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
It is a masterpiece. If you like the genre, I’d like to recommend Der Schwedische Reiter (The Swedish Cavalier in english). It is the very definition of adventure, mystique, vengeance, and love. The beauty of it made me very emotional. I should re-read it…!
I’ll be checking that one out. Thank you so much
The Count of Monte Cristo will always hold a special place in my heart because I read it as a kid and it was the first real “grown up book” I ever read, and it absolutely hooked me. I was reading it under the covers with a flashlight when I was supposed to be asleep. It has the vivid, detailed descriptions you find in the classics, but without slowing down the pace. There’s a bunch of different threads and subplots to follow, and I generally feel like most adaptations don’t do it justice, because it takes more than a movie or miniseries to tell the story - the one exception being Gankatsuo (as mentioned here already) which changes the setting but follows the story pretty faithfully, giving it a full season and starting midway through.
On top of the action, adventure, and schemes, it also has social commentary, philosophy, and interesting characters. The count occupies this unique position in the upper class in that he’s not old money and not tied to the aristocracy, but not exactly new money either, in that he’s not a merchant or capitalist. He’s just this free agent with his own agenda and values, and nobody knows what to make of him.
It’s fun, it’s very thought-provoking, and the imagery is striking. Big fan.
It’s a bit of a leap, but I think there’s some similarities with another one of my favorites, Crime and Punishment. In fact, looking back at what I wrote, “On top of the action, adventure, and schemes, it also has social commentary, philosophy, and interesting characters” is exactly on point for it too. It feels more modern that the era it was written, I’ve seen it described as a thriller and I think that fits.
cannot agree more, i love this book and an so glad to see a post about it.
talk about an epic tale
I’m just now realizing that some writers and literal geniuses, like this man. He has to know several parts of science to be able to write a book like this. The philosophy part is killing me. It hits hard all the time and I keep reading those pieces over and over. The chemistry part, the medicine part and many other genius things have been said in this book
Great point, the different disciplines coming together to create such a cohesive and complicated story is so satisfying.
It’s actually been a few years since I read it, I would not turn down a reread at all.
I remember being riveted and pretty much doing nothing else while I read that book.
To anyone who hasn’t read it yet: don’t let yourself be intimidated by the fact that it’s a huge book. It is equally rewarding!
Another poster suggested keeping track of the names. That’s not a bad idea.
My favorite thing about reading with an ebook reader has been the ability to quickly highlight and take notes as I read. New character? Highlight the first appearance of the name and when they re-appear later you can flip back to refresh your memory. Or search through the entire book for their name. I’ve also taken to making a note in my Agatha Christie reads when I first have a good guess about the murderer.
It reads fairly easily though. I think i read it in around a week during summer vacation in HS (I pretty much spent all day reading)
Absolutely. Great point. The size of the book pales in comparison to the fun you’re going to have reading it. I actually even wish it were a little longer sometimes.
Is the book better than the sandwich?
That’s a pretty high bar.
How could it be?
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!
Thanks for this post! I read The Three Musketeers ages ago while in middle school (pre-teenage). I’m sure I didn’t get get much more out of it than sword fights and adventure at the time. I’d always meant to go back and read more Dumas. This post (and the comments about Dracula, another book I read first in middle school and enjoyed even more when I read it again last year for Halloween) has encouraged me to add to the top spot in my “to read” list.
Glad I could inspire someone at least. Lol Books are very good, especially in this day and age where technology is prevalent and very hard to avoid. Reading has been such a peaceful space for me, and the internet is a very chaotic place.
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.
This is my favorite book! I love that you love it too! It only gets better the further you get in the story. I own both the abridged and unabridged versions, can’t go wrong with either. Hope you enjoy the last half!
He’s starting with Danglar and Villefort now and it’s getting so freaking good right now. I can’t put the book down.
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
Oh yeah, I was just looking at that. Thank you
With magnificient art style and music!
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.
