A distinct departure from his popular comic novels, this haunting, provocative tale of wrongful imprisonment and violent retribution is Stephen Fry...
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Nov 03, 2010
Andrew
rated it: 
Ooo this had so much promise at the beginning. I got so excited when I saw it at the library and got it home. I've enjoyed Fry's other novels so much, and this one started so interesting between the diary and the love letter and then fell into this straight narrative style that not only was conventional, but it seemed that Fry stopped trying. The first two thirds were not bad, but that last act was just awful. I didn't like the protagonist. Never saw any real fire or passion for his revenge
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Jan 13, 2009
Carrie
rated it: 
Revenge is a modern re-telling of The Count of Monte Cristo. It is very well done, because Fry manages to take the elements of Dumas’ novel that take the most suspension of disbelief and make them believable in a modern setting. It’s a clever twist on an old story – with updated methods of revenge, and a clever twist on the old characters (With puns! The character of the Count’s finance is changed from Mercedes to Portia – hee!). It’s suspenseful as well, a major feat considering that I not only
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Nov 03, 2010
Patrick
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Jul 27, 2011
Jenny Sparrow
rated it: 
Уже после того, как я купила книгу и продиралась на улицу с переполненной людьми книжной ярмарки, я увидела в аннотации слова: "Этот роман - "Граф Монте-Кристо" поколения брокеров и программистов". И действительно, повествование почти сразу повернуло в знакомое русло: успешный, влюбленный, красивый молодой человек, который даже не подозревает о том, что кругом него полно завистников, уже готовящих заговор...
Сюжет пересказывать бесполезно - многие знают его еще с пеленок. More...
Сюжет пересказывать бесполезно - многие знают его еще с пеленок. More...
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Jun 29, 2011
Spiros
rated it:
I need to catch up on my Stephen Fry, I mean aside from my marathon sessions of watching "QI" episodes on youtube (a shout out here to "Nickfromfulham" for posting them all). I read The Liar and The Hippopotamus many years ago, and found them both to be brilliant; I read his memoir, Moab is My Washpot, and was less favorably impressed. This reworked Count of Monte Cristo story falls somewhere in between. Of course the writing is excellent, the erudition is breathtaking, and t
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Mar 11, 2010
Liam
rated it: 
Stephen Fry's book Stars Tennis Balls (a.k.a "Revenge") was possibly one of the best books i have ever read.
The story's incorporation of a similar plot to The Count of Monte Cristo, with its wicked, sophisticated and disturbing themes, made the novel work on an entirely different level.
Stephen Fry's ability is unbelievable and after reading this i was taken a peg down. He has this uncanny nack to- through his writing- make you take a look at the characters and their devilis More...
The story's incorporation of a similar plot to The Count of Monte Cristo, with its wicked, sophisticated and disturbing themes, made the novel work on an entirely different level.
Stephen Fry's ability is unbelievable and after reading this i was taken a peg down. He has this uncanny nack to- through his writing- make you take a look at the characters and their devilis More...
Aug 27, 2009
Christina
rated it:
I originally got this because because it was by Stephen Fry and I'd read and enjoyed The Hippopotamus, even if it was an incredibly weird, almost Sherlock Holmes-ian novel. I started reading it and the lighthearted comedy wasn't there and I kept thinking 'Gosh, this sounds an awful lot like The Count of Monte Cristo.' And then I read the jacket description and realized that it was an update of The Count of Monte Cristo.
Once I realized the framework of the story was not a coincidence, More...
Once I realized the framework of the story was not a coincidence, More...
Jul 27, 2009
Jasmine
rated it:
since the beginning of this project I have projected Stephen Fry as my choice of english author.
ah, this book reminded me why I don't read blurbs. I did not realize until 200 pages into the book that I was reading a retelling of the count of monte cristo, yes I realize I should have realized sooner, but I saw the movie once in a theater almost 8 years ago, and the book is very different from the movie (a lot of which I know of and was excited to see which Fry chose to follow). Now t More...
ah, this book reminded me why I don't read blurbs. I did not realize until 200 pages into the book that I was reading a retelling of the count of monte cristo, yes I realize I should have realized sooner, but I saw the movie once in a theater almost 8 years ago, and the book is very different from the movie (a lot of which I know of and was excited to see which Fry chose to follow). Now t More...
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Feb 14, 2009
Marjorie
rated it:
This book was a page turner (although it's not easy to turn pages when you read it on Kindle! maybe a page-nexter). I haven't read Count of Monte Christo, which the plot is similar to - although Fry claims that he started writing the book before he realized how close it was to Dumas's classic.
Fry is a witty guy and he develops some characters who are real 'types' and he has British public school issues down to a T - as far as I can tell, having never gone to British public school More...
Fry is a witty guy and he develops some characters who are real 'types' and he has British public school issues down to a T - as far as I can tell, having never gone to British public school More...
Jan 08, 2011
Doron
rated it:
Revange. Revange is one of the most powerful emotions that motivates us to do things. It is so strong that often it blinds us to see simple things and the simple truth and logic.The writer shows us the true face of envy, evil and revange. It is hard to believe that people could act like they do out of pure evil based on envy. But the reality is stronger than any fiction and things, as they told us in that story, can realy happen. Anyhow, this story is written well, and even though you read and y
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Nov 25, 2011
Xindea
rated it:
A charming piece by a certainly charming man. As a big fan of Fry I couldn't help snatching this from the library the other day, without even reading what it was about. I did not get disappointed in any way, the story is a quite brilliant version of the old The Count of Monte Cristo drama set in our time.
The characters are all brilliant in their own way and feels very much like real people that could exist out there, playing their pranks and looking up to each other. Especially Ned Maddens More...
The characters are all brilliant in their own way and feels very much like real people that could exist out there, playing their pranks and looking up to each other. Especially Ned Maddens More...
Jan 20, 2012
Celia
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Jun 18, 2009
Kimberly
rated it:
I am a tad obsessed with Stephen Fry, the host of my favorite British television show QI and the star of the classic "Jeeves and Wooster". I picked up this book to see if he was any good, and he is! It's a well-written modern retelling of "The Count of Monte Christo". It's not fabulous, but I found it a pleasant read, and more skillfully done than many bestsellers I've read. Go, Jeeves!
I hated the movie of Count a few years ago, that changed the ending to make i More...
I hated the movie of Count a few years ago, that changed the ending to make i More...
Dec 03, 2011
Morgan
rated it:
If you're sympathetic Stephen Fry's typical agenda (minus acceptance of homosexuality, which is inexplicably cast as a disease of pedophiles and rapists in this novel) and like the Count of Monte Cristo, this is worth a read.
The book is exceedingly clever (which is both good and bad), packed tight with allusions. Its best and worst points are tied to the Count of Monte Cristo structure. The enjoyable first act is refreshingly told though the letters and viewpoints of two necessaril More...
The book is exceedingly clever (which is both good and bad), packed tight with allusions. Its best and worst points are tied to the Count of Monte Cristo structure. The enjoyable first act is refreshingly told though the letters and viewpoints of two necessaril More...
Sep 06, 2010
Huw
rated it:
Apparently, this book is a thriller.
Apparently, the plot is pretty well stolen from "The Count of Monte Christo".
Apparently, the book is dedicated by the author to his erstwhile comedic partner, Hugh Laurie.
Who cares, frankly? This was just a superb book. OK, the plot may seem vaguely familiar, but Stephen Fry's ability to build fully rounded characters who you end up loving and hating in equal measures just goes to illustrate the genius of the man. More...
Apparently, the plot is pretty well stolen from "The Count of Monte Christo".
Apparently, the book is dedicated by the author to his erstwhile comedic partner, Hugh Laurie.
Who cares, frankly? This was just a superb book. OK, the plot may seem vaguely familiar, but Stephen Fry's ability to build fully rounded characters who you end up loving and hating in equal measures just goes to illustrate the genius of the man. More...
Jul 14, 2010
Rowan
rated it:
Amazon description: "This brilliant recasting of the classic story The Count of Monte Cristo centers on Ned Maddstone, a happy, charismatic, Oxford-bound seventeen-year-old whose rosy future is virtually preordained. Handsome, confident, and talented, newly in love with bright, beautiful Portia, his father an influential MP, Ned leads a charmed life. But privilege makes him an easy target for envy, and in the course of one day Ned's destiny is forever altered. A promise made to a dying teac
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Jun 07, 2010
Megan
rated it:
A modern re-telling of The Count of Monte Cristo, set in 1980s yuppie London. The first 2/3 of the book are exceedingly good (just like Mr Kipling's cakes). The period of imprisonment and the education of the protagonist Ned is especially spirited and enjoyable. The revenge bit isn't nearly as delicious as I'd hoped, and in spite of its nastiness, it didn't seem nearly so expertly malicious as Dumas' version, but then it's Dumas. 'Nuff said.
Overall, an excellently funny book about No More...
Overall, an excellently funny book about No More...
Aug 05, 2011
i had absolutely no idea what to expect from this book from the title and the blurb...all i knew was that it was written by stephen fry, and i quite like him. and it's a good thing i do. this book was pure fry: the style, the wit, the language. it did start off a bit slow, but it drew you in and really turned into quite a nice little revenge story. i've read a couple of fry's books, and will be on the lookout for more. most will enjoy his books (most certainly anyone who has enjoyed his tv and f
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Mar 10, 2009
Lucy
rated it:
Revenge is a modern re-telling of The Count of Monte Cristo. I feel like I'm being a faker comparing the two, because I have never read the original (I know, I know it's fantastic and I have to read it. Someday I will). But I have seen the movie. James Caviezel.....mmmmmm-mmmmmm.
I was always troubled by the the main character's motivation for revenge. In the movie, all ended well and good because the bad guys were really bad guys and it was very easy to cheer for the good guy. Again, More...
I was always troubled by the the main character's motivation for revenge. In the movie, all ended well and good because the bad guys were really bad guys and it was very easy to cheer for the good guy. Again, More...
Mar 21, 2010
Raj
rated it:
I didn't really enjoy this book an awful lot. It started off in that awfully upper-class public schoolboy way that The Liar did, then turned into The Prisoner and ended up as a revenge tale. The revenge tale was the most interesting, but I didn't think that it gelled hugely well and the protagonist never quite worked as he shifted between the three parts of the story. I wouldn't really recommend this as an introduction to the novels of Stephen Fry.
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Apr 18, 2011
Laura
rated it:
Ned Maddstone hat das Glück mit goldenen Löffeln gegessen. Er hat gute Noten, ein hübsches Gesicht, einen in der Politik erfolgreichen Vater und eine geistreiche Freundin. Es findet sich ein Trio vermeintlicher Freunde zusammen, die seine hoffnungsvolle Zukunft aus purem Neid zerstören. Ned verschwindet für Jahre spurlos. Doch irgendwann müssen alle Beteiligten die Konsequenzen ihres missgünstigen Verhaltens spüren. Denn Ned hat sich einen perfiden Racheplan ausgedacht, den er ohne Rücksicht dur
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Dec 28, 2009
trishtrash
rated it:
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Sep 28, 2010
Georg
rated it:
Es ist ein echter Fry, witzig geschrieben, very British, ohne überflüssige Schnörkel oder Wiederholungen, und schon nach ein paar Seiten ist man drin in der Geschichte, und kommt so schnell nicht mehr raus. Ähnlich wie „The Liar“ und „Making History“ ist die Geschichte ein bisschen (über)konstruiert, zerfällt in zwei symmetrische Teile und hat so ein bisschen was von einer Schullektüre wie „Der Jasager und der Neinsager“.
Jetzt aber erst mal ein bisschen spoilen: Ned ist der Streber i More...
Jetzt aber erst mal ein bisschen spoilen: Ned ist der Streber i More...
Oct 29, 2008
adventurat
rated it:
An excerpt from a review, on the cover of this book, calls it "a gruesome romp through the canon of human wickedness", and I'd call that accurate. It's also a fine example of the writerly dictum to "make it worse". The plot charges along, steadily picking up speed, and once the peril pokes its head up, it just grows exponentially.
The hero, Ned, is a fellow who has everything - looks, brains, charm, popularity, athletic skill, a beautiful girlfriend and reciprocal More...
The hero, Ned, is a fellow who has everything - looks, brains, charm, popularity, athletic skill, a beautiful girlfriend and reciprocal More...
Nov 30, 2010
Kelly
rated it:
Well poo. It's over. I feel as disappointed about it as Ned. Though revenge is never truly satisfying, one supposes. I just wanted, I don't even know what. I devoured this thing because I couldn't get enough and then found myself, I don't know, hoping Ned turned into Bruce Wayne, I suppose. Still, all that belies the fact that I read this book in twenty-four hours, and managed to sleep and work during that time as well. A terrific read; really must get more by Fry, he's a damn Renaissance man.
Mar 06, 2009
Rhonda
rated it:
Even when I don't like him, I like him. Stephen Fry, that is. The protagonist in this contemporary version of The Count of Monte Cristo, however, starts out an extremely appealing character then sort of falls apart. But I gather (never having read Dumas) that's a big part of the point. No one could go through what he did and not change for the worse. Fry's prose, though, is such a thrill, I don't mind implausibility (how DOES he get those nails back in the coffin?) or occasional what some might
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Jul 20, 2010
Edward
rated it:
This review spoils the story. This story is a remake of The Count of Monte Cristo, but all of the original book's adventurous elements are removed and the proportionate, retributive justice of the original is replaced by disproportionate, sadistic, bullying, revenge. At least Dantes could forgive himself, love, and move on in life at the end of his story. There's a reason why Portia is horrified.
Jan 21, 2012
Richard
rated it:
A strange book. The first two acts set the stage well, but the third act is limp and ineffective. It's as if Fry set out to write a revenge thriller, only to realize at the end that he didn't much like writing violent scenes. So what we get is a story in which the all-important moments of catharsis are all but glossed over.
Disappointing, not recommended.
Disappointing, not recommended.
Nov 03, 2011
Craig
rated it:
Bloody brilliant. Using the framework of The Count of Monte Cristo (though it's not plagiarism, Mr. Fry will point out, because Dumas himself stole the plot from an urban legend), Fry's book is funny, tragic, beautiful. But it also does something truly impressive and rare – it believably charts the protagonist's transformation from innocence to wisdom to cunning.
