A review by lizziehutchings
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

5.0

AHHHHHHH I'VE FINISHED THE BRICK.

"Death is either a friend who rocks us gently as a nurse, or an enemy who violently drags the soul from the body."

Favorite characters:

Maximillian, Eugenie, and Albert. And the Count of Monte Cristo of course.

I am very proud of myself for taking less than two weeks to read this tHiCk novel. But it was all so worth it. I highlighted like a MiLLiOn things in this book.

Much of the time I was listening to this, I was cross-stitching a piece that says, "I cannot live without books - Thomas Jefferson." And let me tell you. I now cannot live without this book.

I have to say, I'm really glad that I watched the movie before I read the book (I know, who has ever said that?), because I can appreciate the movie (and all the various creative liberties it took) as a good movie, despite its differences from the book.

But the book. The details. The steps Dantès took for every little piece of revenge. This truly is the greatest revenge story of all time.

I loved the conflicting character of Edmond/The Count shown in little ways like how he finds himself caring for Albert as a son and wanting to protect other characters (I fear I will spoil by naming them). He showed a lot more depth of character than he seemed to at the start - bent on revenge and all.

One thing I didn't like was The Count's relationship with Haydee. That made me a little uncomfortable because - um - she was like hALf HiS aGe, but it's fine. I keep trying to transport my perspective back to the when this book was written, bc I'm sure it was a LOT less weird then, but... eW.

This book, though, just feels like a masterpiece, and I can't express how giddy I felt whenever The Count's plan moved forward, or how much I felt for all the main characters. *chef's kiss*

eDmOnD

"And now, farewell kindness, humanity and gratitude! Farewell to all feelings that expand the heart! I have been heaven's substitute to recompense the good - now the god of vengeance yields to me his power to punish the wicked!"

This is just an enchanting read that I recommend to anyone who has a lot of time and a capacity for revenge. Muahahah.

Have a wonderful evening