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4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
slow-paced
Solid 3.5 stars
I really enjoyed the heroine and her hearing impairment, it really added depth to her and the situation all of the humans in the Risdaverse are in. They might seem safe or even be safe at the moment, but they know bad things can happen.
What kept it from being a 4 star read is I didn’t feel the romantic connection. They were truly friends, and that I felt. But other than both secretly listing after the other we don’t get that side of their story. It comes off more as friends with benefits when the benefits finally come right at the end of the story.
I just needed a little more.
But I liked both of the characters, so that’s a plus.
I really enjoyed the heroine and her hearing impairment, it really added depth to her and the situation all of the humans in the Risdaverse are in. They might seem safe or even be safe at the moment, but they know bad things can happen.
What kept it from being a 4 star read is I didn’t feel the romantic connection. They were truly friends, and that I felt. But other than both secretly listing after the other we don’t get that side of their story. It comes off more as friends with benefits when the benefits finally come right at the end of the story.
I just needed a little more.
But I liked both of the characters, so that’s a plus.
adventurous
dark
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
So good. Thanks to Mr. Reiss for bringing General Alexandre Dumas to my attention; I am still full of baffled consternation now knowing who he, and seeing how forgotten he'd been. This is a great biography full of fascinating French Revolution/ Reign of Terror/ Napoleon-was-an-asshole context, and I'd happily read more by the author.
Having grown up on books like The Count of Monte Cristo and the Three Musketeers, I found this book to be quite an enlightening biography about the man who inspired some of the most beloved adventure novels and all of Western literature. It is at once a singular account of how serendipity, passion and the sheer will of a man can take him from poverty to triumph, and how prejudice can rob him of all the glory that is his due.
Through the life of General Alex Dumas, we are able to take a personal glimpse beacon I hope of the French Revolution as well as its in many many tragic blemishes. Perhaps, the most important lesson that we can learn from the life of General Alex Dumas is to never abandon one's own personal sense of humanity and integrity even in the face of trying odds.
Through the life of General Alex Dumas, we are able to take a personal glimpse beacon I hope of the French Revolution as well as its in many many tragic blemishes. Perhaps, the most important lesson that we can learn from the life of General Alex Dumas is to never abandon one's own personal sense of humanity and integrity even in the face of trying odds.
As a long time Dumas fangirl, I loooooved this. It's the story of a man, of the French Revolution, and of French racism. Honestly this was a fascinating read. Also Napoleon was a dick, but we all knew that already.
adventurous
challenging
informative
slow-paced
adventurous
inspiring
medium-paced
I stopped reading fiction about ten years ago, when I discovered non-fic books and realized that, omg, truth really is stranger than fiction. The Black Count is one such strange, incredible story.
This is a biography of Alexandre Dumas's dad, (also) Alex Dumas, who was the mixed race son of a cheeky French aristocratic lothario and a slave lady in Haiti, came to France, pwned everyone at fencing at his Fancy Teen Aristocrat Fencing School (or whatever it was called), became top general of everything, weathered the French Revolution (avoiding the guillotine, oh man), commanded the French cavalry in the disastrous Egypt Expedition under Napoleon, ended up imprisoned in a castle in Italy by some crazy Neopolitans, and was also super tall for that period (over 6 feet!) and had the ladies faintin'. He was that kind of super noble, super modest, super athletic dude that's the hero of many a film. So: amazing person. And: amazing time! For goodness sake, late 18th century France was OUTTA CONTROL. It's a miracle anyone survived that period, especially while getting promoted.
Oh yeah, Dumas (the son) is the guy who wrote The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo. Reminder!
I imagine Dumas (the father) played by a beefed up Chiwetel Ejiofor. Seriously, someone needs to buy these film rights.
This is a biography of Alexandre Dumas's dad, (also) Alex Dumas, who was the mixed race son of a cheeky French aristocratic lothario and a slave lady in Haiti, came to France, pwned everyone at fencing at his Fancy Teen Aristocrat Fencing School (or whatever it was called), became top general of everything, weathered the French Revolution (avoiding the guillotine, oh man), commanded the French cavalry in the disastrous Egypt Expedition under Napoleon, ended up imprisoned in a castle in Italy by some crazy Neopolitans, and was also super tall for that period (over 6 feet!) and had the ladies faintin'. He was that kind of super noble, super modest, super athletic dude that's the hero of many a film. So: amazing person. And: amazing time! For goodness sake, late 18th century France was OUTTA CONTROL. It's a miracle anyone survived that period, especially while getting promoted.
Oh yeah, Dumas (the son) is the guy who wrote The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo. Reminder!
I imagine Dumas (the father) played by a beefed up Chiwetel Ejiofor. Seriously, someone needs to buy these film rights.