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The Count of Monte Cristo
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The Count of Monte Cristo
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Gaijinmama
Susan
Sandy
Cheryl
Pamela
Lisa Kay
Reserved.
Reserved.
Oh, thanks for setting this up, Pamela.
message 6:
by
Pamela(AllHoney), Fairy Godmother
(last edited Jan 03, 2012 12:02PM)
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rated it 2 stars
You are welcome ☺ Thanks for helping!
This is one of my all time favorites and I have re-read it many times over the years. I will enjoy following the discussion =)
Read the first 2 chapters....
That's about where I am, Pamela.
☺
Starting chapter 21 now.
Whoa. I better catch up.
I haven't listened or read anything more on this. Has anyone else?
well, I got to chapter 21 and have intentions of hitting it again after I finish my current book.
I haven't read any lately either but I plan on getting back into it soon. So far I am enjoying the story, it's just a bit wordy.
Back to reading this one. I'm on chapter 43 at the moment. I will confess, though, I have skimmed a bit. Sometimes some of those long conversations just go on and on and on.
Eep! You are a better woman than I am, Pamela. I still haven't gotten back to this one. Will try to listen to the audio today. Maybe. :)
Found a website that I can listen to the story while I work around the house. Its making the story go a lot faster for me.
message 19:
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Pamela(AllHoney), Fairy Godmother
(last edited Feb 24, 2012 05:52PM)
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rated it 2 stars
I thought I'd attempt a few questions on the first part of the book.To me there are 6 parts
Part I is the beginning Chapters 1 thru 7
Part II is when he is imprisoned Chapters 8 thru 20
Part III is inventing the Count Chapters 21 thru 35
Part IV is early preparations Chapters 36 thru 59
Part V is setting the stage Chapters 60 thru 82
Part VI is vengeance is mine Chapters 83 thru 119
Please let me know if this doesn't work for you. If you want if divided differently or whatever.
I will ask a few questions in a few regarding the first part of the story.
Questions for The Count of Monte Cristo, chapters 1 thru 7 ish.1. What did you think of Edmond Dante at the beginning of this novel? Had fate deemed differently what sort of life do you believe he would have lived?
2. Did you feel that the conspirators (Danglars and Fernand) were believable? Could something like that really happen?
3. What did you think of Mercedes and the relationship she had with Dante?
4. What about Caderousse? Is he as bad as Fernand and Danglers?
5. How do you like Alexander Dumas' style of writing? Do you think he gives what the reader needs?
Answer at your leisure....
1. What did you think of Edmond Dante at the beginning of this novel? Had fate deemed differently what sort of life do you believe he would have lived? I thought Dante was a pleasant young fellow. Loyal and hardworking. Truthfully I don't think that Dante would have fulfilled his full potential had life gone the way he expected. He would have lived an ordinary life with Mercedes and whatever brood he had.2. Did you feel that the conspirators (Danglars and Fernand) were believable? Could something like that really happen? I think that yes, something like that could have happened and probably did to some poor wrench. Jealousy and greed can make people do horrible things.
3. What did you think of Mercedes and the relationship she had with Dante? I thought her young and naive and truly in love with Dante. But, again, she was young. Would her love have lasted? Perhaps but I really don't know. She may have just become complacent and content as the years went by.
4. What about Caderousse? Is he as bad as Fernand and Danglers? He gave no warning to Dante so to me he was just as guilty.
5. How do you like Alexander Dumas' style of writing? Do you think he gives what the reader needs? I find Alexander Dumas' style to be tedious and complicated. I have thought to stop reading this several times because of my struggle. "Cheating" by referencing cliffnotes to help me understand the text helped a lot. Plus I found a site with audio of the book and I started listening to it instead and I found I could follow it easier. I am still not finished but I feel optimistic that I will get through it. I am now on chapter 69.
Woo, questions! I love Discussion Questions. LOL!
Anyone want to come up with a couple of questions for the 2nd part? If not I'll try to think of a few later today.
I need to answer these, and then continue to listen to the rest of the book.
How many chapters are there, Pamela?
The 2nd part is from chapter 8 to 21. There are 117 chapters in the book altogether. The 2nd part is Dante's imprisonment.
117 chapters! Whoa, Nellie!
yeah, I know.
I'm sorry. I'll try to get to this one later today. However, I think I might have to start over from the beginning. Or maybe skim the first 7 chapters again. My memory isn't what it used to be.
You can always check out cliffnotes or one of those other sites to get the run down.
LOL! Yeah, for the whole book, Pamela! Jeepers, how long are the Cliff Notes? LMAO!
lol, cliffnotes only reflect 73 chapters. I found on site with a weird name - pink monkey or something like that. It had it broke down by the chapters and it had all 117 of them.
Are his eyes pink from reading/studying so long? LOL!
lol. probably.
Or maybe they are pink from partying. If he is using Cliff Note, maybe he isn't studying as hard as he ought!
hmmm, something to ponder.
message 38:
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Pamela(AllHoney), Fairy Godmother
(last edited Mar 04, 2012 08:55AM)
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rated it 2 stars
Okay, I'll do a few questions for part 26. I guess it wasn't a surprise when Dante went to prison anyway but were you surprised in the manner it happened?
7. Dante was there for a while before he ever met Abbe Faria. What did you think of the relationship they developed?
8. Mercedes did wait a year but do you think she should have waited a little longer?
Ack! You're driving me crazy, Pamela. You know who I love to answer "buddy read" questions. **deep sigh** I need to catch up!
6. I guess it wasn't a surprise when Dante went to prison anyway but were you surprised in the manner it happened? Actually I was surprised. I wasn't familiar enough with the story and I had not seen any movies about this yet so I was surprised about Villefort.7. Dante was there for a while before he ever met Abbe Faria. What did you think of the relationship they developed? I thought it was interesting that they formed an almost father/son sort of relationship. I do wonder if they would have had a similar one had they not been imprisoned. I think they genuinely became very attached and fond of each other.
8. Mercedes did wait a year but do you think she should have waited a little longer? One of the reasons I didn't feel Mercedes' love was really true. I think had she genuinely loved Dante she would have waited a little longer.
Feel free to add questions if anyone wants to.
Lisa Kay’s Answers to Pamela’s Questions for The Count of Monte Cristo, chapters 1 thru 7 ish. 1. What did you think of Edmond Dante at the beginning of this novel? Had fate deemed differently what sort of life do you believe he would have lived?
I think he was living an almost charmed life and he had a great future ahead of him. A predictable future. They stole it from him.
2. Did you feel that the conspirators (Danglars and Fernand) were believable? Could something like that really happen?
Oh, yes! They were believable to me. Very diabolical. I think it happened then and it happens now-a-days.
3. What did you think of Mercedes and the relationship she had with Dante?
She was pretty naïve. And young!
4. What about Caderousse? Is he as bad as Fernand and Danglers?
Oh, yes. He is just at the beginning of his evil ways. This may be his turn down the wrong road, but I think he might have been headed to the evil person he becomes even with entering Dante’s life.
5. How do you like Alexander Dumas' style of writing? Do you think he gives what the reader needs?
It is a little wordy. I think he needs a good editor. Of course, back then, books weren’t so plentiful and I think that is why they were so much wordier. People read them over and over again.
@ Pamela#1 – I’m kind of surprised to “hear” you say this, Pamela. However, I have to agree that Dante wouldn’t have achieved what he did w/o his driving need for revenge. Still, I think he would have had love in his life, which they denied him.
#2 – I concur! It can!
#3 – I agree with you about Mercedes becoming complacent in her later years had she married Dante.
#4 – I agree.
#5 – Yes, the audiobook was better!
Lisa Kay’s Answers to Pamela’s Questions for The Count of Monte Cristo, Part 2. 6. I guess it wasn't a surprise when Dante went to prison anyway but were you surprised in the manner it happened?
Nah. I knew the story. Still, it is extreme.
7. Dante was there for a while before he ever met Abbe Faria. What did you think of the relationship they developed?
I agree. It was a very deep and loving relationship. I can see the father/son and protégée/mentor relationship. (view spoiler)
8. Mercedes did wait a year but do you think she should have waited a little longer?
Yes, in those days it was a three-year mourning period. She jumped the gun. Makes me think her love wasn’t as strong as it should have been.
@ Pamela#8 - Mind Meld! ☺
lol
Anyone got any questions? Do you want me to post more questions or did anyone else finish it? Let me know... Thanks.
Ugh. This one is killing me, Pamela. Sorry, as I'm the one who suggested it.
Do I need to get my whip out? lolNo problem, then. Do I need to archive this? Or just wait til the end of the month?
Let me see if I can get back into it. I hate to give up on a book. **sigh**
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Happily Ever After Cafe
Books mentioned in this topic
The Three Musketeers (other topics)The Count of Monte Cristo (other topics)
It has been decided to allow 3 months to read this. So reading is from January 15th to April 15th. Feel free to discuss but try not to give spoilers away too early in the read. Have fun!