Ashley’s Comments (group member since Jun 05, 2020)

Ashley’s comments from the #ClassicsCommunity 2021 Reading Challenge group.

Rachel Lynde is such a fun character! You live to hate her the whole first book.

Edmond is much younger than I realized before this reading. Why do you think Dumas chose to make him so young? Thinking about how he’s compared to the older and more powerful and less innocent Villefort has me wondering.

As I said, I’m having a hard time saying what I mean, so I’m not too worried or surprised people took my words out of context. Thanks for making our point more clear though, since I’m struggling!!

Good points about the parallel events. It does show more of their differences and sets up their characters that way. Interesting that it doesn’t continue. I read the abridged version as a teen. I also have seen movie versions and used to say it was one of my favorite novels as a young person, which I find funny now because I haven’t read the full version and don’t know much about Dumas or the background. I don’t think as a teen that I realized there were abridged and nonabridged versions, though.

Anyway, wow! I had no idea this was also serialized! Can you imagine waiting years to read a book? I guess it’s like modern day TV. We don’t get the full story for years. And that is getting harder to believe too with the ability to binge on Netflix and such. Thank you for the background! I should go research some more! But I always love when people do the work for me and bring me good context info....so thanks for letting me be lazy 😂

Oh favorites? As I said, Twig was very cute and a good surprise. Lantern is one of my very favorites. I read it for the first time about a year ago and have read it 2 more times since then. It’s a sad, heart breaking read, but it’s also hopeful and beautiful and has beautiful messages. Abbie Deal is like a mentor to me because of the amazing things she says. The sequel was very different. Much lighter, but still beautiful. And of course Dickens is always good.

I read 16 books in May. More classics than usual. I read Alice in Wonderland, Milly Molly Mandy, and Peter Pan with my 6 year old daughter. I discovered another really fun children’s book on my own called Twig by Elizabeth Orton Jones. My daughter will love it, so I’ll probably read it to her soon. I’m listening to the Anne series for the first time and this month I listened to Anne’s House of Dreams. Other classics I read: The Bhagavad Gita, Lantern in Her Hand and sequel White Bird Flying, Oliver Twist, and Winnie the Pooh.

So far we’ve been taking about characters a lot. Would you say Dumas is good at crafting characters? Is this story character driven? Obviously there is a plot and it gets intricate (it already has some) but I think you could argue that the characters drive the plot (i.e. Edmonds desire for revenge later). Do have thoughts about anything else having to do with this?

Also, the most interesting thing to me this week was the parallel that was purposefully shown to the reader between Villefort and Edmond- both getting married, both have associations with “traitors”, etc... How does this flesh out both characters? Does this add to the idea I’m pondering about it being a character driven book or am I just seeing connections where they don’t exist?

What stuck out to you on this weeks chapters?

Minnie I’m not at all suggesting that Dantes is experiencing the type of systemic racism that POC experience. Becky explained it better. And I shouldn’t just assume everyone is from the US. But I’m sure those that aren’t at least know what’s going on here. What I was saying is that it’s been emotionally exhausting listening to horrific stories of outright as well as systemic racism. I’m willing to continue to listen and do better. I’m not complaining about that. But I was surprised to see some parallels in this story, meaning that the main character is going to be suffering unfairly and he has no way to fix the problem. So it’s more of the same emotional exhaustion instead of a reprieve. That’s good in some ways. But also, like Becky says, it’s also good it’s a slow read. I am enjoying the thoughts coming from these parallels and am having a hard time articulating my thoughts, but it sounds like you both understand where I’m coming from.

How is feminism portrayed throughout the novel so far? What are your thoughts on how the different characters act in reference to different feminine ideals?

I would love to join you just for the sake of reading with a buddy, but I’ve tried so hard to like LOTR and can’t! The furthest I got was 1/3 of the way through the first book on Audible. That was last month. So I don’t think I can do it! But I’m so glad I found this group and that you all have some great active reads going! Good luck with LOTR!

I read this a few years ago, but have been wanting to revisit it. I’m not 100% sure I’ll join, but it’s very tempting! Just wanted to stop by and say hi and that I’m excited to see so much interest! More reason to read with you!

Can someone share more about these bookstagram reads? I see some posts from friends but don’t know how to find what I’m looking for and how to get involved.

I started listening to the series in March. It has been a nice quarantine listen. I read Anne for the first time 3 years ago! I was 31! And this is my first time through the whole series. I don’t plan to reread them with you, but I’d love to discuss whichever ones you choose as they were recent reads! I’m on Anne of Ingleside now, about half way through.

Becky I agree that everyone has selfish interests and poor Edmond is getting the short end of the stick. It’s actually kind of hard to read right now along with current events. I’ve been reading a lot about systemic racism and thought a novel would be a good break from that. It’s not turning out to be that way. I didn’t consider how the unfair behavior would just feel like more of the same. I’m not trying to spur a discussion about Black Lives Matter or anything related to that, so I hope it’s ok to compare the books to current events and how my feelings toward the book are being colored.

I very much agree it’s a middle grade and up book. My oldest 2 are 6 and 8 and I was reading with them in mind. They would not understand half of what was said and they are very well read and used to the language of classic literature. I’d probably also rate it around 3 stars.

It was very in your face about moral lessons. The first few chapters were strange, then each person the prince met on each planet taught a very specific lesson. And the end wrapped up with a big, overarching moral. I did start to feel connected to the prince, though, and it was sad the way he left earth. But overall I’m left wondering why this was written. And why it’s so popular. I suppose if you are teaching a middle grader how to read a book, looking for symbolism and other literary tools, this is a quick read and easy to start that discussion. But it’s got to be more than that.

So, why do you think this has lasted and become somewhat of a classic?

I know I’ve read this book, but it’s been a long time. I’ve been meaning to reread jet since the Netflix production came out. I’m excited to finally read it and, yes, watch the show. Wondering if it’s something to do with my kids. I think I’ll do it myself first and see!

I read Anne (only GG) for the first time 3 years ago. I’m 34!!! I am listening to the rest of the series for the first time right now. I’m on Anne of Ingleside. I have a hard time listening to things, so this is good practice for me. It’s been perfect for this crazy time though! Just what I needed.

I read Winnie the Pooh last week with another group and am excited to discuss it with you next month. I pulled out Little Prince a couple weeks ago and put it by my bed. Seems this group of books was just perfect for me at this time! Happy to have found this group and join along!

Yes! It’s such amazing writing and so interesting how Edmond is being set up as someone we can pity. He is loved by most everyone, and then these two men want to ruin him. It’s ominous and also brilliant. Our emotions are being set up so we feel sorry for all that will happen. I’m interested to see how I feel once this character I feel so sorry for starts his revenge. Will I feel he is justified?

I’m confused about one thing. Why did Caderousse change his opinion all of a sudden at the end of chapter 5? He’s listening to Danglars and Morrel talk and then Danglars asks “do you still feel any desire to stand up to his defense?” and he says no. Was it just that Morrel confirmed the fact that Dantes went to Elba? It doesn’t seem like there was any damning info to change his mind.

So I love the comparisons between Edith’s normal type of beauty (she’s compared to Titania, a popular fairy name after Shakespeare used it in a play- so she’s like a fairy queen) and Margaret’s more irregular beauty and skepticism about feminine things.

There’s a note in my book about her describing Helstone in chapter 1. It says she paints an over idealized picture and Lennox draws attention to it, but then he does the same thing in chapter 3. However she is going to “painfully revise her view on a return visit” so I guess I’ll keep an eye out for that.

Ok fine. Twist my arm. I’ll read along. I started a few months ago and then decided to read other things. I read an abridged version in high school. This will be my first time reading unabridged. I loved the story as a teen and wonder how it will translate as an adult. I find that reading as a mom/adult is a totally different experience and I feel like I need to reread everything all over again.

Discussing HERE....not her...oops