got to go to France and see where he lived. I might be interested in doing that and up to now had no reason to want to go to Europe. My brother recently took a trip to Spain and Denmark and came back saying he might sell his house to travel more. I thought, "What?" No way would I want to sell my house to travel, but I'd love to see where Van Gogh lived. Oh well, that's what Google Maps are for.

@@Eldertalk I only went once and quite a few years ago! It was a great trip though!

I must get a copy of Loving Vincent... because I love him too, especially his art. Thanks for telling me about it!!!!

@@Eldertalk You are so welcome, and it is amazing!!!!

@@Eldertalk It is really beautiful to look at!

Yes, I am having what I think they call a book hangover. As in, I just can't get over it. Vincent was wonderful. I think I'll go listen to Starry Night, the video, again.

YES, someone who understands how I feel about putting up curtain rods. You have no idea. I sat here with a ladder in my living room for three months because I was procrastinating on doing the curtain rods in the great room. (They finally got done.)

@@Eldertalk whoever invented curtain rods with the overhang so close to the part where the screw needs to go is not one of my favorite people. Even Prometheus hates putting up curtain rods. And he's a tool guy. Wait... I just asked him about curtain rods. His response, "I generally despise the existence of curtain rods." 😂

Yes, agree with that too. The reason I could go without curtains for six months was because there are no nearby neighbors, but eventually it had to be done.

Actually - my usual journal heading is date, time, and place. I left the place off this page because of space considerations. Thank you... glad you like the studio. It will look so much better with an easel and artist's stool, but one thing at a time. I don't mind waiting a little.

@@Eldertalk All is God's good time🥰