Les Misérables Chapter-a-Day Read-along: The Convent
Today is day 127 of the Les Misérables Chapter-a-Day Read-along, which is about a third of the way through the book. For those who are participating, well done. It’s not easy to limit yourself to a few pages a day, especially when you have to leave characters behind for a week or more to read Hugo’s digressions. If you’re staying with the schedule, then right now you’re in the middle of reading the history of the Convent of the Petit Picpus. Like the chapters on Waterloo, this can be a frustrating section to read so slowly. I hope you’re staying with Hugo’s masterpiece, even if it means reading ahead or reading several chapters at a time and then taking a break.
As for me, I’ve gotten into a good rhythm of reading the book each day. I don’t know how I would feel if I were reading Les Misérables for the first time, but I’m enjoying the slow pace despite being impatient to continue. Reading a chapter a day is forcing me to pay closer attention to the details of Hugo’s writing, and to think more about what I’m reading. It’s like walking home from work instead of driving the car. It takes longer, but you get to focus more on the scenery, and maybe even notice things you never saw before.
How about you? What has this reading experience been like so far?
I’ll admit that my schedule has made sticking to the daily readings a little harder lately, so I’ve been reading more in 3 or 4 chapter chunks. But I do find that since the chapters are so short, it’s nice to have these little pieces to read when I do get to the readings. I’ve been trying to do a chapter a day with some of the other books I’m reading right now, too, which works really well when things get hectic and reading falls by the wayside.
I love reading this book in this way. Your analogy to walking vs. driving a car is perfect. Sometimes at the end of the chapter I think “Oh no, I want to go on longer, find out more…” but it’s good to restrain myself from “consuming” the book, letting each small chunk resonate for a whole day.
As for the digressions, I prefer convents to battles. So I’m doing fine with this one.
I have been reading in chunks too, two to three chapters at a go. But still pretty slow compared to how I would normally attack a book. I really like the slower pace and am not frustrated because I know there is plenty of time and I will get to the next chapter soon enough.
I enjoyed all the detail about the Convent. I don’t mind the digressions when they are on something I find interesting. Seriously, I am LOOKING FORWARD to the part on the sewers! Bring it Victor!. 🙂
I have fallen WAY behind .. I cannot bring myself to tell you how much BUT I plan to catch up and make myself make a habit of reading a chapter a day .. I really am determined to do it and have loved all that I have read so far!