The Count of Monte Cristo

by Alexandre Dumas | Literature & Fiction |
ISBN: 9780760750773 Global Overview for this book
Registered by wingGoryDetailswing of Nashua, New Hampshire USA on 2/19/2019
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1 journaler for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by wingGoryDetailswing from Nashua, New Hampshire USA on Tuesday, February 19, 2019
I got this handsome little hardcover at a local Savers thrift shop, for another release copy. (It's an abridged version, but it seems to have focused the abridgement on some of the long explanatory chapters rather than the main plot.)

The story of The Count of Monte Cristo, which I first read many years ago, has usually been reworked in the many film versions; for some reason, nobody seems to think that movie audiences would appreciate the way things work out in the book, so the ending usually gets modified! I have enjoyed several of the film versions, including the 2002 film starring Jim Caviezel, but would recommend the book as well, as it takes our hero through some surprising journeys on his road to revenge for his lost life. The elements of love, betrayal, suffering, unimaginable treasure, and darkly satisfying revenge are all very appealing...

I do admit that the unabridged novel has lengthy passages that seem to have little to do with the plot; whether the entirety of Franz's drug-induced sensual dreams are needed to convey the power of the mysterious Count or are there to tantalize the audience isn't clear, but it's a very lush chapter {wry grin}.

There are lighter notes here and there, in spite of the massive doses of cruelty and injustice and revenge; at one point Albert, joyfully inviting the Count to a party, tells him the local gossip about him - including one lady's description of him as "Lord Ruthven", famous fictional vampire. (This is closer to the truth than Albert has any notion, but it's still amusing in context. Even more amusing, this side remark was one of the factors influencing the delightful anime adaptation Gankutsuou.)

The whole work is a fascinating story of friendship, love, betrayal, and almost unimaginable patience and persistence leading to a thorough, justified (in my view, anyway) revenge. It's very dark - the collateral damage includes terrible suffering by many innocent parties - but it's also very human. Recommended!

[I enjoyed an excellent unabridged audiobook version of this novel. And I've also come across Gankutsuou, an anime film based on the story, but set in the future... It's surprisingly faithful to the novel, but with a few intriguing changes; I recommend it very, very highly. There's also a manga version that's somewhat different from the anime. Oh, and the TV Tropes page for the novel has some entertaining items - but beware of spoilers.]

Journal Entry 2 by wingGoryDetailswing at Little Free Library - 16 Main St. in Brookline, New Hampshire USA on Thursday, February 21, 2019

Released 5 yrs ago (2/22/2019 UTC) at Little Free Library - 16 Main St. in Brookline, New Hampshire USA

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

I left this book in the Little Free Library; hope someone enjoys it!

[See other recent releases in NH here.]

*** Released for the 2019 Wine+Food release challenge. ***

*** Released for the 2019 Movie release challenge. ***

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