When I picked up my cardboard Amazon delivery box this past April, I was shocked by its weight. I knew Les Miserables was long, but I was not expecting to see a brick of a book inside the package that day. I remember snapping a photo of the book next to my hand, for size reference, and texting it to my mother. “How am I going to read all of this before July?” She responded with laughing emojis.

I wasn’t sure if I could do it, but I did finish reading Les Miserables before July. It took countless hours, lugging a heavy tote bag to and from campus in the sun, and sometimes listening to the audiobook at the gym. Tuning in to the Battle of Waterloo section on leg day is definitely a unique experience!

After finishing the book, discussing it in class the past few weeks, and “bookpacking” it throughout Paris, I feel confident in saying that the challenge of getting through over 1,300 pages is well worth it. Les Miserables is slow sometimes, and melodramatic, and relatable, and touching, and annoying, and rewarding. I yawned while reading this book, I found myself biting my nails at moments of suspense, and I nearly came to tears by the end of it. Victor Hugo leaves the reader with some beautiful messages about humanity, hope, and transformation. There is so much history to unpack, so many emotions to let yourself feel, so many characters to opine about within this novel.

Initially, before arriving in Europe, I wasn’t sure what to expect from “bookpacking.” Reading Les Miserables at home for the first time, I couldn’t understand how the experience of rereading it in Paris could be so different. I had initially thought we would just be visiting historical sites that related to both novels, and so I was pleasantly surprised when I read the syllabus and discovered we would also be visiting so many exact spots of important scenes from the books.

I’ve now spent about three weeks in Paris and my appreciation for this city has grown with each day of class and excursions. I’ve determined that Paris is not my favorite city I’ve ever visited– it can be dirty, some parts are underwhelming, some of its people are cold and judgmental, there are lurking pickpockets… But Paris also has lush gardens, adorable cafes, and incredible art and culture. The narrow cobblestone streets, magnificent palaces, and the Seine are all gorgeous. And the rich history and activism of this city is truly impressive. Plus, as a foodie, it has been a delight trying all the lovely pastries, cheeses, and crepes. So while I have my criticisms about certain parts of Paris, I appreciate all the beauty I’ve been lucky to see and the culture I’ve been exposed to. I’m grateful to have spent these weeks in such a brilliant city.

Seeing the locations from Les Miserables and A Tale of Two Cities was my favorite part of this program. Being able to see the spots of Temple Bar and Tellson’s Bank, the Manette’s home in London, the Conciergerie where Darnay is held, Sidney Carton’s death cart ride to the Place de la Concorde, Javert’s last walk along the river, the sewers where Jean Valjean carries Marius… has been so much fun. The feeling of reading a scene in a novel and then seeing the exact place the author wrote about is so exciting! It truly makes the book come alive in a way that reading it at home cannot.

When I was first learning how to properly “bookpack,” I found the process to be much more enjoyable than I had expected. “Bookpacking” is an experience that requires an active imagination, an awareness of the senses, and curiosity. I was surprised to discover that, to me, “bookpacking” feels like tapping into a childlike imagination. As a child, I would entertain myself for hours, in silence and alone, just with my imagination. I could stay in my backyard for hours, until the sun set, creating imaginary worlds and dialogue and characters– oftentimes with no props or playmates. A child’s brain is amazing in how vibrant, innocent, and creative it can be. “Bookpacking” feels similar to that experience, except the worlds and characters are already created, you just have to open your mind up to see them in front of you.

I love the experience of being able to reconnect with that childlike imagination. In exercising that skill, I transported myself into the characters and scenes. Without seeing it in person, I would not have known how long the path the death carts took actually was, making Carton’s final scene in A Tale of Two Cities all the more chilling in the historical context. Without seeing the Luxembourg Gardens, I would not have truly sensed the magical feeling of the setting, making the budding romance between Cosette and Marius feel so much more lovely. Without visiting the sewer museum, I would have never guessed how deep and disgusting those tunnels were, making Jean Valjean’s journey with Marius on his back all the more courageous. Reading the novel on its own is wonderful, but seeing the book come to life does make the characters, their relationships, and their actions so much more profound.

“Bookpacking” has left me with new questions, too. Why did Victor Hugo reference certain nonexistent maps? Why did he characterize Cosette the way he did? What would Hugo have thought about the activists of Paris today? And how have I seen elements of this novel in my own life? Who do I know as the ABC group? Who in my life loves me as deeply and unconditionally as Valjean loves Cosette? How have I seen personal transformation? How do I feel about violence, about religion? How do I define justice and goodness?

As this trip comes to a close, I reflect on what I will take with me from Paris to Los Angeles. Although I may not have time to read a new novel in the coming months (I expect most of my reading will be LSAT preparation books), I don’t want to give up the magic of exercising my imagination and looking for characters from A Tale of Two Cities and Les Miserables in the people around me. I will take with me the experience of flaneuring through parks and past boulangeries and patisseries. I will remember the importance of compassion, forgiveness, hope, and change, thanks to both Dickens and Hugo. And, of course, I will take with me lovely memories of munching on crunchy baguettes with my classmates and giggling around the sparkling Eiffel Tower at night. Thank you, and au revoir Paris!