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chriscaps 's review for:
The Count of Monte Cristo
by Alexandre Dumas
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.