My first classic read since college! (Oof.) I wanted to read this because I got a book in January that is a gender-swapped retelling of TCoMC, and I really liked it. There were parts that were so funny, and others that were so sad, and also really gratifying parts. I love a good revenge-fantasy, and although I would have liked a even more confrontation and comeuppance at the end, I'm glad I read this.
Also, Edmond Dantes is the OG Scheming Character. While I was reading the last half I kept thinking OHHHH so THIS is who Aelin and Kaz were emulating. Got it.

just a wonderful read

This was a long one...at first I started reading it - but then I switched over to audiobook and it went much faster. That being said, I think the first third (half) of the book was also unnecessarily long. I do understand we had to truly know the characters and the situations...and how they got to where they are later in the story. But the entire part pre-arrival in Paris felt like an entirely different book. It wasn't until all the connections started coming together that I really began to enjoy the story (and appreciate all of the detail in the first third/half).

*I read this as part of the 2023 Popsugar Reading Challenge (advanced) - "The longest book (by pages) on your TBR list"

Read Book through Chapter 23, then switched to audiobook.

Post-Napoleonic gossip girl

I loved this. Edmond Dantes is a total badass. He is the original "Most Interesting Man in the World." This book's got it all - drama, romance, adventure, murder, mystery, and most of all, revenge!! It's easy to see why this book is often named as a favorite. I really enjoyed the characters, both the good guys and the bad guys. Very imaginative story. The only part I didn't like was the section that takes place in Rome - that part really dragged along, although it inevitably did have a point. It just took a loooong time to get to it.

If you have trouble getting through really long books like this, try the abridged version. I switched from the unabridged to the abridged version about halfway through and it made all the difference!

I have to confess - the first time I tried reading this book, I tried reading the unabridged version which turned out to be too much for me. It took me a good chunk of time to get through the first 300 pages. There was a lot of historical information that I didn't find interesting at the time, but I am going to attempt to read the unabridged version again someday because this book is totally worth it.

I devoured the abridged version. The story of Edmond Dantes and his transformation into The Count of Monte Cristo is dramatic and flawless. The wronged Edmond Dantes finds himself confronted with an intense thirst for justice and revenge against the men who condemned him to prison. As the Count of Monte Cristo, he reintegrates himself into their circle and stages the scene for his revenge.

Edmond constantly places justice on the same plate as revenge; but there are times he faces a moral crisis as to whether his vengeance is justified. Nevertheless, he carries out his plan until the end.

Yet, the previously jovial and good-natured Edmond is not completely lost after his experience in prison. As the Count of Monte Cristo, he saves those who are abandoned and good people, earning their loyalty because of his sincere goodness to them. The younger generation of characters which includes Albert and Maximillien also bring an aspect of friendship, love, and loyalty into the story.

The unabridged volume is kind of daunting, but reading this particular abridged version will help draw you into the story and hopefully like in my case, give you a larger incentive to eventually try the unabridged version. Dumas weaves such a splendid narrative, one in which all the characters are connected and none are wasted. I often found myself playing the detective, trying to piece together seemingly separate events that all seem to come together in the end. This is definitely a masterpiece of literature.

I swear I'll get through this book. It's just not holding my attention right now.