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4.32 AVERAGE
4.32 AVERAGE
slow-paced
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Although the book was very long, I found it to be extremely engaging, not least because of its multitudes of peculiar characters. I've found that in books with many characters, it can be hard to keep track of who's who, but I didn't find that to be the case with The Count of Monte Cristo. In fact, what struck me the most is how many of these characters were dynamic, undergoing major changes from the start all the way to the end. Probably the most fascinating of these characters would probably be The Count of Monte Cristo himself, who starts off his life as an amiable sailor named Edmond Dantes, but turns into a cold-hearted and ruthless person by the end of it. This change is sparked by his wrongful imprisonment, and the fact that after he finally escapes 14 years later, he finds his father has died of starvation and that his betrothed has left him for one of the people who put him in prison. In the end, even he realises that he has become a twisted figure of his original self, understanding that his quest for revenge might have gone too far, which leads to an inner debate over whether or not he is in the right.
The one qualm I would have with this book is that many things that occur in the plot are, in actuality, very coincidental. The Count would probably argue that it is God's divine hand which has made these things occur, a type of "karmic retribution", and it works with the overall themes of the book, but I just find it to be a tad bit unrealistic.
The one qualm I would have with this book is that many things that occur in the plot are, in actuality, very coincidental. The Count would probably argue that it is God's divine hand which has made these things occur, a type of "karmic retribution", and it works with the overall themes of the book, but I just find it to be a tad bit unrealistic.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A really enjoyable romp. Very entertaining all the way through, was on a clear path for 4 stars, but let down by the end. The book is an easy read, which is important in such an epic, and there are lots of fun and exciting plot developments.
However, it's definitely too long. There are tangential adventures that go on for hundreds of pages that would benefit from editing down. I know it was released periodically, so the novel developing in such a way was inevitable. And I would not know what to suggest for the specific edits (today, Dumas would have to rewrite it to probably get the book to 600-700 pages, and the book would be better for it).
But the ending drops this book. It's not terrible but (oddly for such a big book) it feels rushed. And the beginning of a relationship between The Count and Haydee is under developed all through the book so that their union at the end feels like clipping on a clichéd conclusion, which is probably the worst reason to do such a thing. Also, while Caderousse's end felt satisfying, neither Danglars or Villefort gave me quite the closure I was hoping for, which, again, is disappointing after such an epic and mostly enjoyable read. Nearly 4 but the knocks are too notable on a book this big.
However, it's definitely too long. There are tangential adventures that go on for hundreds of pages that would benefit from editing down. I know it was released periodically, so the novel developing in such a way was inevitable. And I would not know what to suggest for the specific edits (today, Dumas would have to rewrite it to probably get the book to 600-700 pages, and the book would be better for it).
But the ending drops this book. It's not terrible but (oddly for such a big book) it feels rushed. And the beginning of a relationship between The Count and Haydee is under developed all through the book so that their union at the end feels like clipping on a clichéd conclusion, which is probably the worst reason to do such a thing. Also, while Caderousse's end felt satisfying, neither Danglars or Villefort gave me quite the closure I was hoping for, which, again, is disappointing after such an epic and mostly enjoyable read. Nearly 4 but the knocks are too notable on a book this big.
challenging
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes