C'est magnifique!

It's not my first time reading this book, but the enjoyment only grows stronger everytime I read this book again. Hugo, Hugo, Hugo, how can I not love thee? The intricate web of destiny you spun! The beautiful, subtle (or not so subtle) social comments you write! Absolutely mesmerizing!

My translated Bahasa Indonesia version literally means "The Beauty from Notre Dame". Initially I nagged a lot because I think a book should be translated as faithfully as possible to the original source, so it should be "Notre Dame of Paris" or at least its popular title, "The Hunchback of Notre Dame". But seeing how the story revolves around La Esmeralda and feelings of four men about her, I think that translation is acceptable.

What I loved most from this book is the characterization. Even for minor characters, such as Jehan Frollo, I think they are well developed. I especially loved Esmeralda and the men around her. Claude Frollo, an archdeacon who was obsessed over her. Phoebus de Chateaupers, whom she loved dearly with all her heart but turned his head from her at the most important time. Quasimodo, the hunchbacked Notre Dame bell ringer, whose pure love for Esmeralda was hid under layers of physical deformity. Lastly, Pierre Gringoire, her phony husband whom she married just to save his life from the court of miracle.

The strongest theme I found in this story is how love could be a beautiful yet destructive force. Frollo's love for Esmeralda, Esmeralda's love for Phoebus, brotherly love, fatherly love, motherly love, all kind of love. As an outsider you want to yell at them, "do not be stupid!" but you can also sympathize with their feelings, understand why they did what they did. They are not perfect, of course, but it's their imperfection and their complexity you will fall in love with. When you look at the mirror, you might see a little bit of Esmeralda, Frollo, Quasimodo, and Phoebus in yourself.

Other strong message : don't judge a book from its cover. Behind Phoebus' good looks, he is untrustworthy and vain. Under Quasimodo's hideous physical appearance lies a purest love and gratitude. Just because Esmeralda is a gypsy girl, doesn't mean she is responsible for all the cruel thing that happened inside the story. When we were prejudiced against someone, it is more often because of laziness in our part than the truth. It is clearly stated at the part of Esmeralda's court, where the judge was eager to decide on whatever punishment for her just because they had not had their lunch. They did not care about the truth, they just took the easiest path : "Esmeralda is a gypsy girl, gypsy girl is related with witchcraft, which is cruel. Therefore, Esmeralda is guilty, so let us just torture and hang her so we can get our lunch, shall we?" As blatantly stupid as it was, we really still use this path of thinking sometimes, even in modern times.

In the end, this is a really beautiful and heart wrenching novel. Will definitely revisit this book sometimes in the future.