Are you a fan of Les Miserables? Watch for this new novel written as Eponine's story: A Little in Love. With her first book for young adults, Susan E. Fletcher is hitting the U.S. market after winning the Whitbread First Novel Award for adults in the United Kingdom.
This is a bit softer of a retelling/imagined story than the book, play, and musical. We'd love to hear your take once you've finished, readergirlz. Did Fletcher catch Eponine's voice for you? Her motivations? Her values? Let us know when you finish, but for now, watch for it on August 25th!
A Little in Love
by Susan E Fletcher
Chicken House, Scholastic, 2015
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By: Lorie Ann Grover,
on 8/17/2015
Blog: readergirlz (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Scholastic, Les Miserables, Chicken House, Watch for It, A Little in Love, Susan E. Fletcher, Add a tag
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By: Nina @ Death, Books, and Tea,
on 1/31/2015
Blog: Death Books and Tea (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: book review, romance, historical, les miserables, victor hugo, susan fletcher, strength 3, a little in love, Add a tag
By: Candy Gourlay,
on 1/31/2013
Blog: Notes from the Slushpile (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Writing, Kathleen Duey, Les Miserables, Writing a Novel, Tom Hooper, Claudia Winkelman, Ann Hathaway, Add a tag
By: Beth Kephart ,
on 12/27/2012
Blog: Beth Kephart Books (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Les Miserables, Add a tag
By: Maryann Yin,
on 11/28/2011
Blog: Galley Cat (Mediabistro) (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Young Adult Books, Authors, Orson Scott Card, Penguin, Legend, Ender's Game, Kristin Nelson, Les Miserables, Victor Hugo, Marie Lu, Add a tag
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By: Kristina Coia,
on 4/7/2010
Blog: My Purple Wig (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: high school, Les Miserables, kristina coia, Susan Boyle, Cherokee High School, Add a tag
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By: Lorie Ann Grover,
on 8/17/2015
Blog: readergirlz (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Scholastic, Les Miserables, Chicken House, Watch for It, A Little in Love, Susan E. Fletcher, Add a tag
By: Nina @ Death, Books, and Tea,
on 1/31/2015
Blog: Death Books and Tea (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: book review, romance, historical, les miserables, victor hugo, susan fletcher, strength 3, a little in love, Add a tag
Author: Susan Fletcher
Series: N/A
Published: October 2014 by Chicken House Books
Length: 288 pages
Source: Cheezyfeet Books
Summary : As a young child Eponine never knew kindness, except once from her family's kitchen slave, Cosette. When at sixteen the girls' paths cross again and their circumstances are reversed, Eponine must decide what that friendship is worth, even though they've both fallen for the same boy. In the end, Eponine will sacrifice everything to keep true love alive.
Review: Eponine Thenadier lies in a Parisian street, seventeen years old, dying. As she does so, she remembers how her life progressed in such a way from a spoilt childhood and years of cheating and stealing to taking a bullet for the boy she loves.
I wanted to read this because I have a love for the musical of Les Miserables and an appreciation for the book (see here for my review). Eponine is one of my favourite characters because she has to stand up for herself and no one fights for her, and I was looking forwards to seeing a backstory for her.
It's interesting seeing the formative years through the eyes of Eponine. We know that her parents were abusive towards Cosette, but the extent they are to Eponine and sister Azelma in their treatment isn't one you think about when seeing or reading Les Mis.
I liked the fact that in little ways, Eponine attempts to redeem herself. Her development is very thorough and wonderful to watch. Sadly, I don't think any of the other characters got the same treatment, which would have been interesting to see.
I didn't like the fact that it randomly slips into French for a couple of words at a time. I don't mean where we need words like sou or Les Halles for nouns or specifically French things. it's just occasional phrases. Oui. Excuzez-moi, mon pere. C'est un joli matin. It's just one of my little pet hates, if it's not a language that is foreign to the focaliser and the thing that is being said has a perfectly good English equivalent (yes, excuse me, father, it’s a pretty morning). We understand that Eponine is speaking and thinking in French, and the little random changes are noticable and get on my nerves.
The plot progresses gently. It fills in the gaps of Hugo’s novel where the focus is on Cosette and Les Amis. At times, it drags, but my interest levels did stay up enough for me to not give up.
However, my heart for Eponine. Fletcher does very well in making you empathise with her, and Especially with the little quote from The Brick at the start, in both French and English- j'etais un peu amoureuse de vous . Please excuse me while I go cry.
Overall: Stregth 3 tea. I really liked the idea and Eponine's development, but it lacked depth in other areas.
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By: Candy Gourlay,
on 1/31/2013
Blog: Notes from the Slushpile (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Writing, Kathleen Duey, Les Miserables, Writing a Novel, Tom Hooper, Claudia Winkelman, Ann Hathaway, Add a tag
By Candy Gourlay So aside from watching lots of Making Of documentaries while waiting for comments on my manuscript, I've also been binging on podcasts. Listening to a podcast about the making of Les Miserables the movie, I kept discovering things that resonated with writing. The cinematic version of The Glums, as people fondly call it here in England, is not everybody's cup of tea - on the
10 Comments on Writing Inspiration from the Making of Les Miserables the Movie, last added: 2/7/2013
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By: Beth Kephart ,
on 12/27/2012
Blog: Beth Kephart Books (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Les Miserables, Add a tag
My favorite musical of all time, beautifully staged, acted, sung. My gift to me this Christmas week.
See it if you haven't yet.
3 Comments on Les Mis. Oh, yes., last added: 1/7/2013
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By: Maryann Yin,
on 11/28/2011
Blog: Galley Cat (Mediabistro) (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Young Adult Books, Authors, Orson Scott Card, Penguin, Legend, Ender's Game, Kristin Nelson, Les Miserables, Victor Hugo, Marie Lu, Add a tag
Marie Lu‘s debut novel, Legend, hits the shelves tomorrow. We caught up with Lu (pictured, via) to learn more about how authors can utilize social networking tools, the writing process for the book and her views on being an Asian-American author. The highlights follow below…
Q: How did you land your book deal?
A: My agent, Kristin Nelson, first took me on for a novel that we ultimately didn’t sell. While we waited for feedback on that one, I began writing Legend. After two intense rounds of edits with Kristin, we submitted Legend to publishers in the summer of 2010, and I recall shrieking in my apartment when Kristin told me it was going to auction with six interested publishers. Legend sold to Penguin a couple of weeks later!
Q: You drew inspiration for Legend from watching a musical production of Les Miserables. During the writing process, did you consult with Victor Hugo‘s Les Miserables?
A: It’s odd–Les Miserables triggered the first flash of inspiration for Legend (a criminal versus a detective-like character), but after that, I never referred to it again. I think the story just started going in a completely different direction. I did consult Ender’s Game and Ender’s Shadow a few times for inspiration on how to write from the point of view of a child prodigy.
New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.
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By: Kristina Coia,
on 4/7/2010
Blog: My Purple Wig (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: high school, Les Miserables, kristina coia, Susan Boyle, Cherokee High School, Add a tag
This is an article I wrote for my high school newsletter, The Cherokee Scout. Cherokee High School’s spring musical, and my last CHS performance, will be Les Miserables.
“Do you hear the people sing?” Do you want to?
Cherokee's esteemed Drama Guild is proud to present this year's musical production of the widely acclaimed musical spectacular, Les Miserables. This stunning, Tony-winning drama follows the story of ex-convict Jean Valjean and his mesmerizing development from eighteenth century rogue to a saintly nobleman caught in the turmoil of a revolution.
So why see a show you can’t even pronounce? (It’s Lay-Mizz-Err-Ahb, by the way.)
Well, first of all, Valjean’s story has inspired many since its publication in 1862, and has dazzled audiences since the musical opened in 1980. Hounded by wayward hero, Javert, a policeman whose “black-and-white” views obstruct all reason, Valjean is constantly on the run after breaking his parole. En route to freedom, he is saved by a Holy Man who believes Valjean has the power to become a beacon of light in a shadowy world.
Years later, Valjean had shed his criminal past and has become incredibly successful while France’s streets are infected with poverty and despair, thick with prostitutes and thieves. As the years pass, he witnesses the horrors that take place and stands beside the young men who have chosen to fight against the hierarchy which created such misery.
The second reason why you should see Les Miserables? Susan Boyle. That’s Right! The song she sang on Britain’s Got Talent was one of the most famous songs from the musical. Are you convinced now? Filled with captivating music and intricate lyricism, brimming with suspense, blazing with romance, and peppered with comedic charm, Les Miserable is an experience that you simply cannot miss.
Tickets go on sale 4/19/10 for show dates beginning on 5/21/10 for anyone interested.
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Brilliant, Candy. Insightful post ( in less than a 1000 words) that grabbed me by the throat and didn't let me go till I'd finished and tweeted!
Thanks Jan ... I was concerned that it was incoherent. My musings seemed to make so much sense before I committed them to the page. And thanks for tweeting!
This is THE GAP in action - Claudia Winkleman confessed to tears and a standing ovation while her co-host Danny Leigh described the experience as akin to being run over by a steamroller.<br />THE GAP explains why we have a subjective reaction to film and literature. LOVETHEGAP.com. (That doesn't exist, so don't google) <br />Thanks Candy, will see this and make my own mind up.
Not at all incoherent, Candy. Lots of hard-hitting food for thought, especially reporting the story vs living it. Sobbing at the sad bits, laughing out loud. Like Maureen, I'm off to Les Mis, too. Had been procrastinating about that!
I just saw Les Mis last night and for 2 hours and a bit minutes my friend and I sobbed our hearts out non-stop. I think whatever Hooper did worked and worked brilliantly. Musicals tend to be bright colourful breezy fantasies - even West Side Story couldn't pull of the grittiness of gang warfare and murder despite the fab songs and choreography but in Les Mis the film, Hooper certainly grabbed
Will be interested to hear what you think.
I have to say, the movie is probably better than the musical - I can't imagine engaging emotionally with that storyline from a distance. But then, as Maureen says, my gap might not be in the same emotional space as a true fan of the stage musical. <br /><br />I have to say though that though Russell Crow acquitted himself well, I kind of wished for a villain with a more powerful voice -
Couldn't resist throwing in Kathleen Duey's spotlight advice ... mixes the metaphors a bit!
Like it or loath it? Every person will have a different take. Seth Godin just blogged about such differences of opinion: <br /><br /><i>Unanimity is impossible unless you are willing to be invisible. We can be unanimous in our lack of feedback for the invisible one.<br /><br />For everyone else, though, the ability to say, "It's not for you," is the foundation for creating something
Thought I'd post some links from friends who saw the movie. I totally agree with this review <a href="http://philipreeve.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/les-miserables.html" rel="nofollow">that the music isn't much but the movie's worth seeing</a> by Philip Reeve (he of Here Lies Arthur and Mortal Engines). Meanwhile my illustrator pal Sarah McIntyre is <a href="http://