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A review by ruttery
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
5.0
Wow, this was really a book. I feel like I spent so much time with this book this year (last year) that it merited a review.
First of all, it takes me a really long time to read thick books and this was a really thick CHONK of a book. I quite enjoy reading books slowly and having a few on the go at once as it allows me to savour them for a bit longer, but also the internet has killed my attention span.
Reading the story of a young man imprisoned for over 10 years whilst in the midst of a pandemic was quite reassuring, and it was certainly a good meaty story to get into during periods of isolation. This was just the kind of adventure novel escapism I hadn't realised I needed.
Despite a slightly slow middle, I still would give this a solid 5 stars - I think this was originally released as a series and Dumas was paid by the word, which explains why sometimes it's a bit wordy. I think it could probably have been around 200 pages shorter. That said, I actually really loved the attention to describing the various settings, the islands of the Med, the Rome carnival, the streets of Paris, the bandits in the Italian countryside, the inns and taverns of France. French aristocratic life does sound boring though. Failed marriages, endless bitching and going for dinners with people you don't even like.
Once revenge started happening, it was just one twist and turn after another, like BAM BAM BAM. This had everything- adventure at sea, treachery, treasure, French revolution and rebellion, bandits, parties, illicit affairs, lots of revenge, a dramatic romance, and even a lesbian love story, what more could you want from your 19th Century fiction?
The only thing left to add is, if HBO haven't eyed this up as a Game of Thrones-esque series, they're missing a trick...
First of all, it takes me a really long time to read thick books and this was a really thick CHONK of a book. I quite enjoy reading books slowly and having a few on the go at once as it allows me to savour them for a bit longer, but also the internet has killed my attention span.
Reading the story of a young man imprisoned for over 10 years whilst in the midst of a pandemic was quite reassuring, and it was certainly a good meaty story to get into during periods of isolation. This was just the kind of adventure novel escapism I hadn't realised I needed.
Despite a slightly slow middle, I still would give this a solid 5 stars - I think this was originally released as a series and Dumas was paid by the word, which explains why sometimes it's a bit wordy. I think it could probably have been around 200 pages shorter. That said, I actually really loved the attention to describing the various settings, the islands of the Med, the Rome carnival, the streets of Paris, the bandits in the Italian countryside, the inns and taverns of France. French aristocratic life does sound boring though. Failed marriages, endless bitching and going for dinners with people you don't even like.
Once revenge started happening, it was just one twist and turn after another, like BAM BAM BAM. This had everything- adventure at sea, treachery, treasure, French revolution and rebellion, bandits, parties, illicit affairs, lots of revenge, a dramatic romance, and even a lesbian love story, what more could you want from your 19th Century fiction?
The only thing left to add is, if HBO haven't eyed this up as a Game of Thrones-esque series, they're missing a trick...