sinabon's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
One of the greatest books I’ve ever read. It’s so long, but I didn’t want it to end.
dreamygirl's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
5.0
kathrynwilliams's review against another edition
5.0
This book took me a couple of months to read. Sometimes I liked the idea of this book more than actually reading the book. There were a lot of decisions and plans made off the page. However, there were so many adventurous and exciting stories, scenes, and subplots as well as some amazing characters.
katyrc's review against another edition
4.0
Absolutely wild, incredibly time consuming, but overall a good time
jakepenny33's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
bahjazzz's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
5.0
In the beginning it seemed interminable yk, but I'm telling you it isn't. The more I read the more intrigued I was. The characters I actually cared and loved to read were, Maximilian and Valentine. Undoubtedly I darkly enjoyed the revenge however, as the count of monte Cristo said;He realized that he had exceeded the limits of vengeance, he realized that he could no longer say: ‘God is for me and with me "
graywild's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Edmund Dantes is a young sailor that has a beautiful fiancé and a chance to become a captain. Unfortunately there are 3 men who are jealous of him and arrange to falsely accuse him of treason. He spends 14 years in prison plotting his revenge. He is able to escape and come across a treasure that makes him very wealthy. He spends the rest of his time playing the long game against his enemies to extract his revenge. Recommend.
sammy_'s review against another edition
4.0
It's hard to know how to feel about this book. At the same time as I thought that even by classic standards it needed a serious edit, rarely did I actually find myself willing it to move more quickly. At the same time as I thought the dense historical and classical references reduced its accessibility, they added to the enjoyability of the book's world even when I didn't entirely understand it. In any case, it kept me entertained throughout, which is no mean feat for 1143 pages of fairly political 19th century French literature!
The core premise is simple: humble but happy sailor Edmond Dantès is robbed of his future and his fiancée when he is wrongly imprisoned for fourteen years. After escaping, he discovers some priceless treasure, re-emerges into high society as The Count of Monte Cristo, and begins to use his unlimited wealth to take revenge.
Ultimately, as a revenge tale, this book could be tighter. Lengthy setups detract from the impact of the pay-off of each of the Count's (somewhat outlandish) plans. But on reflection, I wouldn't call it a revenge tale, but a fantasy. Imagine that you suddenly had unlimited wealth, power, and knowledge, and could play God - giving everyone nasty their just desserts, and everyone nice their happy ending - and you have this book. I think it's no coincidence that the Count is rarely threatened with exposure, failure, obstacles, or danger - his every plan pays off; his every supposition about what others will do in response to his machinations is correct. His superhuman invulnerability could be irritating if we were supposed to perceive him as a real, human character; as it is, the Count only makes sense as a vehicle for our imaginations to explore a world without limits, obstacles, or consequences - a world in which a man can play God. And therein lies the fun of this book.
The core premise is simple: humble but happy sailor Edmond Dantès is robbed of his future and his fiancée when he is wrongly imprisoned for fourteen years. After escaping, he discovers some priceless treasure, re-emerges into high society as The Count of Monte Cristo, and begins to use his unlimited wealth to take revenge.
Ultimately, as a revenge tale, this book could be tighter. Lengthy setups detract from the impact of the pay-off of each of the Count's (somewhat outlandish) plans. But on reflection, I wouldn't call it a revenge tale, but a fantasy. Imagine that you suddenly had unlimited wealth, power, and knowledge, and could play God - giving everyone nasty their just desserts, and everyone nice their happy ending - and you have this book. I think it's no coincidence that the Count is rarely threatened with exposure, failure, obstacles, or danger - his every plan pays off; his every supposition about what others will do in response to his machinations is correct. His superhuman invulnerability could be irritating if we were supposed to perceive him as a real, human character; as it is, the Count only makes sense as a vehicle for our imaginations to explore a world without limits, obstacles, or consequences - a world in which a man can play God. And therein lies the fun of this book.
wannabaudrey's review against another edition
5.0
Damn. This story is brilliant and John Lee is again a brilliant narrator. I kept pausing the last chapter so I would t reach the end.
mazreadssometimes's review against another edition
4.0
My favorite book that I was forced to read in school.