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

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

Synopsis
In 1815 Edmond Dantès, a young and successful merchant sailor who has just recently been granted the succession of his erstwhile captain Leclère, returns to Marseille to marry his Catalan fiancée Mercédès. Thrown in prison for a crime he has not committed, Edmond Dantès is confined to the grim fortress of If. There he learns of a great hoard of treasure hidden on the Isle of Monte Cristo and he becomes determined not only to escape, but also to unearth the treasure and use it to plot the destruction of the three men responsible for his incarceration.

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

      ~ Buddy Style Reads ~
    Three Ways to Enjoy a Book!

At NRBC we use three styles of buddy reads. These will be indicated in the thread title as “Buddy Read”, “Relaxed Buddy Read” or “Informal Buddy Read”.

A “Buddy Read” has a discussion leader and a reading date is set to start the book. A reading schedule is posted prior to the start date and discussion questions are posted each day regarding that section of the book. More information about these types of reads is below. An example is here, showing a reading schedule here.

A “Relaxed Buddy Read” is similar to our usual “buddy reads” except there are less questions and break points. For example, a book may be split into three sections and those reading the book should pause at the end of the section to answer some discussion questions, make comments, or ask their own questions to other readers. An example is here.

An “Informal Buddy Read” doesn’t have a discussion leader and participants are asked to consider some generic questions when making comments about the book. An example is here.

A “Read and Watch Buddy Read” may be set up as any of the above, but we will also watch the movie or T.V. series - or even go to a play! - and make comparisons, discussing what has been left out or changed as well as the actors and actresses. There is a long debate of what one should do first: read the books or watch the movie? We usually read first, but it isn’t essential. Also, if you would like to join in, but don’t want to watch the movie, show, or play, but only read the books, that is fine, too. An example is here.


MORE UNDER SPOILER
(view spoiler)[

“Buddy Reads” (“BRs”) include:

• A reading schedule which can range from 50, 75, to 100 or so pages a day.

• Discussion questions posted daily by moderators and occasionally group members
   who help one of us out. If you want to be a Discussion Leader, let us know.

• If the book is really long, we'll plan a break day.

• Members do NOT have to answer every question, they are meant to stimulate
   conversations about the books AND allow us to glance back upon them when the
   sequels come out. This helps us to remember what exactly happened in the previous
   book.

• We find the buddy style of reading to be more fun than just posting one or two
   sentences about a book. We feel this is what distinguishes us as being a ‘book club’
   rather than just another GoodReads ‘group.’

• If you can NOT start the book on time, feel free to join in at a later date. They are
   set up to make it easy to do so.

• Moderators are people too, so occasionally we get sick, have to work late at our real
   jobs, or have something that keeps us from writing the questions. Please forgive us;
   we're only human and we don't get any compensation for what we do--not even
   free books!

• Discussions and questions are set up to make you think, analyze, and see things you,
   or even we, may have missed. Feel free to add your own thoughts at any time, if you
   think we've missed something.

• If you've read the book, feel free to let us know what you thought about the book.
   You can do so at the end of the buddy read, or, if you can't wait, add spoiler tags
   before you comment like:

   **************BEWARE! SPOILER FOR THE END OF THE BOOK**************

   Or insert a (view spoiler)[spoiler (hide spoiler)]. If you do NOT know how to do so, just check out our
   GoodReads 101 explanation on how to Insert a Spoiler.

• If you are looking for a reading buddy, post an inquiry in our Buddy read requests thread. Use that thread, if you want to have a repeat read of a BOM
    or buddy read, too.

• Have fun! We always do when more than one person joins in. And we look less silly
   if someone else discusses a book with us. (hide spoiler)]

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

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[kat (wanderfulbooks)]

Do we have a tentative date? :)

[Eldarwen]

Well then!

I'll go find my book and dust it off. And then I'll also add it to my TBR Closet challenge because it IS a book I've been meaning to read for years but only put onto my GR shelf in recent years.

And most importantly: Slytherin reporting for duty for team Severus Snape - Tower Teams VI.

If you ever want to see a GOOD movie adaptation of this, I can only recommend the French version - in 4 movie length parts with Gérard Depardieu. Really worth it. (The American "adaptation" is crap, sorry.)

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Eek! This is scary
*deep breaths*

So I am going to read Lilac Girls on the 16th on audio. Should take me... maybe a week? So what if we start May 22nd? Then we can take our time with it through Tower Teams

Team Luna Lovegood reporting here *salute*!

I don't think I have ever seen any adaptations. I'm going in a bit blind

[Eldarwen]

It's an incredible story and now that we've decided to do this, I actually can't wait to get started!

Lots of intrigue, lots and lots of it! The main character is a genius when it comes to plotting :-)

May 22nd sounds good! And yes, we should definitely take our time with this one. Doorstop, helloooo.

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Cool! Have you read it before or are you familiar with it from the movies?

[kat (wanderfulbooks)]

I have 3 editions of this book (who says one is enough???). I'll pick the one which will get me more points haha!

I thought the American adaptation was okay. I'll try to look for one with English subtitles then and see what I missed.

[Eldarwen]

Karen ⊰✿ wrote: "Cool! Have you read it before or are you familiar with it from the movies?"

I only saw the movies, but never read the book. According to my mum, who watched the movies with me and who has read the book, they are very, very close - hence the 4 movie length parts haha.

[Eldarwen]

Kathleen wrote: "I have 3 editions of this book (who says one is enough???). I'll pick the one which will get me more points haha!"

Haha, way to go!
You can just leave one edition in your bag for on the go, one wherever you spend reading time and the third... you'll find a spot ;-)

[Melindam]

Team Cedric Diggory here
I meant to re-read this for ages, so here I am. :)
I saw 2 movie adaptations. 1 with Richard Chamberlain, the other with Jim Caviezel, but I thought both were MEH.

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Cool Kathleen!

Oh exciting then E to finally get to the book

Welcome Melindam!

I feel more confident about getting through this reading with all of you

[kat (wanderfulbooks)]

I have only seen the movie and the whole I'm going to rise up and get back at all you guys sounded so grand to me before... so yeah that's how I ended up with 3 editions. I'll finally get to read it! Hahaha.

[Melindam]

Talking about editions: can I read it in Hungarian and then still do the discussions with you in English (obviously)? :)

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Of course Melindam! I think E is reading in French so we will be very multi cultural :)

[Melindam]

Karen ⊰✿ wrote: "Of course Melindam! I think E is reading in French so we will be very multi cultural :)"
Sounds fun. :) Though I might consider the EN version as I have that on my kindle, while having to carry the 1300pages HU edition may be more taxing - there are too many things in my bag aready. :D

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Haha yes the physical book is not exactly portable ;)

[Cat]

Karen ⊰✿ wrote: "Haha yes the physical book is not exactly portable ;)"

I'm in a RL book club with (mostly) librarians from my former workplace. The horror on our faces when one of them (a librarian) cheerily produced HALF a book! She happily confessed to ripping books in half if they were too big to carry.

In her defence, they were generally one's she'd got from a charity shop, so weren't pristine. but still.... I think the rest of us still have shudders every so often. We've certainly got an unspoken pact never to speak of it again!

I thought about joining you, but I'll have to wait and see if it'll fit for an SRC summer task before committing...

[Eldarwen]

Half a book!! o.O

[Cat]

uh... to be clear, she ripped down the spine, not across the width!

She brought the 2nd half with her as she hadn't quite finished before our meeting.

but yeah.... [shudders]

[Cat]

also, her job is at least in part about looking after the collection of books!

[Melindam]

Just waiting for the look my mum's face when I tell her about this. She's a librarian....

[Jammin Jenny]

That is too funny. Just imagining how many of Stephen King's books would be torn in half.

I'm in for this read (I think) - scary though it is so big. I'm on Team Draco Malfoy.

[Sarah]

The horror! Book mutilation from a librarian! It does make for a funny story though. ;)

I'm in too (another from Team Cedric Diggory). It's one of those monster books that I never quite have the courage to pick up...

I have seen the French version with Depardieu, but it was several years ago and I have a very hazy recollection of the story. Lots of complicated revenge, I know that much, and I did enjoy watching it at the time.

[Marie (UK)]

Kathleen wrote: "I have 3 editions of this book (who says one is enough???). I'll pick the one which will get me more points haha!

I thought the American adaptation was okay. I'll try to look for one with English..."

according to another thread in GR the BEST edition is translated by Robin Buss
That is the one i am going for and has 1312 pages - Team Cedric Diggory

[Marie (UK)]

Cat wrote: "Karen ⊰✿ wrote: "Haha yes the physical book is not exactly portable ;)"

I'm in a RL book club with (mostly) librarians from my former workplace. The horror on our faces when one of them (a librari..."

believe me it will fit somewhere

[Melindam]

Wow, Team Cedric! For such a small team we do pick big books. :D

[Alison]

I'm very tempted to join you all for this (Team Gilderoy Lockhart). This is one of those books on my "maybe someday when I pluck up the courage" list.

I am thinking ripping it in half could be a good idea, it's probably less daunting looking as two 650 page books. I probably shouldn't do that with a library copy though :D

[Tahmina]

ooo I have always wanted to read this book. Do i have to be doing the Harry Potter challenge? or can anyone join?

[Melindam]

In Hungary the book came first out in 3, hardcover volumes, which is quite practical. But with the mass publishing now you have quite a few juggernaut, paperback editions as well.

[Michelle]

In for Team Draco! I can’t wait.

[Laura]

Tahmina wrote: "ooo I have always wanted to read this book. Do i have to be doing the Harry Potter challenge? or can anyone join?"

Anyone can join; Tahmina, you don't have to be a part of the Harry Potter challenge.

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Cat wrote: "uh... to be clear, she ripped down the spine, not across the width!

She brought the 2nd half with her as she hadn't quite finished before our meeting.

but yeah.... [shudders]"

OMG
get that woman a kindle. lol!

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Alison wrote: "I'm very tempted to join you all for this (Team Gilderoy Lockhart). This is one of those books on my "maybe someday when I pluck up the courage" list.

I am thinking ripping it in half could be a g..."

lol!

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Tahmina wrote: "ooo I have always wanted to read this book. Do i have to be doing the Harry Potter challenge? or can anyone join?"

No, anyone can join :) Welcome aboard!

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Melindam wrote: "In Hungary the book came first out in 3, hardcover volumes, which is quite practical. But with the mass publishing now you have quite a few juggernaut, paperback editions as well."

oh that is very practical!

A friend's mum just published her first book which is historical fiction (around 400AD England) and they published it in 4 volumes of only about 150 pages each. I thought that was really clever.

[Jammin Jenny]

That's how Stephen King originally published The Green Mile. No wonder he's a Grand Master author!

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

You're so right Jenny. He is one of a kind

[Alison]

Picked up a copy of this from the library this morn and OMG it's huge. A quick flick through also suggests the writing is really really small. I'm scared :/

[kat (wanderfulbooks)]

Alison wrote: "Picked up a copy of this from the library this morn and OMG it's huge. A quick flick through also suggests the writing is really really small. I'm scared :/"

*cue music* We're all in this together ;)

We can do this!

[Jammin Jenny]

I'm scared too! How many pages are you guys thinking of reading each day to slug through this classic book (which I'm sure is very good but I'm feeling a bit like that guy in greek literature that keeps trying to push the stone up the mountain but not getting anywhere)

[Alison]

Hahaha

I just read the introduction and apparently it's thought of as a children's book. I personally can't imagine a child reading this but if they can. I can (probably).

We're allowing a lot of time for this right???

[Alison]

As I have the physical copy (and wasn't planning on lugging it around with me I may be a little slow reading this.

[SandyL]

I'm in - I think I'll use the audiobook :-)

[Sarah]

I was thinking a chapter a day - I'll be here all year! (I have no idea how many chapters there are, haven't started yet, I'm just assuming it's about 200 or something ridiculous like that.)

No really, I'll have to go faster than that to finish in time for the points, but I'm going to read other things at the same time and just keep plugging away in the background.

[Jammin Jenny]

If we read ~100 pages/day we'll be done in about 14 days.

[Michelle]

I can commit to 100 pages a day, I think. I love this book - I read it years ago and I'm excited for a re-read.

I was considering the audio but my version is 53 hours, even at 1.3 speed.

[Melindam]

Sarah wrote: "I was thinking a chapter a day - I'll be here all year! (I have no idea how many chapters there are, haven't started yet, I'm just assuming it's about 200 or something ridiculous like that.)

No re..."

Same here, Sarah. :) I intend to read this alongside other books.

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

I’m the same - wil be reading alongside other things and taking my time. My only goal is to finish before the end of TT ;)