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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
funny
tense
fast-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:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Me reading bowdlerized translations of this as a kid: why are the characters sneaking around at night just so they can talk to each other in a bedroom instead of a living room?
Me reading Pevear’s translation: ah they’re having sex. That makes WAY more sense.
On that note, you will never convince me that editing books to align with current social mores is a good idea. The only way I will ever accept such an endeavor is if the moralized version contains a clear acknowledgement of your tampering on the cover along with an introduction that explains exactly what you’re changing and why you changed it.
Me reading Pevear’s translation: ah they’re having sex. That makes WAY more sense.
On that note, you will never convince me that editing books to align with current social mores is a good idea. The only way I will ever accept such an endeavor is if the moralized version contains a clear acknowledgement of your tampering on the cover along with an introduction that explains exactly what you’re changing and why you changed it.
Nobody told me this book would be funny! Well, in case you didn’t know it, this book is funny! I did know it would be ridiculously long, but I did the audiobook, and Bill Homewood was a very fun narrator, and it didn’t feel as long as it could have.
For some reason, I’ve always thought this book would be boring, but it’s a swashbuckling adventure Romance, so in hindsight that was a weird opinion to have. Maybe because the cover looks boring, or I’m used to many classics being boring, but I’ve read The Count of Monte Cristo, so I should have known better. Also, and I know that many of you might not agree with me here, but I genuinely love the Leo DiCaprio Man in the Iron Mask movie.
It’s also kind of miraculous that this book still reads so well, because it’s historical fiction that was written 200 years ago about a period in time 400 years ago, and the way Dumas uses his fictional history comments on things in his contemporary France that no longer mean much of anything to us. You can tell me all day long about how there was a schism between the crown and the church and the Cardinal Richelieu vs. the Queen elements in the book are meant to evoke that, but it doesn’t mean anything emotionally to me. It’s basically just set dressing, So your characters have to be good enough to overcome that, and to provide meaningful emotional stakes, and they are! Their rather amoral nature and dedication to some ideals over others was a bit puzzling at times to my current day sensibilities, but it was always entertaining.
For instance, the response to even the most mild insult was a duel, and like, who cares if that guy dies? He said he didn’t like your nose. But then, you get scenes like Porthos telling someone he will make them full of holes, so it all evens out.
Read Harder Challenge 2022: Read a classic written by a POC.
For some reason, I’ve always thought this book would be boring, but it’s a swashbuckling adventure Romance, so in hindsight that was a weird opinion to have. Maybe because the cover looks boring, or I’m used to many classics being boring, but I’ve read The Count of Monte Cristo, so I should have known better. Also, and I know that many of you might not agree with me here, but I genuinely love the Leo DiCaprio Man in the Iron Mask movie.
It’s also kind of miraculous that this book still reads so well, because it’s historical fiction that was written 200 years ago about a period in time 400 years ago, and the way Dumas uses his fictional history comments on things in his contemporary France that no longer mean much of anything to us. You can tell me all day long about how there was a schism between the crown and the church and the Cardinal Richelieu vs. the Queen elements in the book are meant to evoke that, but it doesn’t mean anything emotionally to me. It’s basically just set dressing, So your characters have to be good enough to overcome that, and to provide meaningful emotional stakes, and they are! Their rather amoral nature and dedication to some ideals over others was a bit puzzling at times to my current day sensibilities, but it was always entertaining.
For instance, the response to even the most mild insult was a duel, and like, who cares if that guy dies? He said he didn’t like your nose. But then, you get scenes like Porthos telling someone he will make them full of holes, so it all evens out.
Read Harder Challenge 2022: Read a classic written by a POC.
adventurous
funny
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:
Complicated
Traveling en route to Paris from his home in the provinces, young d'Artagnan is dismayed when his letter of recommendation is stolen by a scoundrel. He nevertheless calls upon his contact, the captain of the Kings Musketeers, to plead his case for a position in the city, but following the meeting a handful of missteps causes him to be challenged to three successive duels by three well-known musketeers: Athos, Porthos and Aramis. The event proves to be merely the first of many storied, swashbuckling adventures for the four young men.
I'm just going to say right now that Dumas, whom I had never read in my life prior to 2024, is today without a doubt my favorite classic author. This novel is delightfully readable for being 150+ years old, which I'm guessing is owed in large part to Ellsworth's translation (kudos!). It is also funny! There were scenes in which I could easily visualize comedic beats adapted for stage or screen. There is a fair amount of violence, which is no surprise given the setting and zeitgeist. Despite its length (the edition I read was 750 pages), I highly recommend it to anyone who usually finds "the classics" dry and boring.
I'm just going to say right now that Dumas, whom I had never read in my life prior to 2024, is today without a doubt my favorite classic author. This novel is delightfully readable for being 150+ years old, which I'm guessing is owed in large part to Ellsworth's translation (kudos!). It is also funny! There were scenes in which I could easily visualize comedic beats adapted for stage or screen. There is a fair amount of violence, which is no surprise given the setting and zeitgeist. Despite its length (the edition I read was 750 pages), I highly recommend it to anyone who usually finds "the classics" dry and boring.
Obviously it is a very diluted version of the story but the illustrations are so cute!!!
adventurous
funny
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No