The Count of Monte Cristo - SPOILERS

[Paula W]

A couple of things:

A.) Edmond Dantes is my biggest fictional crush. And
2.) When I read this book, I wanted to time travel back to 1815 France and burn down the entire country because they did my boy wrong.

Look at my profile and you will see I am one of the biggest Harry Potter fans in the world. I have won the state-wide Harry Potter trivia in my state twice (And again last week! Wooooo I got a $50 gift card for the bookstore!) But The Count edged out HP as my favorite book ever.

I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did

[aPriL does feral sometimes]

I really really loved this novel! It is fantastic. It's awful how long he suffered.

[Renee]

It has everything I like. it has beautiful writing, adventure, romance and chars I like to read about. Looking forward to comments

[Luiz Fernando]

So, I just finished reading Part One - The Castle of If. I must admit it took me a while to get into this book. During the first chapters, I judged the characters's thoughts and intentions, or the way those thoughts were presented to us, to be quite simple (for instance, Danglar's monologues). Like if their personalities were too much obvious. That's why at the beginning I was afraid I wouldn't like this book.
But then Abate Faria appeared and everything changed. I just loved that character! So mysterious and erudite. I was really sorry for the horrible way he died.
By the time Edmond reached the island of Montecristo, I was completely keen on the book. For now on, I know absolutely nothing of what is to happen (even though I had never read the book, I knew it was about a guy who escapes prison and looks for a treasure). I'm very curious, and I'm surely going to read the other parts way faster than I read part one. But I look at the hundreds of pages left to finish the book and I can't imagine what story is yet to tell that will take so long.

[Luiz Fernando]

I've enjoyed part two way more than part one. Here we follow other character's points of view, such as Franz d’Epinay, who ends up visiting the island of Monte Cristo and meet Sinbad the Sailor, who we know is Edmund Dantès. He transformed the secret grotto into a luxurious house! There's a weird part were Edmund offers Franz hashish... and then there's that mute servant. Looks like Edmund is not that good innocent guy anymore.

I liked all the chapters that take place in Italy a lot. Franz is there to celebrate Carnival with his friend Albert de Morcerf (who happens to be Fernand and Mercede's son). They end up hanging out with The Count of Monte Cristo, who helps them by inviting them to use his carriage, among other things. He's most interested in Albert, I think this man will eventually help him in his vengeance without realising. The story of Luigi Vampa and the
kidnapping is also very interesting.

Part two ends three months later in Albert's house, who is waiting for the visit of The Count of Montecristo (he finally wants to be introduced into Parisian society). I'm very curious as for what is to come and can't put the book down.

Are you guys enjoying this reading?

[Betsy]

I like the idea of speaking about the book in Parts so we don't need to be completed spoilered haha!
I am LOVING it. At the moment. Completely unexpectedly loving it. But it's a bit like a rollercoaster - some moments I find myself getting a bit bored, and then it picks up speed again. But then I realised that it is also something to do with my ereader SKIPPING pages. Ergh.
So I am rereading the end of Part One, with his escape from the island prison, but I want to agree with Luiz about when the story started to get good: the introduction of Abate Faria! I wanted to know where it would go, and how they could help each other.

[Paula W]

I am so thrilled that you guys are enjoying it! Just a note: the middle section almost tries to get a bit tedious and slow. But lots of important things happen there and it is actually setting up the amazing things that happen in the third part, so don’t doze off! In the end, you’ll realize the importance of all that stuff that you initially want to think of as just filler.

[Luiz Fernando]

Paula W wrote: "I am so thrilled that you guys are enjoying it! Just a note: the middle section almost tries to get a bit tedious and slow. But lots of important things happen there and it is actually setting up t..."

The middle section is turning out to be the part I'm enjoying the most! Last night I went to sleep really late, because I had to finish the chapter I was reading... and the next three chapters too. The Count of Monte Cristo invited some people for a dinner, among them are the Danglars, the Villefort and the recently arrived Cavalcanti. What a chapter that was! And a bit forward we finally get the explanation of what happened that night on the Auteuil's garden. The plot twists on this book are amazing.

[Luiz Fernando]

I'm almost near the end now. I can only say that I'm happy to agree with something a character said in one of my favourite books:

“You can come share a tasty meal of bread, raisins, and fresh cheese. With that, and The Count of Monte Cristo, anyone can live to a hundred.”
― Carlos Ruiz Zafón, The Shadow of the Wind"

[aPriL does feral sometimes]

Luiz Fernando wrote: "I'm almost near the end now. I can only say that I'm happy to agree with something a character said in one of my favourite books:

“You can come share a tasty meal of bread, raisins, and fresh chee..."

Agree!

: D

[Maddiy]

I just finished part one!

I know nothing about this book that wasn't in the goodreads summary, so every page is something new for me. I really like it so far and I'm not bored in the slightest. I think it helps that I'm listening to it though, so I'm more invested in even the more stagnant scenes.

[Paula W]

Some of you might be close to finishing the book. Here’s my review from a few years ago.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Renee]

I enjoy the rollercoaster pace of the book. I get lulled into relaxing and then wham excitement. I think I am developing a char crush on Dartagne. LOL

[Betsy]

I agree with Renee, it's such a great rollercoaster of a book. I keep telling myself, "All right, just another chapter" for literally CHAPTERS and chapters!

[Luiz Fernando]

I finished reading the book this morning. Good God, what a reading this was. Here are my impressions about the ending:

Since Edmond arrived to Paris, I've been waiting to see how he would revenge on the three people that destroyed his life. After reading the three revenges, I questioned myself: who is the most guilty person here? Danglars, the one who wrote the letter? Ferdinad, the one who posted it? Or Villefort, the one who represents justice and could have stopped everything but didn't?

I wanted Danglars to have the worst fate. I loved to hate this character. His destiny was pretty bad, but... Edmond forgave him at the end. I was so surprised. I thought he should starve to death. But he ended up with 50.000 francs, his freedom and mental sanity. Not bad for a villain, right? He won't ever recover his family but he didn't care about them anyway. (Also, congratulations, Luigi Vampa, for your acquisition of five million francs).

Villefort was the one who had the worst fate in my opinion. I know he was very guilty, but when I read his final chapter I wondered if Edmond went too far... He destroyed his family. Lady Villefort died, and took her son with her (another character who was very guilty for everything she did to Valentina, but I couldn't avoid feeling sorry for her when she said her last line).

Ferdinand suicided after realizing his reputation was over. But the most affected people here were Alberto and Mercedes. When Edmond and Mercedes talked for the last time, for I moment I thought they could end up together. But instead, I have the impression Edmond accuses her of infidelity... Those characters changed too much, they were not the same as at the beginning.

Let's not forget about Caderousse, who didn't act against Edmond directly but was convinced by Danglars not to say anything about the letter. He had his opportunity of redemption when Abate Bussoni gave him a diamond, but took the worst path possible. It was kind of exciting when, after he was murdered, The Count of Monte Cristo yelled "One!".

My favourite part of the book was surely all the time the Count spent on Paris, building his revenge, conspiring, controlling people like if they were chess pieces. Muahaha!

I really enjoyed this reading, and I'm giving this book a solid five stars, and adding it to my Favourite's shelf. It got better and better each chapter. It was difficult to put it down, and I found myself overthinking about the character's culpability whenever I wasn't reading. I loved Alexandre Duma's writing, and I'm looking forward to reading The Three Musketeers (has anyone read it? Is it also good?)

[Paula W]

Luiz Fernando wrote: "I finished reading the book this morning. Good God, what a reading this was. Here are my impressions about the ending:

Since Edmond arrived to Paris, I've been waiting to see how he would revenge ..."

The Three Musketeers was great, too. It’s more of a swashbuckling romance, but it is highly entertaining!

[Betsy]

It's strange but I've got to a lull in the book. We've just been introduced to Alberto and I find all the descriptions and random story-time-tellings about Sinbad the sailor tiresome... I need some motivation to carry on...

[Paula W]

Betsy wrote: "It's strange but I've got to a lull in the book. We've just been introduced to Alberto and I find all the descriptions and random story-time-tellings about Sinbad the sailor tiresome... I need some..."

Hang in there! This is the part where I think it gets that way for some people. Just know that everything in this part is important, everything has some sort of sinister back plot. Everything you think is nothing turns out to be a really big something. It’s all set- up for the most intricate revenge plot you can imagine.

So, perhaps try to think about where these side plots might be leading and where they will come in handy in the future?

[Betsy]

Thanks Paula, it makes sense what you are saying, I just find it quite a demanding read, to keep all the subplots alive in my mind and remembering the details.

[Tresdivas]

I'm not finished, but I had the hardest time getting. into the book. I didn't find it interesting until chapter 9!
It definitely gets better.

[Kristin]

For a book written in the 1840’s that was pretty darn good. Many times I find that older classics don’t age well, but The Count of Monte Cristo was an exception. It’s easy to understand and beautifully written. I found it did lag a bit in the middle, but was worth it to see all of Dantes’ revenge pieces fall into place.

[Betsy]

We're into our last month of reading the book officially together.

Kristin, I also think for its time it's such an engaging book and the themes resonate to this day. I'm still struggling but I think that reflects more where I am in my reading life right now - in a little bit of a slog - and so I keep pursuing.

Dantes claims that "there is neither happiness nor misery in the world; there is only the comparison of one state with another, nothing more.” What does that statement mean—in the context of the story and in real life—and how does it reverberate throughout the novel?

[Kim]

Frankly, I'm about a third of the way in, and am lost. 🤣 I've listened to the audiobook and I think that might be part of it, but I do not remember who is who and who the protagonist is anymore. I might need a study guide to remind me, lol.

I mean, it is good, I would like it more if I knew what was going on, lol.

[Tia]

I am also still not done. Listening to an audiobook of the abridged version. Occasionally checking who characters are. NONETHELESS I find this story absolutely fascinating.

[Kyra]

I was the same way with the audiobook the first time I read it and I was following along with an abridged book. I was able to enjoy it more once I was reading the entire book, rather than abridged. Also, this is one of those times that I liked both the book and the movie. You guys might want to check it out.

[Monica]

Rereading it (first time was twenty years ago). Just got to the part where he meets the old man in prison. I was so glad when he found someone to talk to and began to have hope again (I'm enjoying it as much as the first time I read it).

[Betsy]

That was the moment that everything turned around and became interesting for me, Monica. Hope really is a blessing.

[[deleted user]]

Just finished this. It took me so long I missed discussing it with you all.

I enjoyed it but it’s not one of my fave classics.

I found the full movie filmed in 1974 free to watch on YouTube. I’ve just started it & there are a few differences already. Mercedes for one has a strong English accent.

I think it’s a bit disappointing Edmond didn’t end up with Mercedes in the end. I felt very sorry for her - marriage at that time was a must for girls of a certain age. I liked the character of Haidee but she was very young & his foster daughter so for them to become a couple was creepy.

[Monica]

I'm now near the end of book one and the stories about the girls who were tortured and killed were hard for me to read (I didn't remember this novel included those kinds of things; it's been a long time since I first read this book, after all). So now I'm not as excited about this book as I was a few weeks ago, when I started rereading. There are certain things I try to avoid reading about, because the reality of this world is sometimes too much to bear. On the other hand, I think Dumas was denouncing that type of behavior against women (or at least I hope he was), so I'll keep on reading to see what else I don't remember about this book.

[Paula W]

Monica wrote: "I'm now near the end of book one and the stories about the girls who were tortured and killed were hard for me to read (I didn't remember this novel included those kinds of things; it's been a long..."

Oh, he totally was. That’s why he made it so hard to read. Dumas usually has some pretty kick ass feminist characters in his books (both men and women) which is interesting for that time period.

[Betsy]

I didn't get to the point - still hoping to in the future - but it's good to hear that Paula.

[Kirsten]

Luiz Fernando wrote: "I'm almost near the end now. I can only say that I'm happy to agree with something a character said in one of my favourite books:

“You can come share a tasty meal of bread, raisins, and fresh chee..."

In one of Boris Akunin's Erast Fandorin novels, an anarchist/revolutionary character is reading the book while making bombs.