MovieChat Forums > The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996) Discussion > The Book (spoilers)

The Book (spoilers)

posted 9 years ago by Ganoes_Paran
6 replies | jump to latest

Just finished the book, amazing story!
Storywriting was less to my liking due to the archaic and very, very descriptive writing style but that's to be expected when it's a book written 200 years ago when most of his readers probably would never have seen Paris.

I liked Phoebus more in the book. Like, in the sense that his character is much more believable. A handsome, yet vain playboy only interested in himself.
Clopin is amazing in both book and movie.
Esmeralda is a strong heroin in the movie, but in the book she's a weak and superficial person.
Quasi is very tragic in the book, and him being deaf is the worst of all. Imagine what could've been if he could hear...
Frollo was also more solid and believable in the book, but would'nt work out so well in a children's movie.

I can understand they didn't include Pierre Gringoire as most parts where he played any role were completely scrapped.
Much more sad with the exclusion of Jehan. He was simply amazing and I often laughed when reading his bits. His death was heartbreaking.
Wish they could have tied up the bit with the recluse of the Rat-Hole into the story, would've been quite dramatic on screen as well.

Anyway, amazing story.

Anything similar to advise? Got Charles Dickens's "A Tale of Two Cities" and "Great Expectations" awaiting me, but looking for inspiration afterwards. Particularly looking forward to AToTC as it's also set in Paris mostly, I just love to read about that city centuries ago.

[–] SweetJayne25 9 years ago

I just finished reading the book - the abridged version! After struggling through half a dozen pages of the unabridged book I needed to find an easier version of the book. Quite compelling 300 pages, fascinating story and very dark. Incidentally, the movie starring Maureen O'Hara will be televised on TCM this coming Friday! Compare that to the Disney film.

[–] ZakkWyldeMyLittlePony 8 years ago

I was required to read the book in my 6th grade class and my friend/my mom's friend read it in high school since he grew up watching the Lon Chaney version and also saw the Charles Laughton version.

Metallica + Iron Maiden + Black Sabbath + Judas Priest + Pantera + My Little Pony = LIFE

[–] silverwhistle 8 years ago

I adore the novel, which I first read in my mid-teens some 35 years ago, and as a consequence can't stand what Disney did to it... especially to Claude, who breaks my heart in the book. Trying to make a children's film of it was an appalling misjudgement. It's not a children's story, despite the youth of all the protagonists (16-35).

very, very descriptive writing style but that's to be expected when it's a book written 200 years ago when most of his readers probably would never have seen Paris.

It's as much for those who had seen Paris – because the old city was being torn down and redeveloped. Hugo was an early advocate of preserving old buildings, and the book did a lot to stimulate the restoration and protection of places like Notre Dame.

"Active but Odd"

[–] Ganoes_Paran 8 years ago

I did not know that, thank you very much for that interesting tidbit!

Coincidentally, I do not agree with your assesment of Disney's adaption though. I absolutely love it, but I have a weak spot for any Disney movie that deals with history. On the other hand however, I cannot watch any Disney movie set in current day and age (Lady & the Tramp, 101 Dalmatians, The Aristocats, Oliver & Co, Lilo n Stitch, etc).

[–] mlaiuppa 8 years ago

Try The Count of Monte Cristo.

If you like that, try some other Dumas.

You also might try Ivanhoe.

Some other interesting period fiction would be The Swiss Family Robinson.

I love anything by Jules Verne, especially his more obscure stuff like Michael Strogoff, Robur the Conqueror and The Master of the World.

If you've never read Ben Hur, I highly recommend it. It's a thick book but I really enjoyed it. I've read it several times over the years.

[–] Ganoes_Paran 8 years ago

Read and loved Count of Monte Cristo.
Ivanhoe, couldn't get through it unfortunately.