Holy shit! This book is insane. I’m half way through it, and I can’t even express how I feel about this book. Masterpiece? Doesn’t give it justice. I’ve never done this in my life over a book (and I’ve read well over 500 books for the last 30 years), I got emotional during some parts of this book. I have ADHD and it’s very hard for me to focus when reading, unless it’s an extremely good book like this I guess. This probably sounds silly to some. The reason why I’m only just finding out about this book is because I’m new to the West. An immigrant if you will, and never heard of this book until a couple of weeks ago. If you haven’t read this book; I highly recommend it. Alexandre Dumas is a genius.
The recent French language movie was absolutely superb as well, one of my favourite movies I’ve ever seen (as long as you can handle subtitles)
I live in subtitles. English is my second language, so… Lol How did you get to watch that movie? It’s only available in France. High seas?
Watched it at the cinema here in the UK, it’s been in out in other countries for a while, have a look at the IMDB entry…
It’s still showing in cinemas (watched it last weekend; can concur) but it should soon come out as DVD/Bluray
Is the book better than the sandwich?
How could it be?
That’s a pretty high bar.
I don’t get it, if this is a joke :/
😂 that got me. Well, since I don’t like ham, then I guess it IS better than the sandwich.
I really like the sandwich, so I’m sold on the book!
I have read both The Count of Monte Cristo, The Three Musketeers, and Twenty Years After. I’m currently playing with the idea to read The Three Musketeers again because it has been so long.
I had also read The Count of Monte Cristo a few years ago and want to see if i can take on the unabridged version
I think I have only seen the cartoon show series of the three musketeers, and it was actually dogs, not humans. Lol. I already have the book and might just read it after this one.
Kind of ajacent but if you havent watched V for Vendetta there is a pretty good scene talking about The Count of Monte Cristo.
I would recommend finishing the book first because i dont know if there are any spoilers.
Bonus points if you watch it on Fifth of November
I’ve always wanted to watch this movie, but never got around to it for some reason. I’m going to watch it soon
Love the book. My favorite adaptation is the 1998 miniseries with Gerard Departieu before he became a complete idiot, Seagal style.
They’re making a new movie
Movies never get the story, imo. You need the time a series gives you to set up everything.
100%. I always thought about it this way. I remember watching the Hobbit after reading the book and was getting really mad how the movies kept changing things and omitted many others.
I had pneumonia repeatedly in high school and spent plenty of time recovering at home. I read CoMC as a freshman bc I was bored and it was on the reading list for the year.
I devoured the book. I enjoyed it even though I did keep confusing and forgetting characters. It was so amazingly fun to read.
For anyone looking to read in English I highly recommend the Robin Buss translation. It has endnotes throughout the book explaining various references that would not be obvious to modern readers, such as references to real people that don’t get named to avoid libel issues but would’ve obvious to readers in the 19th century, or how certain artists reveal that someone has good taste or bad taste.
Don’t be intimidated by the size; it quickly becomes a page-turner. It was originally published serialized in newspapers, like a modern TV show, one chapter each day. Most chapters end on a cliffhanger so people would buy the next day’s paper, making the book hard to put down.
Thanks for the recommendation, I just snagged a copy.
Thank you so much for the recommendation.
I second this thank you!
Is that the unabridged, longer version? I has read the shorter version a few years ago and got the Unabridged about a year ago with three intent to tackle it. The name Robin seems familiar
Yes, it’s unabridged
I found my copy (which was staring me on the face) and I have three Robin Buss one
With magnificient art style and music!
Oh yeah, I was just looking at that. Thank you
I fully support you in this endeavor.
I don’t normally read fiction, but this one was recommended to me by a person on Reddit and I checked it out. Now, I’m hooked. I can’t put the book down. Lol
I love this book! it’s long but dense, it’s trashy but it’s also high art, it’s tragic but it’s also inspirational. I’m glad Dumas was paid by the word, because it means he wrote as much. You should check out the musketeers books if you haven’t already, I think Count is a stronger book but they’re all written in the same engrossing style.
Thank you. I’m eying the three musketeers next
Having read both, I recommend the three musketeers, but don’t expect it to be quite as good as the count of Monte Christo
I already have it on my Kobo, it might be next, you never know. I try to read fiction then nonfiction then fiction and so on. I might make an exception this time.
Just the first book or the series? All “3” are fairly long between them
I have one book that is 1100 pages
Book three is so massive it’s usually split up into between 3-5 volumes, in total it has 268 chapters
You are saying the three musketeers is 3 books?
You reading the short one or the big boi? I read the short one as a kid but I haven’t read the full one yet.
Didn’t even know there is a short book of it. I’m reading the 3380 pages one. Lol
There is indeed an abridged. I remember it being good which is why I recently picked up the full version, but I haven’t cracked into it yet.
Oh you should. It’s so freaking good. Embrace yourself when he’s in prison and then meets the priest.
I read this book while commuting on the subway and hour each way, every day. The 117 chapters were originally published as a serial story in a French publication in 18 parts “from 28 August 1844 to 15 January 1846.” (Wikipedia) That’s why it is so readable. It is written to keep readers coming back for more.
I was considering picking this one up. Good to know it lives up.
You’ll love it
I was going to read it in French. I wonder if I’m missing out by doing that (it’s a great movie, and I’m only semi fluent in French).
At worst, it’s going to be excellent practice
I’m reading it in Arabic, as the English version has a ton of words I don’t know and I got tired of translating. I wish I were fluent in French, it’s always best to read a book in its original language IMHO.
Yeah it’s probably my “pick just one” best book. It’s a wild ride! I’m interested in what you think when you finish!
Three Musketeers is different but I also really liked it. It’s very amusing/funny.
I love the book already. I don’t think I’ll have the literate capacity to write a whole opinion on the book. I don’t know what you call that, but I’m that person who can’t fully (or to a satisfactory level) articulate whatever on his mind into speech/writing, and it’s very frustrating.
Hey no pressure, if you remember to drop an “I liked it!”, that’s all I meant. :)
I just finished it and I’m so sad that it finished :( That book was amazing.
I think the ending is awesome too! Glad you liked it. It’s just as good the second time through, just give it a year or so. :)
I already love it. I don’t actually need to finish it to say that. I’m at the 77th chapter and it keeps getting crazier.
Spoilers below so don’t read if you haven’t read a book published 180 years ago
It is the greatest story of vengeance ever written.
Not revenge, vengeance.
The book is bat shit wild. There are parts where you will remember after you finished and think ‘was that a fever dream?’
There was a cross dressing lesbian couple or did I imagine that?
Did he really just burn down the whole house?
How did he survive the poisoning?
Who is that bandit again?
What was buried in the yard?
So many tangential story lines that culminate in an amazing climax.
So many moments that are little vignettes which explain pivotal moments in the characters.
The crazy Abbes relief when Dantes believes him.
The live fish being delivered in barrels
The fact no one escapes the Counts wrath.
Wait and Hope Baby. Wait and hope.
Damnit, I can’t read this comment, I haven’t finished the book yet. lol
