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4.32 AVERAGE
4.32 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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:
Yes
Hi, remember when I was supposed to have read this by December 1st for #CannonBookClub, but I didn’t finish the book until January 23rd? And also how I’ve been reading it since November 13th? Because I do. I definitely remember all of that.
Ultimately, I’m really glad I did the audio version of this book. I don’t think I could have finished it otherwise. I previously got about 1/3 of the way through this book when I tried reading it in high school, but it defeated me then. The beginning 20% or so, as well as the last 30% this time were riveting. I would make excuses to listen. But then came, as Katie/faintingviolet calls it, The Paris Purgatory. More on this later. Also hugely of help was crystalclear’s review, with its life-saving chapter by chapter breakdown. I had it open on my phone in Safari for months as I made my way through the book, clarifying stuff my mind wandered on or misunderstood. So, thank you crystalclear. For serious. It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book this long that didn’t have some element of fantasy in it. I should probably do it more often.
Anyways, THIS BOOK WAS REALLY GOOD AND ULTIMATELY WORTH IT.
(Wanted to put that in all caps in case it’s the only things you take away from this review.)
In case you are reading this review and are somehow unaware of the plot of this extremely famous and written-almost-two-hundred-years-ago book, The Count of Monte Cristo is a serialized novel written over the course of 1844-1845, which follows Edmond Dantès, a young sailor who is unfairly imprisoned, and whose life is ruined. When he escapes from prison and becomes the owner of a fabulous fortune, he spends years of his life educating himself, building influence, and preparing his very elaborate revenge on the four men responsible for his imprisonment and suffering.
This book has a sprawling cast of characters, impeccable plotting, and moments that punch you in the gut. The scenes in the prison are still my favorite. There’s something indelible about Dantès' imprisonment, his despair and loneliness, and the companionship and rewards for his suffering that he ultimately finds there, as well as the human kindness he and the Abbe Faria provide for one another. Once Dantès is out and in possession of his fortune and finished saving the lives of his former employer and his family, however, things got a tiny bit dodgy for me. Dantès/Monte Cristo is absolutely pathological in his methods of vengeance, and it sometimes takes hundreds and hundreds of pages of set-up before you understand why that scene in that one place between those two people were necessary. My interest in the book flagged for a good while there in the middle, just because I couldn’t see where it was going.
I’m of two minds about this middle part. On the one hand, I think this is a book that needs to be long. You need to have spent time and emotion on these characters in order to really feel the ending. On the other, I think it went a bit too far. The circumstances the book were published in are inescapable, and very different to how books are published now. I’m endlessly fascinated by serialized novels from the 1800s, and how that serialization affected the story. This isn’t a story meant to be read in a short period of time, but one designed to be doled out over the course of a year in increments, like a serialized TV show before the era of binge-watching. I can see how both the author (who was probably paid by the word) and the readers, both, would have liked longer installments, if it meant waiting for weeks for the next part of the story.
I’m also a fan of the ending of this book. I was worried that Monte Cristo’s quest for vengeance would turn him into a monster, and he would never find his humanity again. If that had been the case, this would have been a very different review. What’s great about this book is that it allows Dantès room for his anger and vengeance, but it also lets him renounce that vengeance (to a certain extent), and to feel the regret his own cruelty at destroying lives has caused.
It’s probably going to be a while before I pick up another Dumas or long classic (I’ve got my sights set on Les Miserables and/or The Three Musketeers next), but I’m really glad we ended up picking this book for #CannonBookClub. I’m not sure I would have ever gotten around to trying it again otherwise.
Initial Review, 1/23/2017: Oh it feels so good to conquer a large book. Helps when the book is good, too. Full review later. For now, I'm just gonna feel good about this accomplishment.
Ultimately, I’m really glad I did the audio version of this book. I don’t think I could have finished it otherwise. I previously got about 1/3 of the way through this book when I tried reading it in high school, but it defeated me then. The beginning 20% or so, as well as the last 30% this time were riveting. I would make excuses to listen. But then came, as Katie/faintingviolet calls it, The Paris Purgatory. More on this later. Also hugely of help was crystalclear’s review, with its life-saving chapter by chapter breakdown. I had it open on my phone in Safari for months as I made my way through the book, clarifying stuff my mind wandered on or misunderstood. So, thank you crystalclear. For serious. It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book this long that didn’t have some element of fantasy in it. I should probably do it more often.
Anyways, THIS BOOK WAS REALLY GOOD AND ULTIMATELY WORTH IT.
(Wanted to put that in all caps in case it’s the only things you take away from this review.)
In case you are reading this review and are somehow unaware of the plot of this extremely famous and written-almost-two-hundred-years-ago book, The Count of Monte Cristo is a serialized novel written over the course of 1844-1845, which follows Edmond Dantès, a young sailor who is unfairly imprisoned, and whose life is ruined. When he escapes from prison and becomes the owner of a fabulous fortune, he spends years of his life educating himself, building influence, and preparing his very elaborate revenge on the four men responsible for his imprisonment and suffering.
This book has a sprawling cast of characters, impeccable plotting, and moments that punch you in the gut. The scenes in the prison are still my favorite. There’s something indelible about Dantès' imprisonment, his despair and loneliness, and the companionship and rewards for his suffering that he ultimately finds there, as well as the human kindness he and the Abbe Faria provide for one another. Once Dantès is out and in possession of his fortune and finished saving the lives of his former employer and his family, however, things got a tiny bit dodgy for me. Dantès/Monte Cristo is absolutely pathological in his methods of vengeance, and it sometimes takes hundreds and hundreds of pages of set-up before you understand why that scene in that one place between those two people were necessary. My interest in the book flagged for a good while there in the middle, just because I couldn’t see where it was going.
I’m of two minds about this middle part. On the one hand, I think this is a book that needs to be long. You need to have spent time and emotion on these characters in order to really feel the ending. On the other, I think it went a bit too far. The circumstances the book were published in are inescapable, and very different to how books are published now. I’m endlessly fascinated by serialized novels from the 1800s, and how that serialization affected the story. This isn’t a story meant to be read in a short period of time, but one designed to be doled out over the course of a year in increments, like a serialized TV show before the era of binge-watching. I can see how both the author (who was probably paid by the word) and the readers, both, would have liked longer installments, if it meant waiting for weeks for the next part of the story.
I’m also a fan of the ending of this book. I was worried that Monte Cristo’s quest for vengeance would turn him into a monster, and he would never find his humanity again. If that had been the case, this would have been a very different review. What’s great about this book is that it allows Dantès room for his anger and vengeance, but it also lets him renounce that vengeance (to a certain extent), and to feel the regret his own cruelty at destroying lives has caused.
It’s probably going to be a while before I pick up another Dumas or long classic (I’ve got my sights set on Les Miserables and/or The Three Musketeers next), but I’m really glad we ended up picking this book for #CannonBookClub. I’m not sure I would have ever gotten around to trying it again otherwise.
Initial Review, 1/23/2017: Oh it feels so good to conquer a large book. Helps when the book is good, too. Full review later. For now, I'm just gonna feel good about this accomplishment.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
SONO LIBERAAAAAAA!
dopo anni di prigionia su questa lettura, sono riuscita a finirla e che dire? forse sarò l'unica a lasciare una recensione ad una stella ma per me è stato un enorme delusione. Un supplizio infinito.
partendo dal presupposto che lo trovo prolisso e infinito, e ad un certo punto ho pensato seriamente che fosse un buon espediente per tagliarsi le vene. giuro che il tutto mi è sembrata una puntata di Beautiful. gente che risorge, vecchie fiamme lasciate, gente in bancarotta, gente che impazzisce, gente che muore, Age gap.
questo ha passato 10 anni a tessere la sua trama di vendetta per poi accorgersi che forse (FORSE) aveva esagerato. DICI EDMOND? Sono molto delusa, perché mi sarei aspettata che andasse fino in fondo. invece no, Edmond re dei delulu. Mi sarei almeno aspettata un ricongiungimento con Mercedes, manco quello. questo libro è il mio mai na gioia, la mia nemesi eterna, ma sono contenta di averlo finito
dopo anni di prigionia su questa lettura, sono riuscita a finirla e che dire? forse sarò l'unica a lasciare una recensione ad una stella ma per me è stato un enorme delusione. Un supplizio infinito.
partendo dal presupposto che lo trovo prolisso e infinito, e ad un certo punto ho pensato seriamente che fosse un buon espediente per tagliarsi le vene. giuro che il tutto mi è sembrata una puntata di Beautiful. gente che risorge, vecchie fiamme lasciate, gente in bancarotta, gente che impazzisce, gente che muore, Age gap.
questo ha passato 10 anni a tessere la sua trama di vendetta per poi accorgersi che forse (FORSE) aveva esagerato. DICI EDMOND? Sono molto delusa, perché mi sarei aspettata che andasse fino in fondo. invece no, Edmond re dei delulu. Mi sarei almeno aspettata un ricongiungimento con Mercedes, manco quello. questo libro è il mio mai na gioia, la mia nemesi eterna, ma sono contenta di averlo finito