The Count of Monte Cristo
discussion
Is this really THAT good?
Best book ever for me. I love the plot and the revenge and the overall idea of the story. One of the coolest stories ever. Love Dantes and all the other characters good and bad. Its a fun story and I love all the historical detail. I can envision every scene and every character so well. I cried of happiness from this book and I laughed out loud from its humour. Love love love.
Ruth wrote: "To me, the novel also felt unresolved by ending with Dantes and Haydee sailing off into the grand beyond. Whatever happened to all the love and devotion Dantes had for Mercedes? I would truly love for anyone to explain their interpretation of this"Hello Ruth and I know is has been so long since you posted this comment but I hope you won't mind me shedding some light on this for you ( if your still interested), at least what I think. Out of everyone in the book I think Mercedes suffered the worst fate, I think it was not really deserved. It seemed that Mercedes was really bad collator damage. The questions you brought up, were the same ones that few had in our class discussion. The thing that many of us got back from the story was that Mercedes situation could of happened to anyone and it makes rational sense that she would move on to someone else. The thing that has Mercedes as the “betrayer” is that she didn't wait 3 or 6 years but more like a little over a year after Old Dantes died to move on ( considering Albert's age to). Mercedes didn't even wait that long for this man she would jump off the cliff for. Also the Count, through many years of resentment seemed to believe that Mercedes had some knowledge of Fernand's guilt ( when she couldn't have). This is assumed when she confronts him not to kill Albert and he shows her the letter that Fernand sent, and then he realizes that she was innocent. Also his devotion for probably was gone when he found out she got remarried, I personally believe it was not the fact that she remarried but who she remarried with that bothered him. If he did expect her to wait 14yrs, it was maybe because he still had his foolish thinking that comes with youth ( that some love last forever even if I am dead). We also discussed how we think that he no longer loved her but it was more like he cared for her and it seems something that took years to happen ( like with long relationships). The count also didn't immediately run into Haydee's arms but it took some time. Haydee seemed to prove her devotion in the fact that even though as slave with somewhat free will she wouldn't leave the count's side. The count even suggested for her to go and meet young men of her age( she is not a child but 20 years old) and she refused. Also when he thought he was to die she tore up the will that would of left her with everything, and this act is what made the Count start to realize Haydee had deeper feelings. Also even after Haydee tares up the will and refuses to leave, the count still visits Mercedes and tries to help but she accepts her fate as God's punishment which shows that the Count still cared for her but just was not in love. We will never know what Haydee would do in Mercedes shoes because it is not the same situation anymore, but in the end she chose to stay by his side and reassured him that she had no wish to leave him.
It seems to me the reason why so many CoMC films that put him with Mercedes in the end get it wrong(besides the fact that it is not how the story ends) is because they miss Dumas message of rebirth. If Edmond had chosen to stay with Mercedes, Albert may have never accepted and Mercedes is devoted to her son. Also the biggest reason why Dumas likely wrote him off with Haydee is that Mercedes is in the past. Mercedes ( with her grayed hair) represents everything Edmond used to be and everything he wanted,and even the Mercedes he loved is not there anymore. Haydee represents Edmond's future and she is young and a fresh start. Haydee is also mentally stronger than Mercedes was back then. Haydee and the count, both experienced great suffering in their lives they are ready to experience true happiness, which cannot come without true suffering: a theme Dumas reinforces. Plus rebirth is another theme in the story. Haydee helps Edmond experiences his last rebirth, from the count into the man he needs to be and he lets go of the past and that includes Mercedes. I hope this helps you a bit with that part of the book Ruth :)
Jane wrote: "Surely the very fact that this Goodreads discussion thread has gone on for two years speaks volumes about the book's value! I find myself agreeing with many comments on both sides. Yes, the book is..."I completely agree, I think the book is a masterpiece and this discussion proves that it is a timeless work of art.
Books, like all works of art are a matter of taste and our opinions are subjective. Like many say that Da vinci was the best artist ever but others don't think so.Some may not like this book but it is my favorite book and one of the best I have ever read.I have read the book a few times and I think it is a literary masterpiece. I think the Count of Monte Cristo's status as a timeless classic is well deserved. The book is extremely well written. Dumas detailed writing style provides great commentary and insight to human traits and human nature. The plot is adventurous, full of twist and leaves me craving to read the next chapter. The fact that the book was serialized when it first came out doesn't affect the flow at all, which again reinforces to me Dumas great writing skill.
I love the gray morality and how the Count is not always a great hero/ divine being he wants to be seen as. Also his obsessive nature (which is so bad it's almost insane), 10 yrs he meticulously plans his enemies downfalls, hires the right people ( i.e Bertuccio) and makes many careful planned events appear as mere coincidences. I also like how even though characters like Villefort are suppose to be seen as bad, that Dumas left me having a hint of sympathy for his pain. With one read, this books accomplishes what it sets out to do and leaves you on the edge of your seat. Dumas also has profound themes which make the readers think about human nature. The character of Andrea, at 1st site may seem as just a bad apple ( to some 1 dimensional plot device) but he actually raises the question is evil innate in us? Does his father's nature lead him to be what he has become? Also the character development is great, with not just the count but others like Albert and Mercedes and Villefort. Those are some of the reasons why I love the book. It is fantastically eccentric with a ridiculously wealthy count, a princess and murders etc. but at the same time Dumas makes it feel so real.
But like every work of art, one size doesn't fit all and if you didn't think it was the best read, then okay, that is your opinion. I think the fact we still discuss this story, still make films ( though inaccurate), still have shows, even this discussion is evidence of this stories timeless power. The book exceeded what it sets out to do, and that is to tell a great adventurous story. Some may not find that the Count of Monte Cristo speaks volumes to them, but the fact that the book is 100+ years and is still strong shows that it speaks to majority of people, with related characters and universal themes and subjects that we all can relate to. The story is not about good and evil but humans doing human things. It is a story about revenge, love, redemption, betrayal and more: some reason why I love it! 5/5! That is why the Count of Monte Cristo is really that good!
I absolutely LOVED this book. I read it about two years ago and I still think about it.
I LOVED this book. This is first book without real love scenes in it, that was 1260 pages long, and I couldn't put it down. It is well written. My 5/5 star books have to amuse me to the utmost level. And this one had it all.
Marius wrote: "Will, >"2) I don't understand the whole "make me understand why you think this book is good" because..."
The problem is, Will, that when I asked you directly about the aspects of the book you li..."
I actually wish the rating system was out of 10. I always find 5 a little to limited. Reading the count now, enjoying it so far...
Absolutely! It was so exciting, and it made me feel sad at times, it made me root for the Count and really long for his revenge, it made me laugh.... It was just a fun read. And I count it among my favorites.
Depends on the translation. Robin Buss' translation published by Penguin is definitely the best--that's what makes this novel 5/5. Reading it is a compelling experience--one doesn't want the book to end!
Susan wrote: "Is the story a cliche, or did it create the cliche because so many people copied it? "Couldn't agree more! It's no cliché. Bear in mind that it was written early in the 19th century. Imagine how much inspiration the book gave to others, not to mention how many times the stories in it were adapted in different means. I think this book is ageless and represents the proper definition of epic.
Yeah, it really is that good. I'm more of a genre reader, mainly sf/f. This book was good enough to cross that divide. The slow burn and long term development of plot points showed significant writing skill.I saw at the start of this thread the book being dinged for having too many coincidences. I don't believe those were coincidences. Rather, Dumas trusted us to understand that the Count set up those "coincidences" to suit his plan. The kidnapping, the stock market manipulations, all happened "off screen." We weren't privy to much of his setup either, just the results.
Plus, Dumas worked in events of the day. There was a poisoner in the news when he was writing. The idea of a prisoner doing well because of what he learned and connections he made in prison is based on a real-life experience as well. Dumas took these elements and made them sing.
The Count of Monte Cristo is one of those unforgettable books. Yes, it really is that good. If you had to read it in high school and you're out of school now, do yourself a favor and read it again.
Yes. It really is that good. If you'd read it, you wouldn't be asking. ;-)
I understand that the language and size of the book might discourage some people, so I advise reading this book while reading the accompanying study guide on Sparknotes. http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/montecr...
It really helped me, because its deep analysis of characters and plot points would have been unnoticed otherwise.
And no, I am not advertising anything.
Chanel wrote: "It was good, but gosh. It was long. I'm pretty sure it's longer than LOTR. "They're both around 450K words. Unlike LOTR, though, Count of Monte Cristo was a serial. So if it's feeling long, get to a stopping point and read something else for a while. That's how the original audiences got it anyway.
I read it when a little boy. It was all adventure and fun. I didn't care then if characters were cardboard and the plot tricky. All I knew was that the MC was in deep sh*t and he had to find a way to go out of it. I liked all the books with characters who had to struggle to get a better life then and I still love it now.
Hands down, absolutely. This book is amazing. Travels very fast, and each character is fleshed out so well. I don't think I've ever rooted for a more worthy hero, or one who took me on such a swashbuckling adventure... exactly the tale you want to get swept up in. Just a fantastic read.
When I was young, this was my favorite book...even over the Iliad and the Odyssey. But you must read it unabridged to fully appreciate its force. Now that I'm old, I'd pick other titles first...though I still remember the power of Dumas as he took my youthful spirit in hand!
I actually saw (and liked) the movie first. Once I decided to read this one, I carried it around with me until it was finished. At one point, I got so into the story I missed my bus stop.
I wonder if the first commenter read the abridged version. This happens to be one of the best books that I have ever had the pleasure of reading. The only one that has this one beat in my book world is Les Miserables. Never read abridged, people!! A book is not meant to be read with its parts missing!On a side note, rating anything whether it be a book or a pair of shoes is all a matter of opinion.
i agree with every1 cuz everyone have their own opinion...........i rated 5 because i really think that it was amazing
Personally,i love this book and Alexander D. too))))
i don't that much read this kind of books (i mean fiction,classic)
P.S. but i really want to read next book like that x
How many books have you read that you can say it changed the way you look at life? This is THAT book. Plus the story is rich and deep. If you are waiting or just not sure, get going.
Marius wrote: "I read this book last year, and though I found it entertaining, I really can't understand how people can rate it 5/5. As far as I could tell, the main characters are very simple and 1 dimensional, ..."I agree with you. This book was written to be entartaining (it was first published chapter by chapter on a newspaper before being expanded for the book edition), so it makes its job, but I agree that the mere fact that it works can't earn it a 5/5 rating.
Karma is the main thought process of this book. The characters are simple, however, think about how people read back in the day. Through evolution of writing and movies, we can now understand thicker plots.
Yes the book is entertaining but the entertainment is a bonus. The strength and beauty of 'The Count...' is the timeless tale of good versus evil, overcoming what is surely insurmountable adversity and plain old human survival. I know this may sound a tad lofty. It's been over a decade since I read this wonderful book but maybe it' time to pick it up again. My .02.
S.B. wrote: "The Count of Monte Cristo is one of those unforgettable books. Yes, it really is that good. If you had to read it in high school and you're out of school now, do yourself a favor and read it again."Agreed! Just an amazing, amazing book...
The audio book is even better.
I love love love the audiobook! (The version narrated by John Lee.) I might even go so far as to say that the audiobook is in its own way a masterpiece. I've listened to it twice in the past four years, and I think I may go for a third round this spring.
This is the best book I've ever read. I recommend reading the newly translated unabridged Penguin Classics edition.
I LOVE THIS BOOK!!! i mean i read it like half a year ago.i dont remember.well i also so love Dumas!!!! And now iam re-reading it and i think i will finish it soon cuz i cant put it down!!
absolutely, the unabridged version is amazing and well worth the time
To the folks who recommend the audiobook, who was the narrator? Audiobooks has several and most have an excellent rating. A quality narrator adds so much. Thanks.
I rarely encounter a book I consider worth the full 5 stars but this is one of them. I think it's the best study of revenge and the impact it has on people. Does revenge ultimately provide the satisfaction that people seek in taking it? Is the cost of revenge worth the cost of the original crime? Are there some forms of revenge that are more acceptable than others? Does taking mercy on our enemies provide a similar freedom? It's also a fun sort of a swashbuckling adventure, with romance, pirates, duels, prison escapes, murder mysteries, poisoning, kidnapping, blackmail, fraud...
It's my favorite book ever!!! The plot, the characters, the idea of revenge and repentance, of evil and good in one soul that have lived so much. I love it and the final, o the final is my motto in live. That book had taught me so much how to be patient and how to struggle. I think that this is the purpose of one book, to teach you something. I will remember the main characters forever.
totally agree !!!!!!About this mystery and revenge and THE CHARACTERS!i <3 them!!!
As with beauty (and since writing is art and is quite beautiful) it is in the "eye" of the beholder. But I feel this is one of the best books ever written. I've read it twice and am planning on listening to it on commutes this summer. Well worth the time.
Anne wrote: "The story has a good premise, but is overly long and complicated. Dumas just didn't know when to stop. Plus, *possible spoiler* the Count and Mercedes don't even get back together! I thought that w..."I don't know; I think that had the Count and Mercedes gotten back together, it would have added to the feel. By the end of the novel, they are different people than they were; they would not have been happy together, I don't believe--or satisfied to be together. Too much had happened in their lives.
I first read "The Count of Monte Cristo" in 5th grade. My teacher asked if I was really reading it. When I said I was, she didn't make me do any other assignments but read and give her a report on the book. I loved it and have read it many, many times. I have other favorites, but this one will always hold a special place in my heart.She also tried to get my parents to allow me to skip a couple of grades. They didn't let me, which was probably for the best. I was very immature socially (still am) and was best staying with my friends.
I feel you are looking at the book in a very simplistic way. It reminds me of when in Amadeus the Duke said the Opera had too many notes. It had just the right amount of notes. The Count of Monte Cristo is the length it should be. Dumas wrote enough but not too much. And I don't see how Mercedes and The Count could have gotten back together after all of the water under that bridge.
No one has EVER been killed over science--but millions have been killed over religion!
Many so called "religious" wars are really all about money.
Mainly yes. The Vatican has trillions of dollars in their bank. Hmmmm, I thought the church was a giving institution. If they donated most of the money to these poor countries, there would be no poor countries--of course, a lot of the countries governments are corrupt. Look at all the good that "Live Aid" and "Farm Aid", raising millions of dollars to send toAfrica, yet those same countries are just as bad shape as before!
What does any of that have to do with the Count of Monte Cristo?
That's the Truth! I am not Catholic, and as an outsider it seems to me the Vatican has a lot of resources that they don't use effectively.
I'm not sure. But I get tired of people saying that religion is the cause of so many wars. I think it is mostly money though sometimes it does come down to religion.
Sorry, John...Lura brought up a point and I just wanted to put my opinion in!
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Pour en revenir au Comte de Monte-Cristo je ne lui ai mis que 3 étoiles. Dumas était un auteur très prolifique qui travaillait avec des "nègres" (des assistants) ce qui lui a valu bien des critiques et on l'a suspecté de ne pas avoir écrit lui-même tous ses livres (ce qui est faux). Il a plutôt privilégié la quantité au détriment de la qualité. Dommage car il avait beaucoup d'esprit et était un homme intelligent (sans doute pourquoi il a compris le profit qu'il pouvait tirer de ses oeuvres même de moindre qualité).
Il ne faut pas oublier qu'au moment ou "Le Comte de Monte-Cristo" a été écrit, il était très fréquent que les auteurs travaillent pour des journaux qui publiaient de manière hebdomaire ou bi-mensuelle les chapitres de leurs romans. Les auteurs devaient donc produire très vite le nombre de pages attendu et parfois étaient obligés d'en bâcler l'écriture pour être dans les temps. Je ne sais pas si c'est le cas pour ce livre mais c'est une possibilité.
Is this really THAT good? No! Great? No! But a good one for the readers, Yes!
En bref, "Le Comte de Monte-Cristo" n'est pas un grand roman mais un bon roman populaire, il correspond bien à ce qu'on attendait de ce type d'oeuvre au XIXe siècle et l'on ne peut pas le comparer aux romans actuels.
Désolé de m'exprimer en français, je lis de manière courante l'anglais mais pour l'écrire cela m'est plus difficile car je ne trouve pas toujours les mots justes ou les expressions correctes et cela peut fausser ce que j'exprime.