Holy shit! This book is insane. I’m half way through it, and I can’t even express how I feel about this book. Masterpiece? Doesn’t give it justice. I’ve never done this in my life over a book (and I’ve read well over 500 books for the last 30 years), I got emotional during some parts of this book. I have ADHD and it’s very hard for me to focus when reading, unless it’s an extremely good book like this I guess. This probably sounds silly to some. The reason why I’m only just finding out about this book is because I’m new to the West. An immigrant if you will, and never heard of this book until a couple of weeks ago. If you haven’t read this book; I highly recommend it. Alexandre Dumas is a genius.
This is one of those books that seems cliche until you realize that it’s the origin of the tropes.
For anyone looking to read in English I highly recommend the Robin Buss translation. It has endnotes throughout the book explaining various references that would not be obvious to modern readers, such as references to real people that don’t get named to avoid libel issues but would’ve obvious to readers in the 19th century, or how certain artists reveal that someone has good taste or bad taste.
Don’t be intimidated by the size; it quickly becomes a page-turner. It was originally published serialized in newspapers, like a modern TV show, one chapter each day. Most chapters end on a cliffhanger so people would buy the next day’s paper, making the book hard to put down.
Is that the unabridged, longer version? I has read the shorter version a few years ago and got the Unabridged about a year ago with three intent to tackle it. The name Robin seems familiar
Yes, it’s unabridged
I found my copy (which was staring me on the face) and I have three Robin Buss one
Thank you so much for the recommendation.
I second this thank you!
Thanks for the recommendation, I just snagged a copy.
I do enjoy seeing the ‘oh, this is why’ feeling in people. I got much the same reading Dracula, and I recommend it if you have yet to have the pleasure. You might think you know it, but trust me, give it a go.
for any Dracula enjoyers https://draculadaily.substack.com/about is fantastic! since the book is journal format you get an email with that days journal entry on the dates they happened
Bram Stoker’s Dracula is an epistolary novel - it’s made up of letters, diaries, telegrams, newspaper clippings - and every part of it has a date. The whole story happens between May 3 and November 7. So: Dracula Daily will post a newsletter each day that something happens to the characters, in the same timeline that it happens to them.
That sounds really cool, although we’ll have to wait until next year to experience it from the beginning.
I know folks who do it every year since the amount you have to read on any given day is so small!
Ah that one has been on my list for a while. I need a new book - maybe I’ll finally see what the fuss is about Dracula.
Btw same thing for Frankenstein imo. Ya we all know the story, but man the book delivered so much more than what I thought I was in for.
Frankenstein is sooooooooo good.
It’s been a long time since I read Dracula but I remember really struggling with the start. Nearly quit a few times and it was slow going. At some point it flipped and I think I pretty much finished the book in one sitting. Anyway, it is great and was worth the rough start I had with it.
That’s how Fellowship of the Rings was for me. It took 4 or 5 times starting it before it finally clicked and then I absolutely loved it.
I fully support you in this endeavor.
I don’t normally read fiction, but this one was recommended to me by a person on Reddit and I checked it out. Now, I’m hooked. I can’t put the book down. Lol
Yeah it’s probably my “pick just one” best book. It’s a wild ride! I’m interested in what you think when you finish!
Three Musketeers is different but I also really liked it. It’s very amusing/funny.
I love the book already. I don’t think I’ll have the literate capacity to write a whole opinion on the book. I don’t know what you call that, but I’m that person who can’t fully (or to a satisfactory level) articulate whatever on his mind into speech/writing, and it’s very frustrating.
Hey no pressure, if you remember to drop an “I liked it!”, that’s all I meant. :)
I already love it. I don’t actually need to finish it to say that. I’m at the 77th chapter and it keeps getting crazier.
I was considering picking this one up. Good to know it lives up.
You’ll love it
To anyone who hasn’t read it yet: don’t let yourself be intimidated by the fact that it’s a huge book. It is equally rewarding!
Another poster suggested keeping track of the names. That’s not a bad idea.
Absolutely. Great point. The size of the book pales in comparison to the fun you’re going to have reading it. I actually even wish it were a little longer sometimes.
My favorite thing about reading with an ebook reader has been the ability to quickly highlight and take notes as I read. New character? Highlight the first appearance of the name and when they re-appear later you can flip back to refresh your memory. Or search through the entire book for their name. I’ve also taken to making a note in my Agatha Christie reads when I first have a good guess about the murderer.
It reads fairly easily though. I think i read it in around a week during summer vacation in HS (I pretty much spent all day reading)
I was going to read it in French. I wonder if I’m missing out by doing that (it’s a great movie, and I’m only semi fluent in French).
I’m reading it in Arabic, as the English version has a ton of words I don’t know and I got tired of translating. I wish I were fluent in French, it’s always best to read a book in its original language IMHO.
At worst, it’s going to be excellent practice
Oh yeah, I was just looking at that. Thank you
With magnificient art style and music!
I love this book! it’s long but dense, it’s trashy but it’s also high art, it’s tragic but it’s also inspirational. I’m glad Dumas was paid by the word, because it means he wrote as much. You should check out the musketeers books if you haven’t already, I think Count is a stronger book but they’re all written in the same engrossing style.
Thank you. I’m eying the three musketeers next
Having read both, I recommend the three musketeers, but don’t expect it to be quite as good as the count of Monte Christo
I already have it on my Kobo, it might be next, you never know. I try to read fiction then nonfiction then fiction and so on. I might make an exception this time.
Just the first book or the series? All “3” are fairly long between them
I have one book that is 1100 pages
Book three is so massive it’s usually split up into between 3-5 volumes, in total it has 268 chapters
You are saying the three musketeers is 3 books?
It is a masterpiece. If you like the genre, I’d like to recommend Der Schwedische Reiter (The Swedish Cavalier in english). It is the very definition of adventure, mystique, vengeance, and love. The beauty of it made me very emotional. I should re-read it…!
I’ll be checking that one out. Thank you so much
The Count of Monte Cristo will always hold a special place in my heart because I read it as a kid and it was the first real “grown up book” I ever read, and it absolutely hooked me. I was reading it under the covers with a flashlight when I was supposed to be asleep. It has the vivid, detailed descriptions you find in the classics, but without slowing down the pace. There’s a bunch of different threads and subplots to follow, and I generally feel like most adaptations don’t do it justice, because it takes more than a movie or miniseries to tell the story - the one exception being Gankatsuo (as mentioned here already) which changes the setting but follows the story pretty faithfully, giving it a full season and starting midway through.
On top of the action, adventure, and schemes, it also has social commentary, philosophy, and interesting characters. The count occupies this unique position in the upper class in that he’s not old money and not tied to the aristocracy, but not exactly new money either, in that he’s not a merchant or capitalist. He’s just this free agent with his own agenda and values, and nobody knows what to make of him.
It’s fun, it’s very thought-provoking, and the imagery is striking. Big fan.
It’s a bit of a leap, but I think there’s some similarities with another one of my favorites, Crime and Punishment. In fact, looking back at what I wrote, “On top of the action, adventure, and schemes, it also has social commentary, philosophy, and interesting characters” is exactly on point for it too. It feels more modern that the era it was written, I’ve seen it described as a thriller and I think that fits.
I got halfway through your post and ordered the book. Here’s hoping it lives up to its reputation. I think it will.
Your library definitely has it. Hell, its so old it might be on project gutenberg
Yeah, if you’re ever looking for a book and see online listings with tons of different looking books and a wide range of prices, there’s a good chance it’s in the public domain and available free somewhere.
Yay thanks!
Lol. Oh no, I hope you’ll love it and don’t feel like you wasted your money. Like another commenter said, write down new names you meet and what they do so you don’t get confused later on in the story. The book is 3380 pages on my E-reader. So, be ready for a long read.
3380 pages
Holy shit.
On my E-reader. It could be less on a real a book. Also, it’s a very good book, so you’ll not feel the time. The book is divided into 117 chapters, that way you can put it down after finishing a chapter or two. Not that bad, trust me.
The longest book I’ve read was around 900 pages. I had to pause for a few months at 600. But this was a in-depth analysis of WWII, so that also was a factor.
Lol. I’ve read an encyclopedia of 8000 pages. It was 4 books and each one had 2000+ pages. Last year I read a series of sociology books that were 7 books, they were between 450 to 700 pages. I also have a very old encyclopedia (from the 14th century) that is 16000+ pages that I want to read sometime next year.
Make sure you’re reading the unabridged version. I’ve heard there’s subpar versions out there.
I have read both The Count of Monte Cristo, The Three Musketeers, and Twenty Years After. I’m currently playing with the idea to read The Three Musketeers again because it has been so long.
I had also read The Count of Monte Cristo a few years ago and want to see if i can take on the unabridged version
I think I have only seen the cartoon show series of the three musketeers, and it was actually dogs, not humans. Lol. I already have the book and might just read it after this one.
This is my favorite book! I love that you love it too! It only gets better the further you get in the story. I own both the abridged and unabridged versions, can’t go wrong with either. Hope you enjoy the last half!
He’s starting with Danglar and Villefort now and it’s getting so freaking good right now. I can’t put the book down.