"52 Little Lessons from Les Miserables" by Bob Welch

[reviewsbyerin]

Victor Hugo's classic novel has inspired countless people, including myself. I made the commitment to read the 1,463-page book last year, and that was not a decision I regretted. There is so much to be found in this story! Bob Welch has taken the time to highlight 52 different things we can learn from Hugo's masterpiece, and I felt he did a beautiful job drawing them out.

Each chapter of this book is filled with quotes from the novel and lines from the stage and film versions of the musical. It also contains facts about Hugo's life and the contradiction that a man who did not live for God could write a story which reveals so much truth about Him. The topics that Welch covers in this novel are for all aspects of the Christian life, and while drawing from his own life experiences as an author and professor, he also frequently includes Scripture and snippets from the works of well-known authors like Henri Nouwen and Oswald Chambers.

I was impressed at the depth of care Welch took in making "Les Miserables" approachable for all readers. At the beginning of the book there is a detailed list of characters, complete with a handy pronunciation guide for those of us who aren't familiar with the French language. Welch guides us on a journey that spans every part of the novel, from the opening pages about Bishop Myriel and including the lesser-favored parts of the lengthy novel: Waterloo, the convents, and the sewers. Every character receives plenty of attention and their good and bad qualities discussed. One need not be familiar with Hugo's original story to benefit from Welch's pages. My grandmother read several chapters from this book while she was recently visiting, and she's never read "Les Miserables" or seen any adaptation of it, but she was able to understand what a magnificent story it was thanks to Welch's easily understood breakdown.

"52 Little Lessons from Les Miserables" is one I would recommend to all who love this story or those who want to know it better. I enjoyed every page as I was reminded of the truths it contains. Welch does a fantastic job and will inspire you not only to know more about "Les Miserables," but more about our wonderful God as well.





Many thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy for review. All opinions are my own.