Customer Reviews:
 A classic story May 13, 2008
There are a handful of traits that make a book a "classic". They can stand the test of time from 10 years to 100 years beyond, due to their meaningful story lines which everyone can both relate to and have different interpretations of. The Count of Monte Cristo has all these characteristic of a classic story. It is a story of revenge, love, hatred and the second chances in life one may be lucky enough to receive. Even though this story is almost 200 years old it still appeals to people of all ages and walks of life.
Edmond Dantes is wrongly accused and imprisoned for a crime he did not commit. After spending 14 years in a horrendous prison he miraculously escapes and uses his new fortune given to him by a prison mate to live out his new life of enormous wealth and his quest for revenge. This seeking of revenge captured me along the ride with Edmond Dates' use of wit and internal hatred towards others to seek revenge on those who destroyed his life. It came to my discovery through the Count of Monte Cristo's experiences and actions that people back in 1800's were just as devious, greedy, deceitful, manipulative and vengeful as people can be today in modern times.
Alexandre Dumas builds a captivating and rich plot throughout his story which makes the reader wonder what will happen next and what the consequences may be. The theme of love, hatred, happiness, vengeance and forgiveness is something everyone can relate to since they are feelings we have all felt. My negative critique for this book is the fact that it was a struggle to keep all the 40+ characters in order. The French names I am not familiar with as an English speaker, were confusing at times.
I found this book intriguing because this story portrays the evil nature of the human spirit while at the same time teaching a lesson in the possibility of Karma and how eventually people will end up paying for their wrongdoings. It was at times a struggle to get through, but I was glad I did.
 A Fantastic Classic, but Has Many Flaws May 10, 2008
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
Of all the books I've ever read, this is one of my favorite. But all my good memories of it come from the first third of the book. Up until the end of chapter 30 I'd give the book five stars, but after that it's pretty long-winded and drawn out (And that's 87 more chapters!) . Furthermore I didn't even like any of the characters introduced after the first 30 chapters, except two I'll mention below, two of which were very minor characters.
The first thirty chapters deal with Dantes being unjustly imprisoned and spending a miserable 14 years in the Chateau d'If. The story of his imprisonment, escape, and coming to riches and power culminates in his saving his old boss from financial ruin and suicide. It's a fantastic story but after that it's on to a long, drawn out, extremely wordy, and ultimately not-very-satisfying revenge on those who put him in prison. The main characters during these 87 chapters, aside from Dantes, his woman, and the four men who put him in prison are Haydee (the beautiful, but disturbingly reclusive Greek woman), Albert (the hotheaded son of Monte Cristo's old rival Fernand), Madame Danglars (the shrewish wife of Danglars), Heloise de Villefort (the one-dimensional murderer whose love for her child is her only emotion), Franz d'Epinay, (a nice guy, but forgettable), and a host of other forgettable characters. Finally, there are Valentine de Villefort and Maximilien Morrel: two annoying and sappy lovers who remind me exactly of Cosette and Marius from Les Miserables. If you liked those two you'll love the latter half of the book. I detested them and the latter half of the book gave them an unfortunately large amount of sappy-time.
So that's the principle problem with the last 87 chapters: I don't like any of the characters. I wasn't even all that fond of Dantes during this part. The only characters I even remotely liked were Ali, Monte Cristo's slave, and Noitier de Villefort, who talks by blinking. Everyone else is either annoying or forgettable. This means that the almost the entire last 87 chapters are dedicated to conversations among all these annoying or forgettable people, very little of which was interesting.
Still, my memories are mostly fond. It's only when I put on my critic's hat that I began to realize how bored I was during the last two-thirds of the book. I'd recommend this book to anyone who wants a good long read. The abridged version would probably be better for the non-OCD type, as it'll cut out a lot of the superfluous stuff.
 Worthy of a sixth star March 22, 2008
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
For a generation used to sound bytes and Cliff's Notes, this is an easy book to miss: the title sounds old-fashioned and boring. The setting (Napoleonic France) is an abstraction to most of us today. And at 1000+ pages, this is the antithesis of what the Sesame Street generation is used to.
But pick it up and you soon discover that people back then were just as devious, greedy, deceitful, and vengeful as they are today. In other words, the book is captivating.
This is a fantastic story in both the full and abridged versions. It is a study in what it means to have character: Dumas explores both the corrosive impact of petty and unethical indiscretions, as well as the awesome power born from personal responsibility. He keeps the protagonist human by tempering that power with a insatiable taste for revenge. As a reader, your heart breaks as you stand, helpless, while human weakness--greed, fear--bring ruin on a truly good soul. You find yourself oddly conflicted as that soul survives, strengthens, and flourishes while pursuing the dark goal of revenge... your desire to enjoy the journey is never without a nagging feeling that the evil that was done to the protagonist has left its mark...
I cannot recommend this book highly enough... if I had a sixth star to give one book and one book only, this would be the one.
worth every hour February 27, 2008
I picked this up again after 20 years. Utterly fun! Go for the unabridged version!
A Masterwork for the Ages!!!! February 26, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Hello again, friends,
Having just completed reading "War & Peace" (translated by R. Pevear and L. Volonkhonsky )and "The Count of Monte Cristo",( The Penguin Classic edition) in less than 2 1/2 months. I have to say that these two novels are the greatest ever written. The 2,400 pages, combined, were read so swiftly,( for me !) I scarcely had time for anything else. I am going to read "The Three Musketeers"( Modern Library), next. I bought this edition before I knew about the recently published, Penguin Classic Deluxe Edition. I dont know, but I think the Modern Library edition is an abridgement. Let me know if I am wrong.
The character Edmond Dantes is one of the greatest ever penned. He rises off the pages and dwells in your mind and you become "one" with him as he leads us on the journey from star-crossed young sailor in love with Mercedes to the fabulously wealthy title character. Most of the people you meet along the way are so well conceived and drawn you"d think you know them. As others have written, I wish this book didn't end. Amazon shows a sequel to this book published in 1849, but it is currently unavailable. Maybe someday it will be re-published.
Robin Buss did an excellant job translating this huge book.
JUst buy it. You will never finish it in the time allotted by a library.
Cest Magnifique!!!
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