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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
While I certainly love Dumas' writing, I didn't enjoy the story nearly as much as The Count of Monte Cristo (one of my all-time favorites). The characters were not as believable or easy to like (even the good ones), and the plot itself wasn't nearly as captivating. That said, I'll undoubtedly read more of Dumas' trilogy.
John Lee did a wonderful narration of this book. I did find that I had to go back in a few places because I got confused as to who was who (lots of lackeys). But otherwise, it was an excellent adventure novel. What I found especially interesting on looking it up is that it is very loosely based on a real person.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
How I felt reading The Three Musketeers:
How I felt after finishing The Three Musketeers:
I think my biggest disappoint happened when I had about 30 pages left and I realized that they were not going to save the king... The Three Musketeers didn't do anything but pursue their own selfish desires and incidentally stumbled into affairs of state.
Honestly, this book was painful to read. D'Artagnan was constantly going on about his "honor" and his "word as a gentleman," but these declarations were severely undercut when he pursues a married woman and hops into bed with every woman who crosses his path and professes to love every single one of them.
The three musketeers themselves were no better. They gambled and drank away any money they could get their hands on, then tricked married women into supporting them financially.
Somewhere along the way, Milady hijacked the story and it became about her. Everyone was so willing to believe her lies and do her bidding that it was unbearable to read.
There was also a severe lack of a coherent plot. This was because we were dragged through every historical event that happened and given lengthy explanations that didn't relate to anything in the story.
I know Dumas can write a decent story. The Count of Monte Cristo was excellent. Which leads me to question if The Three Musketeers was supposed to be a farce full of satire or if it was simply meant to be a swash-buckling adventure.
How I felt after finishing The Three Musketeers:
I think my biggest disappoint happened when I had about 30 pages left and I realized that they were not going to save the king... The Three Musketeers didn't do anything but pursue their own selfish desires and incidentally stumbled into affairs of state.
Honestly, this book was painful to read. D'Artagnan was constantly going on about his "honor" and his "word as a gentleman," but these declarations were severely undercut when he pursues a married woman and hops into bed with every woman who crosses his path and professes to love every single one of them.
The three musketeers themselves were no better. They gambled and drank away any money they could get their hands on, then tricked married women into supporting them financially.
Somewhere along the way, Milady hijacked the story and it became about her. Everyone was so willing to believe her lies and do her bidding that it was unbearable to read.
There was also a severe lack of a coherent plot. This was because we were dragged through every historical event that happened and given lengthy explanations that didn't relate to anything in the story.
I know Dumas can write a decent story. The Count of Monte Cristo was excellent. Which leads me to question if The Three Musketeers was supposed to be a farce full of satire or if it was simply meant to be a swash-buckling adventure.
I'm surprised how much I enjoyed the 2nd half of this novel. At the beginning d'Artagnan is too Marty Sue, amazing at everything it was so ridiculous. It wasn't until he really gets to know Milady that his character and the story got really good for me. There's also just something mind-blowing about reading historical fiction written so long ago. I just love Dumas. I think I will read the rest of the series too.
I compared the first few chapters of the first "anonymous" translation and the one by Lowell Bair for Bantam classics I went with the Lowell Bair translation.
I compared the first few chapters of the first "anonymous" translation and the one by Lowell Bair for Bantam classics I went with the Lowell Bair translation.
adventurous
emotional
funny
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Suicide, Violence, Murder