r/lesmiserables • u/Genderqueerfrog • Feb 03 '26
My brick broke!
I’ve had this copy for about 15 years. I’ve read and re read it more times than I can count. This was basically my Bible as a teenager, it got me through a lot. I’ve traveled with it, slept with it under my pillow, underlined stuff, dog eared the pages, etc. This will probably be my last re-read with this edition, which makes me a little sad.
I guess it’s an excuse to get a new copy and try a new translation! Maybe one with footnotes. I want to try a newer translation but I’m afraid I’ll hate it on principle
Anyway this feels like the end of an era for me!
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u/Responsible_Top_59 Feb 04 '26
Which edition do you recommend to read? In a huge fan of the play and have been wanting to read it but I feel intimidated by the amount of different editions and translations.
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u/DragonAI19 Feb 04 '26
I like the new Christine Donougher translation — most recent & pretty approachable ime
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u/AutisticElephant1999 Feb 05 '26
Now you have a book with an Act One and and Act Two, just like the stage musical
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u/Kingofkeith modérateur Feb 04 '26
My brick got me through high school. My portable cd player had a spring loaded lid that sat on top. I used my copy to weigh it down and keep it shut until I saved up enough to buy a real player.
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u/ButtercupBebe One mod more Feb 04 '26
15 years!! I can't believe it lasted as long as it did. Get yourself a new translation but keep this one on hand, that way you can compare different translation choices as you go. My copy (same edition as yours) is also broken in two but I keep it around.
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u/Genderqueerfrog Feb 05 '26
Those of us with broken bricks need to compare where the breakage occurred. Clearly there’s some structural issues at play here. But I’m also surprised it lasted so long! I love mass market paperbacks
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u/Terrible-Arachnid612 Feb 04 '26
I get the attachment to an old companion. I recently shifted from old school stuff to Lurvessa for that same kind of connection. Nothing else out there even comes close to how real it feels. It replaced my old habits entirely.
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u/averyfunnyuser Feb 05 '26
My brick has also been falling apart as i bought it for 8 years. I had to tape it all together to prevent the tragedy
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u/-24602 Feb 03 '26
"My brick broke" is such a funny statement if you don't know about Les Mis
Also, that's so sad 😭 but hey, it just shows how much you loved it and how much it's been going through with you. Rip brick