Yes I'm a glutton for punishment. I started listening to this last week before the PJC musical opened, in which I played Madame Thenardier. Partly because in some ways I'm OCD - I have to do everything I do all out, so I found I could not read anything other than something from this time period this last month. So why not just revisit the book? And partly because our Javert, mad scientist doctor Stephen Walter aka Walters, kept asking me esoteric questions I could not answer ( we've always competed for the prize of being the most well read Les Mis fan). So I found a short version to listen to. This one was only 12 hours long, and you'd be amazed how easy that goes by in the car or while doing chores at home.

Honestly, I was really unhappy with this version, because although it was abridged, it has great ratings, so I was surprised when huge important chunks were deleted. There is really nothing about Fantine, the rescue of Cosette, the students, the build up to the battle, and there's quite a bit of material that didn't seem necessary.

I finished it last night, and have to confess this delivers in the end. I told Walters that I had hard feelings for Marius when I originally read the book and with this short version I could still feel those feelings when he sends the beloved father away, but the ending was wonderful. I did not realize how much the final part of the musical comes directly out of their mouths, particularly the death scene which made me cry.

Bottom line: I only recommend this version for hardcore Les Mis fans who want a bit of a refresher and don't mind important chunks being left out. If you really don't know anything about the book, you'd probably be better off going with at least the 30 hour abridged version. Absolutely do not go for the 2 hour version. If you've only seen the musical, and you want to dig a little deeper, this version will be fine but you'll be sad about the lack of Fantine's story and little Cosette, and you won't gain an understanding about the student rebellion, although Eponine and Gavroche's deaths are exquisite. ( )

Miserables