Classic Group Read (Feb 2014) - The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

[Overbooked ✎]

Just finished the Count of Montecristo, one of the books which were long standing in my to-read list. I ended up enjoying the story but strangely not liking any of the its characters. 4 stars from me

[Renee, Mistress of the Mini-Challenge]

I'm at about 25% and the story is thrilling. (The red purse!) But, when I read this as a kid, my outrage at all the betrayal and injustice was HUGE! (Also, at 33, Edmund seemed so old. Lol.) This time, I see so much symbolism!! Which is delightful and unexpected. And I am aware that this was published as a serial, which must have made the original readers wild, as they waited for the next installment.

[Renee, Mistress of the Mini-Challenge]

Okay, this is just not right. It's a frickin' REREAD for goodness sake! And I just can't put it down!!!!

[Faye, The Dickens Junkie]

Renee wrote: "Okay, this is just not right. It's a frickin' REREAD for goodness sake! And I just can't put it down!!!!"

It's just that awesome. :)

[Holly, That Geeky One]

Oddly, I've hit a complete brick wall with this, and all my reading. I don't know if I've just hit a slump in narration, or something, I'm just finding it really hard to get any motivation to finish it. So far, the 200 pages I have read have been great.

It's definitely not the book itself, I've just lost all motivation to read! Odd! I'm hoping I'll find some strength and force myself to read. I'd like to finish it before the end of the month...

[Kassandra]

Holly, I've been having the same issue with the book. I just can't seem to make my way back to it, although I've been reading others. Last night I took my iPad to the gym with me and managed to get in a few pages while on the elliptical. It seemed to work so I think I will try it again. It doesn't seem likely that I will finish it this month, but it's still my goal.

[Renee, Mistress of the Mini-Challenge]

Spoiler Alert




That's just it, Kiwi. Most of the characters are despicable. I find it telling that the count has spent ten years gathering information and setting up his traps, but these hinge on that fact that his enemies are really bad guys. The same base characteristics (greed, jealousy, vanity, mercilessness, etc) that made it possible for them to condemn the innocent Edmond, has grown, unchecked throughout their lives. His vengeance on all of them comes to fruition through their own misdeeds.

Mercedes is the only one for whom I feel sorry. It's a shame she married such a treacherous snake.

I think Dumas was right in giving his creation the scruples to spare the next generation (to the best of his ability), although he had little plan of that at the outset. It shows that he has not, himself, gone beyond redemption.

[Overbooked ✎]

I agree Renee, Mercedes is the only character which I felt for.
(view spoiler)[However I would have thought that once she recognised Dantes she would have been more sympathetic and interested in what happened to him during all those years. Her love for her son is understandable and may account for her silence, as well as preserving "propriety" and her status in the Parisienne society. (hide spoiler)]

[Renee, Mistress of the Mini-Challenge]

Done! What a Wild ride!! Okay, the bit with Maximilian at the end was pretty perverse, but I guess I can't blame Dumas for dragging the end out a bit. Almost as if he were not ready to part with his creation.

p. s. The version I read in the seventh grade must have been abridged. There were several things I definitely know weren't there, but they were things I can expect a 13 year old might not be ready to handle.

[Jelliebeans]

Angélique wrote: "How are you enjoying the Count so far, Jelliebeans?!"

I am only about a quarter of the way through, but that's more down to lack of reading time than anything! I'm hoping to have a bit more time this week to get lost in it. I'm enjoying it so far, but that could be because I'm a sucker for historical settings with ships! Totally a geek point for me :)

How about you? Have you finished it?

[Angélique]

Jelliebeans wrote: "Angélique wrote: "How are you enjoying the Count so far, Jelliebeans?!"

I am only about a quarter of the way through, but that's more down to lack of reading time than anything! I'm hoping to have..."

Sadly, I did finish it although I tried to savour the experience as long as possible...

[Holly, That Geeky One]

I really really need to get back into this. I've hit a complete stand-still with it. I'm really gonna push to try read this by the end of the month. Fingers crossed.

[Renee, Mistress of the Mini-Challenge]

Maybe this weekend, Holly!! :)

I suspect you're stuck in prison, from what you've said. Keep going! The prison part is just so depressing, but it really picks up once Edmond makes his transformations.

[Holly, That Geeky One]

I'm past the prison part, which I actually found really interesting. Right now, I'm following Franz, and got a bit lost a few page back so i'm not 100% sure what's happening.

[Brenda (aka Grandma)]

(It's been awhile since I read it but) there were things about the prison part that I remember as inspiring. If those things had been the focus of the book instead of revenge (which was sort of depressing to me) I'd have probably rated this 5 stars instead of 4.

[Laura]

I just finished the book today. I agree with Brenda regarding the revenge focus of the book. Too many innocents that took more than enough pain for Dantes desire for revenge.

[Renee, Mistress of the Mini-Challenge]

Spoilers ahead...



Hmmm. For me the prison section was about an innocent man betrayed and trapped without chance of reprieve. It's not until the Abbé Faria shows up that Edmond had any hope.

And, I'm trying to figure out how many innocent people were actually hurt by what is done by Edmond. Every innocent person, I can think of, is harmed only indirectly by the actions of the count, and far more directly by the actions of the other people in their lives. He saves one, spares another, and sets a third free to follow her inclinations. Even Mercedes is more harmed by the fact that she had her true love taken from her and, then, married a dishonorable man.

For me, the brilliance of his actions stemmed from the fact that they hinged on the inevitability that these reprehensible people could be counted on to continue to behave reprehensibly. He really just exposed their evil misdeeds or put them each in the position to hang themselves.

[Jelliebeans]

Are you still stuck, Holly? I am at the Franz bit as well and I'm not moving very fast. I'm not sure why as there have been some great moments in it that have really grabbed me. I doubt I will finish this by the end of Feb!!

[Laura]

I see what you are saying Renee. He was innocent, but the desire for revenge and have others suffer, including their family members was not my cup of tea. I don't want to say what happened was "karma", because his deep desire to get back led to many people's downfall.

Speaking on things I liked, I enjoyed the abbe character that was in prison with him. I liked that he shared his knowledge and wealth to another when he didn't have to at all.

[Holly, That Geeky One]

I made the conscious decision to stop reading this for the time being. I couldn't get out from behind the brick wall of abandonment. I just started it as I hit a completely slump in my reading, which is massively unfortunate.

I'll definitely pick this up later in the year, and get it read. Hopefully in the summer!

[Renee, Mistress of the Mini-Challenge]

I hear you, Holly. I just made the same decision on Gaskell's Wives and Daughters. (I'm exactly at the halfway point but it's taking FOREVER! I think I'll enjoy it more when I have the time to soak up the pretty.) I sincerely hope you do get back to The Count. It's quite an adventure. :)

[Renee, Mistress of the Mini-Challenge]

One more thing... I wonder if the reader has to identify or feel a connection with Edmond Dantes at the beginning, in order to forgive/accept his transformation/journey later? So many of the characters are unlikeable, the story could easily seem like a mean guy cleverly doing mean things to mean people... With collateral damage to their children. I can see that the reader might have needed to make a size-able investment in the innocent Edmond, to continue turning pages.

[Lucy]

WOW OK over a month later, I have finally finished The Count of Monte Cristo.

SPOILERS BELOW

(view spoiler)[
Reading through some comments about this book earlier, I was unsure about everyone's ideas that Dantes's 'punishments' were too severe, or the unjust horrors of the innocent people being hurt. And then I got to the part in which Edward was killed, and however annoying and spoilt and brattish he was portrayed to be, this was painful to read.

However, there is a flip side. Madame de Villefort was probably going to hatch her poisoning plan anyway, and would have found out on her own how to do it. This would mean that instead of the innocent Edward dying, it would have been the innocent (and much nicer!) Valentine dying instead. And who knows what Edward de Villefort would have grown up to be - he definitely wasn't the sweetest child!

I think you could talk about the 'what ifs' of fate forever with this novel. I think I enjoyed this so much on the back of the fact that I still felt pain and pity for Dantes even when he was concocting his cruelest deeds. I think he went from a physical prison to a mental prison, built up out of his anger and suffering.
(hide spoiler)]

[Kirsten]

I just reached the halfway mark. Is anyone else still working on this one? There are parts of it I absolutely love separated by long stretches that feel like work.

[Kassandra]

Kirsten, I'm slowly working on it still. I'm really not enjoying it so I've made it a goal to finish it this year!

[Kirsten]

Kassandra wrote: "Kirsten, I'm slowly working on it still. I'm really not enjoying it so I've made it a goal to finish it this year!"
Hi Kassandra! I just finished, and have to say the last quarter went a lot more quickly than the beginning. I'm so glad I didn't give up on it - it started to feel like a monkey on my back :-)

[Faye, The Dickens Junkie]

That's awesome, Kirsten!

[Kirsten]

Faye wrote: "That's awesome, Kirsten!"
Thanks Faye!

[Kassandra]

Kirsten - thanks for getting back to me on what you thought about it. I'm really glad that you stuck with it and ended up enjoying it. I haven't gotten back to it in a long time but I think I may give it another go. You've inspired me!

[Josh]

Best book ever for revenge fans. I remember reading this over lunch daily taking in all the detail and itching to see how all the threads of the characters' lives would weave together, and they oh-so do come together in very satisfying and I daresay jaw-dropping ways.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...