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Liked It “Loved it! But be sure to read this unabridged version by Penquin Classics. Put it on your "books before I die" list.” see full review » see other reviews » |
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“Loved it! But be sure to read this unabridged version by Penquin Classics. Put it on your "books before I die" list.”
Kim B wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I have read this book more than three times. An excellent work from Alexander Dumax. It is good love story that keep you in threshold. After reading this book i felt some kind of mental satisfaction. ”
prithvi12 wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“A richly written adventure story.”
Lisa H wrote this review Wednesday, September 30 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“When I got this from the library I had no idea how long it was...glad that didn't put me off. One of the best books I've read in a long time.”
Ron R wrote this review Tuesday, July 21 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“CC 6-25-09
Clint C wrote this review Thursday, June 25 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
I've set this one aside for a while :)
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“so much to learn I guess the language is equal to the story”
maxwell c wrote this review Saturday, April 25 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Great Story, but Kind of hard to understand the style of writing unless you're used to it. Although it really is an amazing tale. Possibly the best revenge story ever.”
Rhiannon wrote this review Saturday, April 18 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“This was good...haven't read it since my Senior year in English (in high school!). I think it would have been better if discussed with an English teacher that loved reading - mine really didn't. This story is everything you want in an action movie - revenge, betrayal, fights, death, love lost...sooooooo good. :)”
K.Hamon wrote this review Tuesday, March 10 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“One of the best stories ever. I read the abridged once, then bought what I thought was the unabridged and read that, and it turned out to be another abridged version. I was not happy because I knew about the subplots I was missing. This is one of my all time favorites. ”
Lisa H wrote this review Thursday, January 22 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“ I have recently finished reading The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. While I was reading it, I was able to pick up on the theme of vengeance and how it can transform a person. In the story, such a person is Edmond Dantés. At the beginning, Edmond Dantés is portrayed to the reader as an exemplary person, yet in a way that many people, including myself, could relate to.
Ben K wrote this review Sunday, November 2 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
The most outstanding characteristic that he portrays is his honor. The story picks up as the captain of the merchant vessel Edmond is aboard has died, and Edmond, being first mate, assumes command. However, instead of completing the voyage right away, having received orders from the former captain prior to his death, Edmond makes a stop along the way, despite the confusion and distress it causes his crew. One of his shipmates, Monsieur Danglars, even goes so far as to complain to the owner of the ship, Monsieur Morrel, about Edmond's actions. “ “The captain was hardly dead when, without consulting anyone, he assumed command of the ship and was the cause of our losing a day and a half off the Isle of Elba instead of making directly for Marseilles.” “As captain's mate, it was his duty to take command, but he acted wrongly in losing a day and a half off Elba unless the ship was in need of repair.” ,Morrel replied, “The ship was as right as I am and as I hope you are, Monsieur Morrel; it was nothing more than a whim on his part, and a fancy for going ashore, that caused the delay off Elba.”,said Danglars. “Dantés...I wished to know the reason of the delay off Elba.”,inquired Morrel, “I am unaware of the reason, monsieur; I only followed the last instructions of Captain Leclére, who, when dying, gave me a packet for the maréchal Bertrand.”” (pgs. 13-14, lines 35-36,1-32). Luckily for Edmond, Monsieur Morrel believes he did the right thing and that what he did merits honor. So not only does Edmond have true honor, but also the approval of his superiors, two things that I would highly covet. However, he is also an object of jealousy to the crew mate who sought to discredit him, Monsieur Danglars. Because of this, in a strange turn of events, Edmond Dantés is framed with a crime and is sent to prison. I could partially relate to this part, because I too have been accused of something I have not done. However, the results of this accusation were no where near as dire as in Edmond's case, and I did not react in any way comparable to how he did. The main reason for this is probably that I did not have to spend fourteen years in prison as Edmond did; the result of which was the loss of everything he had of his former life and ultimately his transformation into the Count of Monte Cristo, a man with a terrible thirst for vengeance.
The book continues at what I consider to be an almost painfully slow pace, but for readers who are interested in the details this might not be such a bad thing. I, however, was too preoccupied with wanting to see how Edmond, now the Count of Monte Cristo, exacted his revenge. Near the end of the book, the Count has finally completed his mission of revenge, but at a terrible price. Such that, as a reader, even I partially sympathized with the count's victims and thought he had gone too far. Unfortunately for the count, one of the people he has sworn vengeance on, has married the woman he loved. However, the count has become so bent on revenge that he not only kills this man, but almost also kills his son. It is only because the count starts to regain control of himself that this vile deed does not occur. It is not until the count ends up harming someone outside of direct connection with the people he has sworn vengeance on, that the count realizes he is no longer the man of virtue he once was. Because of this, the count decides not to fully complete his revenge, and he is also able to start his life anew in the hopes of attaining happiness once more. The ending is proof of this as Edmond sails off with a new love, having repented of the terrible deeds he had accomplished. From these events, I believe that the moral of this story is that, from revenge, only bad things can happen and that only in giving up such a terrible pursuit can one truly lead a meaningful life and be happy.
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