I haven't opened this for several months, so the count has to move to the to-read shelf for now. I haven't given up, though, because I actually love the story more than the first time. I'd just rather continue reading every once in a while with the book on my nightstand instead of letting it rot on my main page. Way too distracting when it's constantly reminding me how slow I am. I'm more drawn to other classics at the moment anyway.

I have finally managed to finish this monster of a book after 3 months. Well worth the time invested though, as I really enjoyed this book. It's got everything, but best of all, a very complex and intriguing central character hell bent on revenge. The last 300 pages when everything you've been reading for the past 800 pages comes together is very good. Also thought the ending was pretty brilliant and I am satisfied it ended so. Highly highly recommend if you're not scared by books the size of a brick!

I loved this book. Quite witty and funny. However, I liked the movie better. It's worth owning a copy.

It got a little melodramatic at the end...but the attention to detail and the intricacy of the story kept me enthralled...through all 47 hours of listening. The reader was also phenomenal...he brought each character to life and I appreciated hearing the French words pronounced correctly. :)

I need to ruminate on this one a bit. But my immediate honest take is that I do not understand why this is a beloved classic.

The first 30% of the book was fantastic, and I was understanding why it stands the test of time.

But frankly the rest of the book, when the Count is getting his revenge…is boring as all get out and just felt like Dumas was getting paid by the word (which if I understand correctly, he was.)

I’ll update this space later if and when something about it clicks for me. Still glad I read it.

So…this book took me six months to read, but it was amazing! Such a great experience to listen on audiobook (his voices were amazing and the accents!) and it was written incredibly well. Nothing felt unnecessary even though it was so long! I love a story of revenge and how we got to see Edmonds life before he got screwed over to how HE ROSE! Chadareuse (his friend) getting drunk and helping Vilfur (ambitious arresting officer) Donglais (his jealous coworker) and Vernon (jealous lover of Mercedes) omg. 14 years in prison for false treason! Poor Edmond I felt so bad when he was despairing. It was nice how he and Farier became close and how he posed as the priests body to escape, then swam for ages?!? Then he finds the priests treasure that he inherited and becomes the Count? The reason this isn’t five stars is because I got lost in the middle, there were the stories of a lot of side characters (which was necessary for the end) but confusing, and I wasn’t sure about the time jump for Edmond. I wanted to see him BUILD THE MANSION and his power! I also thought Vilfurs father was a bad person? But Valontine likes him so… it was cool how she communicated with him despite his paralysis. Hers and Maximillion’s relationship was also cute, and it was awful to see her stepmom try and poison her! Good thing for the Count to save her but why let Maximillion think she was dead for a month? Why not just say it’s all good she’s fine?? I’m actually glad Edmonds betrothed Mercedes was part of his revenge because she married Vernon after he was imprisoned. She was basically sad because her son (who was quite nice-Alberre) left to be in the navy. Vernon got publicly disgraced for killing someone and shot himself after they both left, was that the counts doing?? And with Vilfurs public scandal with burying Benedetto and everything, was that up to Edmond? How is his ruin his revenge? When Vilfur came home and his wife has also poisoned their son I was shook. The only revenge I feel was Edmonds was when he got Vampa the criminal to capture Donglais after he fled with his fortune and made them starve him like how his father had. But he wanted to be forgiven and so Edmond forgave Donglais and how he’s poor and alone? I liked how every time he faced his enemies ruin Edmond would she’d his disguise and be like it’s me! Chadareuse died though, killed by Benedetto, who was arrested and that’s how Vilfur got found out. Something else I am not sure about is Heidi, who is referred to even at the end when they get together as like his daughter?? So he marries his foster child? It was nice how things came full circle when Edmond writes to Maximillion saying “Wait and hope” as the keys to wisdom, but they also let them know when they’ll meet again. The plot was incredibly detailed and well written, and it was great to read from another time/Italian-French novel? Glad to have gotten this one off the bucket list, well worth it and is now one of my favourite classics.

I listened to this as an audiobook after my dad recommended it. The story itself is amazing, and the narrator was absolutely incredible.