If there is ever an author that is easy to make abridged versions for, it is Victor Hugo. Just when the whole story is going to a point of climax and fast pace, he can pause all that to give you insight into the accountancy of the kingdom of France and the opinion of the King. I like a good lengthy book, but it has to have a reason to be lengthy, I want story telling, not detailed accounts of unimportant side events. Those things have to be woven into the plot and have a reason to be told.

That said, the book was nothing like I expected. I (like many) have been tainted with the Disney version before knowing there is a book. Let's be clear: the only thing the book and characters have in common is their names and to some extend their appearances. The characters are different from what I expected. The book also does not give the black and white differences as the movie does. I had pity with Claude Frollo, disgust for Phoebus and wanted to give Esmeralda a talking to regarding standing up for one self. All of these did not happen with the movie. I liked it, it had more dept. It has some classic fairytale twists.