A Challenge for the Verbose

I am currently in a classics study group which has the end goal of establishing an academy for kids ages 12-18. We are reading and writing and trying to hone our study skills in order to teach the kids the same skills.

Our most recent book discussion was on Les Miserables. If you've never read the book, I encourage you to take six months (yes, I said six months) and read it. It's 1100 pages of beauty, depth, description (if I ever get to Paris, I'm going to visit the sewers), triumph, defeat, tragedy, generosity, and every other human emotion possible. Our discussion leader challenged us to write ONE sentence which summed up the entire book! She talked about how easy it is to have an abstract "idea" of what a book is about, but how much more difficult to actually think about what a book and then to articulate it in writing. I'm still working on my sentence, but so far I have:

Les Miserables is a story about justice and mercy and the difference an individual can make in the lives of others by choosing to be merciful or just.

My challenge to you is to take a book you have just finished or are very familiar with and do the same thing. I would love it if you would post your books and sentences here.