Dumas Alexander, The Count of Monte Cristo, Informal Buddy Read, starts 20 June 2024 (previous read was 2018)

[Melindam]

I renember reading it for the first time. It found it to be a real adventure story: full of intrigue and excitement and at the same time easy to read. So despite the length I finished it in record time.

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Melindam wrote: "I renember reading it for the first time. It found it to be a real adventure story: full of intrigue and excitement and at the same time easy to read. So despite the length I finished it in record ..."

I'm glad to hear that!

[Eldarwen]

I'll be reading this alongside other books as well and most likely won't be lugging it around with me, even if the French version is split into two, which will make it a little easier to handle.

But I don't think I'll be able to commit to 100 pages a day. On weekdays, 100 is a stretch since I'm not planning on carrying this around with me. End-goal: finish by the end of TT.

[Caroline]

Hi guys, I was thinking about re-reading The count of Monte Cristo for a while now! Can I join your buddy read ?

I downloaded the audio version to listen while driving to work!.. too lazy to go through the actual heavy book :P

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Of course Caroline. The more the merrier!
I have the audio and the kindle... I travel light 😎

[Caroline]

Greeattt !! Haven't read this book since high school, I bet I'll don't remember half of it until I read it !

[Jammin Jenny]

At ~50 pages per day I could get through my version in about a month. Since this is an informal read. I guess I'll shoot for that. If I read more than that, I''ll just get done sooner.

[Alison]

I was thinkin around 50 pages a day too although it may end up being higher on the weekend and less during the week as I'm going to be reading other books at the same time.

[Eldarwen]

Turns out the copy I found secondhand with my mum isn't the entire copy. In typical French fashion for huge books, they divided it up into several parts and she only has 2 out of most likely 5 parts.

So I went ahead and ordered a complete edition - in 2 parts. So I'm going to read 2 fat books instead of 1 huge doorstop. Should be easier to read though and not quite so heavy ;-)

Besides, the editions are pretty with movie covers: and the second one isn't on Goodreads in French (found the Albanian edition with the same cover), though the ISBN exists, under a different cover... typical.

[Vicki]

I have always wanted to read The Count of Monte Cristo but never really had the time. I retired last May (2017) from my teaching career, so I (theoretically) have more time now to read. But with a book as daunting as this one, a buddy read is the way to go for me, so I am in!

Team Hermione Granger :)

[Stacie]

Here I am because this is where the cool kids are.

[kat (wanderfulbooks)]

Welcome to the dark side Stacie, as E would probably say!

[Eldarwen]

Peer pressure at its best! ;-)

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Well lucky you discovered that now E before wondering why the story didn’t seem to make sense lol

Welcome Vicki and Stacie!

I’m starting but very very slowly. Finishing the current BOM at the same time

[Rosina]

count me in as well...team holder of lockhart

[Alison]

I started at the weekend but have only really read the first few chapters. Thankfully it's not too hard going. One thing i have noticed is that it's a bit jumpy. Did someone say or did i read it'd been published in small parts kinda like Sherlock Holmes?

[Eldarwen]

I'm not sure if it was published in small parts like Sherlock Holmes was, but the French publishers at the time cut down huge volumes into pieces and published smaller, handier volumes rather than a fat doorstop.

I actually have no idea how Monte Cristo was written, if in parts or as a whole manuscript.

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Found it ;)

The Count of Monte Cristo was originally published in the Journal des Débats in eighteen parts. Serialization ran from August 28, 1844 to January 15, 1846.
The first edition in book form was published in Paris by Pétion in 18 volumes with the first two issued in 1844 and the remaining sixteen in 1845.

[Eldarwen]

Ahhh, cool! I guess it makes sense then if it seems a little jumpy.

Thanks, Karen :-)

[Eldarwen]

So my beautiful movie editions don't exist in print anymore :-(( I was NOT a happy camper when I found that out at the bookstore. Bloody editors switched editions but not ISBN numbers. I hate it when they do that.

Anyway, I'm at work and have a different book in my bag, which I'm going to read throughout the day - and if I get really sucked into it, I'll be binging it tonight as well when I get home - but I might read a chapter or so of Monte Cristo tonight once I'm home.

Otherwise I'll catch up tomorrow.

[Melindam]

Will also join this very extinguished group of reading buddies from tomorrow on. :)

[Jammin Jenny]

Thanks Karen! It makes sense now why I felt I was kind of jumping around.

[Tahmina]

Are we reading a certain amount daily/weekly?

[SandyL]

Karen ⊰✿ wrote: "Found it ;)

The Count of Monte Cristo was originally published in the Journal des Débats in eighteen parts. Serialization ran from August 28, 1844 to January 15, 1846.
The first edition in book f..."

So I guess we can't really get mad at those authors who break their books into little parts with cliffhangers, huh? The precedent was set hundreds of years ago!

[Eldarwen]

I skipped the introduction in the book.. It started too much like an essay that was going to reveal a lot of the story, which I didn't want to happen.

There's also a time line of Dumas' life and one of the main events of the novel - which will come in handy to go back to at some point, I'm sure.

[Alison]

I started reading the intro then decided it wasn't really that relevant and there was more than enough to be reading. Did find it interesting how it's been kind of looked down on. Classed as genre fiction rather than literary and therefore not as worthy.

To be honest that just makes me want to read it more.

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Chapters 1-3

I know this is very early in the book, but I thought I'd write down my initial impressions.

It feels a little bit shakespearean to me. With Danglers who is "struggling with the demon on hatred" towards Dantes.
Mercedes who has a cousin who loves her and so will probably try and white-ant Dantes.
And then the neighbour Caderousse who seems to be just for fun wanting to pull the strings of Danglers and Fernand against Dantes.
Also the unnamed narrator directly talking "to the reader" you don't see much anymore. I guess that is part of it's history as an episodic publication.

So far I'm not finding the writing style difficult, and it reads easily. Slightly frightening how many pages there are to go, though. LOL

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

SandyL wrote: "So I guess we can't really get mad at those authors who break their books into little parts with cliffhangers, huh? The precedent was set hundreds of years ago! ..."

haha
indeed

[SandyL]

Karen ⊰✿ wrote: "Chapters 1-3

I know this is very early in the book, but I thought I'd write down my initial impressions.

It feels a little bit shakespearean to me. With Danglers who is "struggling with the demon..."

I'm enjoying this book so far - I've been listening to the audio which helps me since I don't speak or read French and it helps with the pronunciation😊.

I like the parts where the narrator talks to us - it kind-of breaks up the story a bit and directs you where to pay attention. I can't believe how manipulative Danglars is!!

[SandyL]

Oh, and I can't figure out what Caderousse's motivation is in all this - is he just a bored old man?

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Yes possibly bored! 😬
I thought he was just doing it for his own bit of fun. Kind of like wanting Dante’s father to repay his debt as soon as Dante left before - leaving his father with almost nothing. It’s like he gets pleasure from the discomfort of others - and maybe he has nothing to do otherwise so this is his form of entertainment!

[Caroline]

I don't know either.. What could be his motivation, I see only jealousy of Dante's success and his beautiful fiancé... Maybe also just being part of a plot against someone and feeling like a real villain !!

My other thought about the books (I'm at chapter 18)... (view spoiler)[ I was so frustrated in the beginning of the book when Dante was arrested. The book builds this character as a very good man, who is willing to do anything to help his father, his fiance and even Mr Morrel. Even when he is first in prison, he cannot see how the people he knew could have plotted against him. It is the Abbé who must point it to him and develop all the scheme that was use to put him in prison.

I also couldn't see why Villefort would go tu such lengths to help his father since he is not close to him?? Was it because it could be bad for his career ?? (hide spoiler)]

[Jammin Jenny]

I'm listening too - going to listen to 4 chapters per night.

My thoughts on Chapters 1-4:

Ch 1: (view spoiler)[Why doesn't Donglar (sp?) want Dante's to be captain? He only assumed the role of captain because he was captain's mate. He stopped at Elba and met with Napoleon, based on the prior captain's request. (hide spoiler)]
Ch 2: (view spoiler)[His father thinks he should have dined with the owner, but he also says he should meet with Mercedes soon because she could have a lot of suitors. Why is Donglar following him around?? What is his problem?? (hide spoiler)]
Ch 3: (view spoiler)[Mercedes is talking to Fernon? who is trying to convince her to marry him. I wonder if he is going to try and thwart Edmon Dantes ... Donglar and Quartoz (sp?) Dante's father see Fernon running away and call to him - why again is Donglar so involved?? He's so jealous... (hide spoiler)]
Ch 4: (view spoiler)[Donglar is now trying to get Fernon to mess up Dantes' happiness... he is setting him up now (hide spoiler)]

What is Donglar's problem? He's so jealous of Dantes and his happiness.

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

That's kind of what we've been debating Jenny with Caderousse.
With Dangler I think it is purely because he wants to be captain and thinks that Dante is too young. It may become clearer as we go on?

[Jammin Jenny]

I hope - I really don't like him...

[Eldarwen]

Karen ⊰✿ wrote: "That's kind of what we've been debating Jenny with Caderousse.
With Dangler I think it is purely because he wants to be captain and thinks that Dante is too young. It may become clearer as we go on?"

He's a greedy ass, basically ;-) Or well, that is what he comes across. Don't think he really wants to become captain himself since he is an accountant, but money is definitely a strong motivator for him.

And I think, just like Caderousse, he gets a sense of satisfaction out of manipulating others and takes joy in others' discomfort and in going behind people's backs.

That first chapter painted a very nasty picture of him.

[Eldarwen]

I agree though that the story flows nicely and that it reads fairly well for such a huge book.

I'm only two chapters in because I started late last night and then promptly fell asleep again before properly opening the book haha.

May not get much read tonight but I'll try to read at least one chapter. I'll play catch-up over the weekend if necessary.

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

haha. Hopefully it wasn't the book putting you to sleep ;)

All good. I'm reading slowly so you will no doubt overtake me very soon!!

[Eldarwen]

Karen ⊰✿ wrote: "haha. Hopefully it wasn't the book putting you to sleep ;)

All good. I'm reading slowly so you will no doubt overtake me very soon!!"

Haha no, no worries. It was just about 9.30 before I picked it up, so.. it kind of figured haha. I wanted to read another chapter but decided to go to bed instead.

Nah, not necessarily! I was planning on reading this slow anyway with other books on the go. We'll just take the scenery route ;-)

[Melindam]

Caderousse, while a small fish altogether, comes off as a kind of evil (and bored) puppeteer who gets a kick out of messing up everyone's lives and then leans back enjoying the show.

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Melindam wrote: "Caderousse, while a small fish altogether comes off as a kind of evil (and bored) puppeteer who gets a kick out of messing up everyone's lives and then leans back enjoying the show."

great description!

[Melindam]

In my mind Dumas resembles quite strongly one of our most famous Hungarian writer's, Mór Jókai. He was born just 2 decades after Dumas and I think some of his work was strongly influenced by him. He also wrote romantic adventure and historical fiction and his novels were very popular among the elite of Victorian era England. He was often compared to Dickens in the 19th century British press. Apparently Queen Victoria herself admired his novels.

[Alison]

I'm a little further on (chapter 6) and I kind of get the feeling Caderousse is just looking for a little bit of entertainment at the expense of others. I think he wants to make himself look better by bringing them down.

It actually seems to me like it's jealousy driving all three of them Danglers that Dante is so popular and he's not, Caderousse that Dantes is richer and more successful and Ferand that he's stolen Mercedes.

With the exception of Danglers I wouldn't say they are particularly evil villains.

[Caroline]

Melindam wrote: "In my mind Dumas resembles quite strongly one of our most famous Hungarian writer's, Mór Jókai. He was born just 2 decades after Dumas and I think some of his work was strongly infl..."

Is his work translated in english (I do not read in Hungarian lol) ?? And does he write about Hungary?

I love a good historical novel :)

[Jammin Jenny]

I watched The Great American Read on PBS last night and they said that Alexander Dumas had a "ghostwriter" or at least someone else who collaborated on this book. Did any of you know that?

[Eldarwen]

Nope!

[Melindam]

Caroline, yes, apparently quite a few of his books got translated into EN. Maybe the most famous is the "The Man with the golden touch". Most of his books take place in the territory of the former Austrian-Hungarian Monarchy

[Caroline]

Melindam wrote: "Caroline, yes, apparently quite a few of his books got translated into EN. Maybe the most famous is the "The Man with the golden touch". Most of his books take place in the territory of the former ..."

Thank you Melinda !! :) I will read this one! Last year I went in Austria and Hungary to visit, really enjoyed these 2 places, so I will enjoy remembering these places !!

[Marie (UK)]

Team cedric Diggory
I am going to start today - well i have read the chronology and part of the Intro I have a very pretty hardback edition


I intend to read about 100 pages a day and read other things besides

[Eldarwen]

That is indeed a pretty edition! :-)