WLIRP+JaneS

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Note: In order for your book to qualify it must be by an author from a country other than the United States or the United Kingdom OR the primary setting must be outside of the United States or the United Kingdom.======


 * ======Title: Les Misérables======
 * ======Author: Victor Hugo======
 * ======Author’s Nationality: French======
 * ======Setting (only list the primary settings): France (Arras, Digne, Montreuil-sur-mer, Montfermeil, Paris, and Toulon)======
 * ======Total Pages: 1463 pages======
 * ======Original Publication Date: 1862======
 * ======If your book is translated, who is the translator? If not translated write “NA”: Yes, by "Lee Fahnestock & Norman MacAfee based on the classic C.E Wilbour translation"======
 * ======Do you currently have a physical copy of the book?: Yes======
 * ======If you do not have a physical copy, how soon can you get one? (Write “NA” if you have a copy.): NA======

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2. Become an expert on your book by the end of the first quarter. The quarter ends on October 15th, so you have about seven weeks to complete the book. Keep in mind that you will be reading this book in addition to assigned readings for class, so when the homework load is light read your book. This is also the book you should use for KIS Reads.======

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How is your World Lit. reading going? Are you keeping up with your reading plan? What do you think about your book so far? What are the main conflicts? Are there any particularly interesting characters? Why? Have you noticed any major themes developing? Do you see any connections between your World Lit book and anything else you have read recently?======

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I think Les Misérables is a very interesting book. It has many different conflicts within the novel: Jean Valjean vs. Inspector Javert, the Thénardier/Jondrette's and their "daughter" Cosette, how she becomes Valejean's daughter, and the love triangle between Éponine, Cosette, and Marius.====== 

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Probably Valjean is the most interesting character. He was a prisoner for 16 years after stealing a loaf of bread, which then turned into this huge philanthropist after he felt guilty for stealing a 40 sous from a boy named Petit Gervais. After a few years, he disguises himself as Monseiur Madeleine and saves Fantine; a woman who sends money to the Thénardier's for keeping her child. After Monseiur Madeleine's true identity is revealed to Fantine, she dies. Valjean then goes to the Thénardier's to retrieve Fantine's daughter, Cosette, but then finds out that they were keeping her as a slave. He buys her and treats her as her own child, which results in the Thénardier's disguising themselves as the Jondrette's and tries to murder them.======

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A Tale of Two Cities and Les Misérables seems similar to me. The two novels were set near the time of the French Revolution. Also, this might seem funny, but I think that Derek Smeath from The Confessions of a Shopaholic is very similar to Inspector Javert in the way that they both follow the protagonist literally everywhere to find them and get back their money or to get them back into jail, respectively.======

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As aforementioned in the previous reflection, Jean Valjean is definitely the most interesting character as the book shows his constant inner struggle on wether or not he should reveal his true identity as a former convict to his daughter, Cosette. Towards the end of the book, Valjean consults his concerns with Cosette's husband, Marius, who takes him for a muderer and a thief and bans his father-in-law from seeing his wife. Later, Marius finds out that Valjean was not at all what he thought he was but actually the one that saved himself during the Paris Uprising. All this time, Valjean is sick to death that he can't see his daughter anymore, and right before he dies, Cosette and Marius comes visit him and he dies with peace.======


 * __World Lit. Book Presentation Outline__**

Introduction: Hi everyone! I recently read a novel called "Les Misérables" by Victor Hugo and I'll share you some of my insights to you on it. This story is about Jean Valjean's life and it starts with him stealing a loaf of bread and arrested for his petty crime for nineteen years. He escapes from prison and vows to himself that he would become a good man and to help others. One day, he finds a woman in the streets and takes care of her. As she lays dying, he agrees to take care of her daughter, Cosette. The rest of the story is the constant chase between the police Javert trying to catch Valjean and Cosette. Meanwhile, his daughter falls in love with a political student and they get involved in the Paris Uprising. Javert kills himself and by a series of complications, Valjean is left sick to death when he is not allowed to see his own daughter, and the story ends when Cosette visits him and Jean Valjean smiles right before he dies.

Body:Les Misérables and the Death of Ivan Ilych has significant differences and similarities. First of all, Ivan only concerns himself with his wealth and reputation while Valjean only cares about the exact opposite;being of help to others and he even hides his own identity to do this. Also, when Ivan dies, he thinks that he had lived his life incorrectly, but Valjean thinks of the opposite. Some similarities are that both the protagonists are old men and the time span of both novels last more than 30 years.

Conclusion: As I end my my presentation, I want to say that I highly recommend this book to you for many reasons. First of all, you will be thankful that you have a family to live with that cares for you. Not everyone has a home and are loved. Personally, I cried so much after reading this because the ending was so touching and sad. Also, the time setting of this novel is similar to what we are currently studying in World History, the French Revolution! Although this novel is set a little bit after the revolution, you will be able to get a deeper sense of what the situation of the lower class were like in the 1800s. Overall, it took me a very long time to finish this book but it was worth the read and please read it. You'll love it!

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P.S: Hi Mr.Stephens! I wasn't sure where to upload the prewriting for the essay so I posted it up on the bottom of the Romeo&Juliet page!