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2021 The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
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Book Nerd, Purple Book Horse
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Jan 20, 2021 04:52PM
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I love this book, but it is so very long and it hasn't been long enough since I read it last. I think it was 2019.
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I am about to finish this book but the more I read the more I'm impressed about Dumas himself, he is well informed about other cultures (Arabic in particular) and I really liked how he portrayed these cultures throughout the story
Book Nerd wrote: "It's always amusing when they're talking about their "toilet". I'm aware that basically means your clothes and grooming but still sounds weird."Yes--toilet was originally a euphemism.
And don't forget if you come to the UK and need the toilet, it's best to ask for it instead of using some odd name like bathroom (are you wanting a bath?) or restroom (rest? you want to rest?) yes, just ask for the toilet.
I liked The Three Musketeers; I want to continue that series.I eventually had to look up a character diagram for Monte Cristo to keep them all straight, but it did have spoilers in it.
Jazzy wrote: "And don't forget if you come to the UK and need the toilet, it's best to ask for it instead of using some odd name like bathroom (are you wanting a bath?) or restroom (rest? you want to rest?) yes,..."Good to know! In Canada we say bathroom or washroom, but are familiar enough with Americans to know restroom (in fact, some stores switched to restroom signs for American tourists), but these are just the normal terms--to us the toilet is the actual thing you sit on and not the room (I never even heard of the term commode growing up).
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The term restroom derived from the fact that in early 1900s through to the middle of the century up-scale restaurants, theatres and performing facilities would often have comfortable chairs or sofas located within or in a room directly adjacent to the actual toilet and sink facilities for patrons to relax away from the event.
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The term restroom derived from the fact that in early 1900s through to the middle of the century up-scale restaurants, theatres and performing facilities would often have comfortable chairs or..."
That's interesting. When I was a really little kid I remember my mom taking me into a women's bathroom with a couch in it lol. I think it was in some department store.
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I finished reading and I really loved it!Will definitely read more books by Dumas
I’m close to 200 pages in. Is there ever any group discussion anywhere?
Well there are great blazing (often neon) signs saying TOILETS so people know where to go, you won't be able to miss them a lot of times :)I first read The Count of Monte Cristo when i was about 8, i bought a second hand copy and it was mine all mine. I was also reading The Arabian Nights at the same time.
Fast forward to a couple years ago when I got some Barnes and Nobles classics and read The Arabian Nights followed directly by The Count of Monte Cristo.
I think Dumas must have been fascinated by those tales. And I would recommend that everyone reads both books so they can see how the stories intertwine.
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I recommend writing a list of the characters as you read because there are a lots of them and you might get confused
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Piyangie wrote: "I've read about a quarter. It is getting very exciting. And I also want to read Arabian Nights. Perhaps it could be a group read for next year? :) I'm not sure whether we've read it here."I would recommend reading them alongside each other perhaps? You can probably find one online, and if you want to buy a beautiful edition I recommend the barnes and nobles leather bound classic (i got mine on ebay).
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Well, it was like exactly like death. A long, slow, torturous death. No one knew where he was, he had no means of communicating with anyone on the outside. He was put away to rot and moulder. He couldn't even feel the sunshine on his skin. Lockdown is nothing compared to his misfortune. And the years rolled by. He was in that bloody prison for FOURTEEN YEARS.During that time he suffered the death of his youth.
It was really maddening to read that part, I honestly couldn't fathom how it was for him to be locked out in such unjust way. We see how this experience shaped him throughout the rest of the book which was really amazing
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Ah, Jazzy, you said it so well. Edmond suffered the death of his youth.
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He painted exciting portraits of exotic places for us in this tale.
What did you think about his descriptive writing?
Book Nerd wrote: "Lesle wrote: "FYI:The term restroom derived from the fact that in early 1900s through to the middle of the century up-scale restaurants, theatres and performing facilities would often have comfort..."
Yes, those were common in some large department stores. They used to have them in the local Macy's women's rooms before it closed. It was an adjoining room (but no doors between). I have a memory of something like this in Vancouver, BC as well.
They also have two like this in the Jordan Hall building of the New England Consevatory, but instead of a couch there are comfortable chairs. Downstairs it's in a round room that is in between the bathroom and a door to the area right in front of the orchestra section of the actual Jordan Hall (there are two other halls in this building plus many other rooms), but they keep it locked when going out of the bathroom area. The upstairs one is more boring.
That explains a lot, Lesle. When I started reading I wasn't expecting the story would kick off immediately, the fact that it was fast-paced made it easier to read.
Did (or is) anyone else have issues when the point of view changed from Dante to Franz? I don't know why but it's slowing me dooowwwwwwn.
Andy wrote: "Did (or is) anyone else have issues when the point of view changed from Dante to Franz? I don't know why but it's slowing me dooowwwwwwn."Yes that was a bit confusing ( there are other similar chapters ) but keep reading and everything will start to connect and make sense.
I'm a little late to the party, but I've started now too :)
Is it your first time? If so I envy you!
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No problem Georgina! Gracefully showing up is ok with us! Enjoy!
It is the first time I’m reading it. I’ll admit, I was a little daunted by the size but the reviews and comments have been really good so far which is always encouraging. I’m four chapters in and enjoying it.
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Seems almost like a philosopher's stone to me.
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Thoughts on this quote?
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I think Dumas must have been fascinated by those tales. And I would recommend that everyone reads both books so they can see how the stories intertwine."
That's interesting. I've never read The Arabian Nights.
I'd really like to know about the missing years of his life.
Lesle wrote: "“Wait and hope”
Thoughts on this quote?"
Pretty pointless if you ask me.
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“There is neither happiness nor misery in the world; there is only the comparison of one state with another, nothing more. He who has felt the deepest grief is best able to experience supreme happiness. We must have felt what it is to die, Morrel, that we may appreciate the enjoyments of life.
" Live, then, and be happy, beloved children of my heart, and never forget, that until the day God will deign to reveal the future to man, all human wisdom is contained in these two words, 'Wait and Hope.”
― Alexandre Dumas
Lesle wrote: "Here is the complete quote:“There is neither happiness nor misery in the world; there is only the comparison of one state with another, nothing more. He who has felt the deepest grief is best abl..."
It's a pithy quote, and even if I don't quite agree with it, it's not totally wrong, either.
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I read it as: You do not understand true happiness in life without severe loss and grief.
Waiting on God to decide when to give us a clear picture of the future.
Wait and Hope: Wait on God and Hope for true happiness.
It might have to do with my loss of both my parents within a year and a half and the difficulty I still experience in finding peace for me to think this way.
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I read it as: You do not understand true happiness in life without severe loss and grief.
Waiting on God to decide when to give us a clear picture..."
Love your interpretation on "Wait and Hope", Lesle. I can relate to it, too.
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I'm still at it. I'm a bit behind at 50% but I'm still loving it. Going to be playing some catch up this weekend. How far are you Piyangie?
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I’m still working my way through too, I’m at just over 50%. This one’s definitely a marathon and not a sprint. :)
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I must have read an abridged version in high school. No wat we read 1200 pages.
Book Nerd wrote: "Yeah I had a week off and I finished.I must have read an abridged version in high school. No wat we read 1200 pages."
I read what must have been an abridged version when I was a teen, and so was surprised at how long it was the second time I read it when it was unabridged.
Never too Late to Read Classics
Books mentioned in this topic
The Black Tulip (other topics)The Count of Monte Cristo (other topics)
