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The Count of Monte Cristo - Mark Your Spoilers
I'm not currently reading this, but read it one summer during my college years when I worked at the campus library - I guess about 10 years ago now? (Yikes!) There will always be a warm place in my heart for Dantes!I hope all of you that are reading it enjoy it! I might jump in the conversation periodically.
I read the long version of this book last summer. I LOVED it, I couldn't believe how much action there was for it being so long. I can't wait to see what you guys think.
I read it in High School (but not a school read) and I loved it... but 35 years is a long time ago... If I find a copy I'll join in.
I first read this (unabridged) the summer I was ... 14? I read a lot of Dumas that summer. I reread it in the last year or so - still a very fine novel.
Best book I have read. Over a thousand pages and I read it inside a month. We are talking 3 am curtain calls. It was that good. Who doesn't enjoy the story of a wronged man out to catch up with his enemies?
Okay, I finally got to sit down and start this! The abridged version I have has 591 pages. Right now I'm on page 55 and on chapter 7-The Chateau D'if. I'm really liking it so far!
I know!! I was shocked when I saw how many pages Lori's copy had! I have a feeling there will be A LOT of differences between the two!
Mod
When you get up to that part, let me know what you think is going on. Perhaps being abridged, it cuts to the chase a bit :)
James wrote: "Best book I have read. Over a thousand pages and I read it inside a month. We are talking 3 am curtain calls. It was that good. Who doesn't enjoy the story of a wronged man out to catch up with..."Now I have to reconsider it. I saw it in the bookstore but was intimidated by the page count. The paperback binding was just barely able to contain it.
LOL, Allison! I'm now racing to get to that part just to find out! :) Go for it, LaTrica! Then you can come and discuss it with us!
Okay, I got through "The Little Room in the Tuileries", which was actually chapter 9 in my book ( am I missing a whole chapter??!!) It was only 6 pages long! I noticed that's the average length of the chapters though, usually 5-10 pages each.It basically was Blacas warning King Louis about Napoleon and a conspiracy being planned, and Villefort coming as a messenger confirming it.
I'm now on chapter 17, "The Isle of Tiboulen". It's been VERY entertaining, I could hardly put it down last night!
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What did you think about the Abbe? He was quite the Macgyer wasnt he? Reminded me of the main guy (the name slips my mind) from Mysterious Island.....
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1.Arrival at Marseilles
2.Father and Son
3.The Catalans
4.The Plotters
5.The Betrothal Feast
6.The Deputy Procureur
7.The Examination
8.The Chateau D'if
9.The Evening of the Betrothal
10.The little Room in the T
11.The Corscian Orge
12.Father and Son
13.The Hundred Days
14.In the Dungeons
15.Number 34 and 27
16.A Learned Italian
17.In the Abbes Cell
18.The Treasure
19.The Death of the Abbe
20.The Cemetary of the C
21.The Isle of T
22.The Smugglers
23.The Isle of Monte C
Which one doesnt your book have?
Ok, here's my list of the chapters up to that point:1. Marseilles-The Arrival
2. Father & Son
3. The Catalans
4. The Betrothal Feast
5. The Deputy Procurer
6. The Examination
7. The Chateau d'If
8. Villefort & Mercedes (I guess the same as the Evening of the Betrothal)
9. The Little Cabinet in the Tuileries
10. The Ogre
11. The Hundred Days
12. Numbers 34 & 27
13. An Italian Scholar
14. The Treasure
15. The Third Attack
16. The Cemetary of C
17. The Isle of T
18. The Isle of M.C.
Damn! So, I'm missing FIVE chapters off your list so far!
The Plotters
In the Dungeons
In the Abbes Cell
The Smugglers
Father & Son (2)
No wonder I'm caught up to where you are! Maybe it's just condensing some of the missing chapters into the other ones?!? I did read some about the Smugglers, but that was just in the short chapter of The Isle of T.
Oh, and I loved the Abbe! How awesome was that guy?! I haven't read The Mysterious Island yet, but I do have it sitting at home...think I'll hit that one up next!!
Mod
This is one of the best books ever! I inherited a volume that was published in 1893 and I treasure it. I've read it twice, the second time for my book club. Enjoy and good luck tearing yourself away! I know it just captivated me.
Hey Coco, when you are done with that book, may I borrow it? I promise to return it in about 45 years. :)I adore this book!!
This is one of my very favorite stories. I am jealous of all of you who have not yet read it because you are in for a great ride!
this is one og the greatest books ever.. Dumas is a genius, I'm looking forward to reading the three muskteers and the man in the iron mask for him.
Sure Kevin! It's not like I'm protective of it or anything. I even allow my kids to be in the same room with it once a year, on Dumas' birthday. As long as they're wearing scrubs and masks.
I think the one after Twenty Years After is The Vicomte de Bragelonne, and then The Man in the Iron Mask. I think. Dumas was prolific!
Don't think I've ever heard of that one, Fiona. Is it in the Three Musketeers series, or is it a stand-alone?
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I didn't even get a chance to read at all yesterday! I'm hoping to have some time tonight to get a lot done!
I was supposed to read this last summer with the Rory Gilmore book club. It was all broken down so that you had a reading goal for each month and could finish it in three months while still reading other books if you so desired. I read the first 50 pages or so and liked it but then got sidetracked by other books and never went back to it. This summer we're reading Vanity Fair which I really want to read plus I still have to get through The Woman in White. I have a feeling I won't be returning to TCOMC for a long time!
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Dont get me wrong... Still like the book, just not caring right now about Albert and Franz and the story of Vampa.... (yawn)
Anyone else have this problem?
Lori,The Vampa story is kind of weird and seems to be irrelevant, but trust me it comes together in the end I promise!
Lori, the stuff in Rome is an important setup to some important stuff involving the Count later. Hang in there!
I'm just now starting chapter 27, The Apparition. That's funny, I was even thinking, who the hell are these Franz and Albert guys? They just apperared out of nowhere! Especially after the Fifth of September chapter which was so good, I was tearing through it at warp speed!
You'll find out. Keep with it. They are of importance.
youve zoomed past me now Lori, im up to ..o bugger i dont know which chapter, the man begining with C's story! you know the one. is an innkeeper these days!Ive been loving it, though as both you and Fi didnt like the Rome parts am apprehensive about that. I can beleive in a book so long its so action packed all the way through! just never lets up in fact even in the unabridged sometimes it jumps to hours or days later and your like, hang on! what just happened there - its great though, who wants to read about a sailing voyage all the way from marseilles to the med - just get there and tell us what happens next! good man Dumas!. loving the adventure, i never read this kind of stuff
Ok, I guess one good thing about the abridged version is that the Rome part is not dragging AT ALL. I was kind of confused for a few pages when Franz and Albert entered the picture, but it's been fascinating. Makes me want to go vacation in Rome...
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I made it to page 431, The Colosseum chapter. I worked today, and dont get off till Monday nite, so depending on how tired I am, I wont be getting much reading done these next few days!
Ok, spent pretty much the whole weekend reading and finished. It was AMAZING. I can't believe how everything came together. I need to order an unabridged copy RIGHT NOW.
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I better get my ass in gear!
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430 some odd pages in.....
It's killing me to know that you know what happens... AHhhhhhhhh.....
Geez, my copy barely touched on the Colosseum, I think that was another one that just got blended into another chapter...man, I'm itching to get a REAL copy bad!
The abridged version is just the gateway drug!
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I promise to REALLY dig in after dinner tonite!
im still on about p 270, been reading something else...ready to jump back in though!
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I am currently on "The Breakfast", where Albert re-meets up with The Count of Monte Cristo. I have to admit the pace has picked up a little more for me, and its curious to see how everything continues to link up....
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I didnt know they had made a movie of it until I began reading it and people mentioned it....
How out of it am i, huh?
There was a movie in the 70's and another one in 2002. I liked the 70's one much better, the latest one changed too much. There's also a TV version with Gerard Depardieu that I haven't seen yet.
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***Chapter 42 - The presentation ***
Aaahhhhhh... now i know why the count had such a reaction when he was shaking Alberts hand, and why he is remaining in contact with him.
Mercedes is his mother....!!!
Wasn't that crazy, Lori? I couldn't believe I didn't catch it! "OH MY GOD", I literally said out loud when I realized it. My kids again thought I was crazy for talking to myself while reading...
Mod
Did you get thru the Rome part yet Lori? I haven't gotten to that part yet.
The Next Best Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
The Vicomte de Bragelonne (other topics)The Man in the Iron Mask (other topics)
Twenty Years After (other topics)
Anyone else whose read it, plans on reading it, or wants to joins us right now.... Feel free to post along as you go.
Please start your thread with the page number and Chapter title you are on as you go, so we don't accidently get spoiled. It's a HUGE book, so we are bound to get ahead of (or behind)one another as we go!