The Count of Monte Cristo: In Progress (No Spoilers)

[Adelaide]

This topic is for those who wish to discuss the book in progress. No spoilers please.

[Adelaide]

So, I was a little trepidatious starting this. Dumas can be a little dense, and if I'm not in the right mood, he can be a little overwhelming. But then I read this.

"His dark cloak and long sword plainly revealed one who seemed in search of adventures . . ."

Yeah, I like adventure.

[Cheryl]

This is such a good book. I read it a few months ago, so I won't be re-reading it. Don't let the French politics/history scare you. It's there, but what you need to know to understand the plot is clearly explained in the story. I was intimidated by it at first, but I really didn't need to be. Great characters and alot of adventure. Enjoy!

[Adelaide]

Thanks! I loved the Three Musketeers, so I'm hoping this will be as much fun.

[Adelaide]

Uh yeah, so I just realized that the book I picked up from desk was the Man in the Iron mask, not the Count of Monte Cristo. Glad I'm only a couple pages in. (Although it looks really fun.) Downloading the right book now. Sheesh.

[Adelaide]

Ok, now that I've got the right book (sigh) things are moving along quickly and I'm 14 chapters in. It's actually really fun, and I am enjoying this translation. I think some of my reservations about Dumas are more about certain translations than anything on his part. Some of them are pretty dry and when you combine that with the length of some of his books, it makes for a long slog. Not a problem with this one though. (I am reading the Maplewood Books kindle version.)

[Adelaide]

I am about 30% through the book and things are going pretty well. Dumas has set everything up and Dantes is poised for his revenge. And then . . . uh, I don't know what is really going on right now. The point of view character has shifted to this dude Franz, who is observing Dantes in his Count of Monte Cristo/Sinbad the Sailor guise, and I'm not sure what the point of all this yet. I'm hoping it picks up again soon. (I'm still enjoying it, but would like a little more forward motion. It's a long book.)

[Sarah]

Ha Ha- I'm about at the same place. When the narration changed, I had this terrible sinking feeling - the kind you get when you realize you haven't been paying attention to something critical your professor was talking about and now you are lost.

[Adelaide]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure now that I know where it is going, and if so, Dantes is playing a very deep game. But it feels like Dumas could have cut some of the details to pace this part a little better.

[Christopher]

I think Dumas used the same editor JK Rowling used for the later Harry Potter books.

I listened to the audiobook of Monte Cristo a couple years ago and am looking forward to again, but am madly trying to finish the audiobook for "Under The Dome" which was a bit of a mistake to try to fit in first. But I still think I'll make it.

[Adelaide]

Christopher wrote: "But I still think I'll make it. "

Because this book is so long, I am leaving the end date for it until Dec 31. There is a separate December read, but it a longish short story, so no worries!

[Christopher]

Oh good, maybe I can squeeze Samuel Richardson's "Clarissa" in there in between. ;-)

[Adelaide]

Christopher wrote: "Oh good, maybe I can squeeze Samuel Richardson's "Clarissa" in there in between. ;-)"

I have mixed feelings about the LIKE button, but I could have used one there.

[Cheryl]

Adelaide,

Yes, this revenge plan is "a very deep game" as you said.

[Adelaide]

Cheryl wrote: "Adelaide,

Yes, this revenge plan is "a very deep game" as you said."

I'm about 60% in and things are very deep indeed. Once we leave Franz and Dantes gets to Paris, the pace picks up and things get VERY interesting. Although it's funny. There are only about 20 people in Paris and they all know each other. I get why Dumas does this, but it causes things to tie together in some pretty implausible ways. But as his plot comes to fruition, I worry about Dantes more and more. It can't be very healthy to focus only on revenge, and he's not a very pleasant person. I'm also a little worried about the collateral damage he might inflict. There are a lot of innocents in this book who might get in his way.

[Cheryl]

Adelaide wrote: There are only about 20 people in Paris and they all know each other. I get why Dumas does this, but it causes things to tie together in some pretty implausible ways.

Ha! I know what you mean. Each time a new character was introduced, I'd wonder how they would tie into the revenge plot. If you go look up The Count of Monte Cristo on Wikipedia, it has a very helpful list of characters and how they are all intertwined. There is even a chart there, tying everyone to each other and to Dantes. I referred to this a few times as I was reading the book.

[Kelly]

OMG....Albert is so damn stupid......

[Kelly]

And kudos to Dumas to writing a LGTBQ+ character in the character of Eugenie. Because she is definitely lesbian, if not actually a-sex. He had to call her an 'artist ', but yeah....