Wednesday, April 25, 2012

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

In The Count of Monte Cristo, Edmond Dantes has everything going for him:  an adventurous career on the seas and a beautiful woman that he is deeply in love with.  Just when it cannot get any better, his life is destroyed by being falsely accused of treason; a crime that one does not attempt without extreme consequences in a post-Napoleonic era.  After a brilliant escape, Dantes starts a new life driven in revenge, putting an intricate plan in motion that will only end when all guilty parties have received their fair share.

Dumas' tale has been haunting my nightstand for more than a year.  With more than 1400 pages, picking up this book was a task in and of itself.  I started the tale and became immediately intrigued.  I enjoyed the writing style.  I was amazed at the thought and detail added to the tale.  However, life threw me a curveball and I had to set Dumas and his character Dantes aside for something lighter.  After the turn of the year, Dantes began calling to me again, so I once again returned to Dumas' world.  Even despite my long absence, I was able to fall back into the story and through the last few hundred pages I simply could not put the book down.  Though this book could be used as an ultra doorstop in the midst of a tornado, it has much more worth inside the pages.  In fact, it has even made my list of favorite classics AND my favorite books overall.  I am just left wondering . . . What did Dumas' study look like while he was creating this story?  All I envision is a room filled with cobwebs of details, walls covered in notes, and a man so enthralled in his work that nothing could disturb him.

Have you encountered The Count?  How do you imagine Dumas when writing this classic?


Special Note:  I did finally watch the Hollywood version of this tale starring Jim Caviezel and Guy Pearce.  Though it was a good movie, I was not pleased with the changes they made and as in the majority of cases, the book is so much better!

10 comments:

  1. I LOVE this book, however, I've only read the abridged version! GASP! I know. I hear the real version is awesome, so here's hoping that some day....

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    1. Suey ... I have wondered about the abridged version and how they made it work to be honest! The plot details were so intricate, I keep wondering what they could actually leave out! I may have to try the abridged version someday!

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  2. See I made the mistake of watching the movie first, and it was hard not to love with yumminess of Guy Pearce, Jim Caviezel, and a very young Henry Cavill (who just happened to be who Stephenie Meyer's had in mind as the perfect Edward, and who certainly looks good in a skirt in The Immortals... sorry what was I saying?). And then I read the book, and I liked it, but didn't love it. Then my friend Courtney of Abducted by Books was moaning about how long the book was, but how good it was and I was all like, it's not that long, don't be a whine baby. But it turns out the book I read was abridged! Gasp, the horror! I NEVER read abridged books! But I was found guilty this time, so one of these days I will re-read the book, unabridged, but I'll still be picturing the hot men of the movie. Henry Cavil might get a bump up to starring role though...

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    1. Kate@Midnight Book Girl ... I have to say, I had to go and look at some more pics of Henry Cavill and I definitely think he is closer to the Edward that I imagined as well! LOL!!

      Back to The Count ... I definitely recommend the unabridged version, but I am curious about the abridged version. I typically don't read them either, but my curiosity may win out on this one!

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  3. I read this book in high school and I really loved it! I think the movie actually did a pretty decent job; I like the fact that Mercedes and Edmond got together at the end, even though I kind of understand why they didn't in the book.

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    1. Tasha B. ... That is the one part that I did like that was changed in the movie. I really wanted them to end up together in the end!!

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  4. This is one that I will get to one day but probably not anytime soon ... not the least of which is that it's not one of the 200 unread books I already own. ;)

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    1. LOL! Wow do I know that feeling!! And, I just accumulated a bunch more thanks to used book sales this weekend. When you have the chance, I do recommend it, but good luck on the pile in the meantime!

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  5. I just discovered your blog and have added it to my Reader. I loved the Count when I read it last year for the first time. I had no idea it would be so good. As I usually read books set in England, it was a bit challenging to learn the geography of France, but I enjoyed every minute. I've put the rest of Dumas' works on my TBR pile.

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    1. Donna ... First and foremost, welcome to the site!! I love getting new visitors!! Do you have a blog as well?

      As for Dumas ... I am definitely looking forward to reading more of his work! I hope that it is just as great as The Count!!

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