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.
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.
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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!
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I do enjoy seeing the ‘oh, this is why’ feeling in people. I got much the same reading Dracula, and I recommend it if you have yet to have the pleasure. You might think you know it, but trust me, give it a go.
It’s been a long time since I read Dracula but I remember really struggling with the start. Nearly quit a few times and it was slow going. At some point it flipped and I think I pretty much finished the book in one sitting. Anyway, it is great and was worth the rough start I had with it.
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for any Dracula enjoyers https://draculadaily.substack.com/about is fantastic! since the book is journal format you get an email with that days journal entry on the dates they happened
Bram Stoker’s Dracula is an epistolary novel - it’s made up of letters, diaries, telegrams, newspaper clippings - and every part of it has a date. The whole story happens between May 3 and November 7. So: Dracula Daily will post a newsletter each day that something happens to the characters, in the same timeline that it happens to them.
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I know folks who do it every year since the amount you have to read on any given day is so small!
Ah that one has been on my list for a while. I need a new book - maybe I’ll finally see what the fuss is about Dracula.
Btw same thing for Frankenstein imo. Ya we all know the story, but man the book delivered so much more than what I thought I was in for.
Frankenstein is sooooooooo good.
This is one of those books that seems cliche until you realize that it’s the origin of the tropes.
I got halfway through your post and ordered the book. Here’s hoping it lives up to its reputation. I think it will.
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3380 pages
Holy shit.
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The longest book I’ve read was around 900 pages. I had to pause for a few months at 600. But this was a in-depth analysis of WWII, so that also was a factor.
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Make sure you’re reading the unabridged version. I’ve heard there’s subpar versions out there.
Your library definitely has it. He’ll, its so old it might be on project gutenberg
Yay thanks!
Yeah, if you’re ever looking for a book and see online listings with tons of different looking books and a wide range of prices, there’s a good chance it’s in the public domain and available free somewhere.
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.
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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)
Is the book better than the sandwich?
That’s a pretty high bar.
How could it be?
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I really like the sandwich, so I’m sold on the book!
Love the book. My favorite adaptation is the 1998 miniseries with Gerard Departieu before he became a complete idiot, Seagal style.
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Movies never get the story, imo. You need the time a series gives you to set up everything.
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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.
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With magnificient art style and music!
I fully support you in this endeavor.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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.
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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)
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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
one of greatest fiction stories ever told, truly. I read it every 10 years or so and it always feels new!
