The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

[Nicolle]

Our Feb read is here. This one is available to read online for free and on most ( if not all) ereaders for free too.

[Pamela(AllHoney)]

I read this one in 2012 and it's a long one ☺

[Jonathan]

Never read this one but I'm looking forward to it!

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

I read this last year - it's a fun one!

[Brianna]

I'm so excited!

[Melane]

i started last night. never read a classic that wasnt for AP english, nor have i ever enjoyed it. but this one is sooo good!

[Louise]

Got myself a beautiful copy of it the other day so will be starting on it as soon as I finish Life of Pi. Really looking forward to it.

[Veljko]

This is one of my favorite books. I hope I can find the time to re-read it - but I am still working on last month's book.

[Rob]

So far, I am loving it. There will be no problem finishing it early.

[Bev]

I read this last year and then watched a film version too. Brilliant story of vengeance.

[Hina A.]

where can i find its online version?

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Here is a link to the editions at Project Gutenberg:

http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1184

[Hina A.]

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Here is a link to the editions at Project Gutenberg:

http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1184"


No pdf??

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Hinaroon wrote: "Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Here is a link to the editions at Project Gutenberg:

http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1184"


No pdf??"

There are several pdf versions online. If you google "Count of Monte Cristo pdf" it will return a slew of results from which to choose.

[Hina A.]

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Hinaroon wrote: "Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Here is a link to the editions at Project Gutenberg:

http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1184"


No pdf??"

There are several pdf versions online. If you go..."

thanks found one for me

[Diana]

I tried to read this one, but it is so loooong. I couldn't even get through 200 pages.

[Pamela(AllHoney)]

I listened to most of this one here on the internet. That made it easier for me. I don't think I could have just read it by myself because it is long and tedious at times.

[Brianna]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia...

a relations map

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Brianna wrote: "http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia...

a relations map"

Thanks for posting this. It's very helpful especially to those of us who read it previously and need a reminder or two (or more) about specifics.

Be aware this is filled with spoilers. Great for review, perhaps not so good if you haven't finished.

[Brianna]

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Brianna wrote: "http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia...

a relations map"

Thanks for posting this. It's very helpful especially to those of us who read i..."

Thank you Elizabeth! I'm so sorry I didn't say anything, ugh, I hate spoilers but for me in this case, readying a little ahead in the plot has helped me to follow the story. If anyone is having trouble getting started I agree with Pamela listening to it on audio might be a better way to go. I found a link online that has it for free and no downloading required. Enjoy!

http://archive.org/details/count_mont...

[Brianna]

I have just finished chapter 7, The Examination and I am a little confused. Villefort believed Dantes and then after reading the letter changed his mind? I don't understand the politics behind the letter and what it had to do with Villefort and his father. I remember the statements made about his father in the previous chapter. Is it only Rebecca and her family that knows about his past?

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

I don't recall now the exact wording of the letter, but this is what my (sometimes faulty) memory tells me. To be a Bonapartist was to be in favor of overthrowing the government, i.e. advocating treason. If you're trying to get rid of someone, saying he wanted Napoleon back in power would be a good way to do it. And if you wanted the woman he loves (and who loves him), getting rid of him without the woman knowing it was you behind the plot, should serve you well.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

This letter is extremely important, by the way. The plot hinges on it.

[John]

So I'm on page 400 (chapter 38) and seriously cannot put this book down. It's already one of the best books I've ever read and I'm not even halfway done!

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

John wrote: "So I'm on page 400 (chapter 38) and seriously cannot put this book down. It's already one of the best books I've ever read and I'm not even halfway done!"

:-)))

It only gets better. Sorry about the sleep you'll be losing.

[Gaylinn]

I am about 17% of the way through on my Kindle. I am on Dantes swim to the island. Hope that is not a spoiler.

[Richard]

Starting today...

[Joseph “Millennium Man”]

(view spoiler)[ As a story of vengeance I guess it must have a a happy ending. Would it be ironic, sardonic, satirical or morbid if Danglers is left hung off the edge of a cliff or a rope or a chain at the end of the book? "Hence to dangle." I was thinking that while Edmond was still in prison. (hide spoiler)]

I am 33% through the book so far.

[Joseph “Millennium Man”]

My spell check says the title is supposed to be The Count of Monte Crisco

[Joseph “Millennium Man”]

Was this story translated from French?

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Joseph (Millennium Man) wrote: "My spell check says the title is supposed to be The Count of Monte Crisco"

LOL

[Jennifer]

I've called it "Count of Monte Crisco" once or twice. :-)

[Joseph “Millennium Man”]

(view spoiler)[. So the Count of Monte Cristo eats lightly and take his own recipe of opium and hashish. I never heard of the opiates having any harmful effect aside from being addictive. He is a bit high all the time which may give him a certain edge if you may call it that, and perhaps it keeps his body in a better health (arguably). The minor characters that are coming into play I find them to be closer or more similar to The Count's youthful days before his misfortune and becoming a bit jaded by everything that had happened. .. (hide spoiler)]

[Joseph “Millennium Man”]

Joseph (Millennium Man) wrote: "Was this story translated from French?"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandr...

[Brianna]

Jennifer wrote: "I've called it "Count of Monte Crisco" once or twice. :-)"

I love that part in The Shawshank Redemption when they are unpacking the library and the inmate reads "Count of Monte Crisco" and then pronounces Alexandre Dumas as Dumb ass. He giggles like a little boy haha

[Joseph “Millennium Man”]

Nicolle wrote: "Our Feb read is here. This one is available to read online for free and on most ( if not all) ereaders for free too."

I realized that I was reading an Abridged version! I downloaded the free version that everyone else is reading. :-0

[Joseph “Millennium Man”]

Why I didn't do this to begin with...?

[Brianna]

I did that as well.

[Joseph “Millennium Man”]

At the top of the group say We are reading TCMC "because you voted for it." I can see democracy is sometimes flawed.

It is a fantastic story Just a very large portion. It will be the longest book I have ever read. Pushing Steven King's The Stand out of first place.

After this can we vote for a Dr. Seuss book?

[Rob]

It is Feb 14th. You should be halfway through now. My book has 600 pages and I am on page 264. I need to catch up!!

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Rob wrote: "It is Feb 14th. You should be halfway through now. My book has 600 pages and I am on page 264. I need to catch up!!"

You might be reading an abridged version. The full versions usually have more than 1000 pages.

[Rob]

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Rob wrote: "It is Feb 14th. You should be halfway through now. My book has 600 pages and I am on page 264. I need to catch up!!"

You might be reading an abridged version. The full versions usua..."

You are right!! I didn't notice. I don't see how adding twice as many pages would make this better. I am enjoying it.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Karen wrote: "Wondered if, at some point, there's an actual discussion of the book? "

I was sort of wondering too. This is my first discussion with this group, and everyone seems so afraid of spoilers they won't post anything. I would think anyone coming to this thread should have read the book and be ready to discuss.

[Pamela(AllHoney)]

The one I read had over 1200 pages.

[Joseph “Millennium Man”]

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Karen wrote: "Wondered if, at some point, there's an actual discussion of the book? "

I was sort of wondering too. This is my first discussion with this group, and everyone seems so afraid of spoi..."

I'm still working on the story. I thought it would be ok to share my progress and comments.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

One of the things I did upon reading this novel, was to get a brief background on Napoleon's return to Paris. The 100 Day rule it was called. I also checked wiki about Chateau d'If.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C3%A2...

Apparently it was used one time as a prison, and with great imagination, Dumas took pen in hand.

[Joseph “Millennium Man”]

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "One of the things I did upon reading this novel, was to get a brief background on Napoleon's return to Paris. The 100 Day rule it was called. I also checked wiki about Chateau d'If.

http://en.wik..."

Do the French know that Edmund and his Buddy chiseled a hole through the wall of one of their accommodations?

I wondered about the stories written during this time period. Were the stories in this time period mostly focused on the French revolution? I am comparing the way during the cold war seemed novels of Russia were all about spies and espionage. (aside from the classics) I have yet to come across any Russian Romance novels for example. They must exist. Politics influencing art?

[Joseph “Millennium Man”]

I hope everyone is able to finish the story by the end of the month. I switched back to the Abridged "Vook" (enhanced) version because the story flowed better than the free unabridged version.

[Louise]

Well I'm no about 70% through the unabridged translation by Robin Buss, so well on time to finish it, I think. Absolutely loving it so far.

I tried to visit Chateu d'If a few years ago when I was on holiday in that area but the wind was so bad that day that none of the boats were doing the journey over there. For anyone interested in the history of the place and prisoners as it relates directly to this book though I would look into The Black Count: Glory, Revolution, Betrayal, and the Real Count of Monte Cristo (I haven't read it yet myself but discovered it from a customer when I worked in a bookshop, who thought it was brilliant so it's on my wishlist).

Now. Discussion points... I find the repeated references to Polidori's The Vampyre: A Tale and the comparrison between the count and Lord Ruthven fascinating. I don't know if anybody else has read The Vampyre but it is really very fitting - he's a mysterious and apprently charming aristocrat who decides to join the travels young and naive young man travelling around Europe. As they travel his friend slowly realises that everything Lord Ruthven does destroys the lives of the people he comes into contact with. It's a short read and it's not *brilliant* or anything - it was envisaged as a campfire ghost story and it reads like one - but I think I'll be rereading it again quickly once I finish Monte Cristo. Of course the Count's secret isn't that he's actually a vampire, and he's still (vaguely) sympathetic rather than the villain of the book - but the similarities between him and Lord Ruthven, and the way Dumas deliberately draws attention to them, is pretty interesting (at least for me!).

I'm also very drawn to the mute black slave, Ali. I think he's an interesting character - his backstory shows very early on just how cruel and calculating the Count has become and how little value he places on other people, that he would deliberately wait for a man's tongue to be cut out before rescuing him. But Ali's role in the book also tells us about race in France at the time Dumas was writing about. Ali is a victim of racism, both from the northern Africans who sentenced him to death for the colour of his skin and in France where people either openly stare or treat him like part of the furniture. The way Villefort's vile son called him 'too ugly' to say thank you to and the obvious hurt that casued him really made me angry (no revenge will be too nasty for that child). And I wonder how much Dumas is drawing on his own and his family's experience there because, although Dumas is writing about predominantly white people, he himself was actually mixed race (his father was the son of a white nobleman and a black slave who went on to became a senior general in Napoleon's army).

[Joseph “Millennium Man”]

Anyone want to work as a coachman, servant or be a groundskeeper in this story? In this world their value as a human beings is not so significant. The working class is at the mercy of their employers.