The Count of Monte Cristo

Rating:
Summary: nick's review
Review: Alexandre Dumas's captivating novel, The Count of Monte Cristo, is a tale of vengeance, anguish, sorrow, love, and redemption. It is an extraordinary account of a man's life which is full of intrigue and deception. With the great fortune of attaining a promotion as the new captain of the Pharaon and the hand of his beautiful fiancé who will soon stand at the altar with him, Edmond Dantès could not have been a happier man. Yet, behind his back and in the shadows jealous eyes watch him and plot his downfall. On the night of his much awaited betrothal feast, Edmond is arrested and accused of being an aid to Bonaparte. Not long after an interrogation, he is condemned to life in prison at the Château d'lf. Unfortunate souls sent here are never heard or seen again. Death is the only way out of this dark place. Many of Edmond's precious years are spent alone, forgotten, and in despair and wretchedness. When all seems lost, he has an unusual encounter with another prisoner, Abbé Faria. A strong friendship forms as they plan their elaborate and final escape. But only days before their escape, Abbé Faria falls ill and cannot make the journey. On his deathbed, Abbé Faria gives his beloved friend the whereabouts of a forgotten treasure. With the life of his friend fading, he must make the most important choice of his life. Spurred by the hope restored to him by his friend and by the vengeance that has grown and festered in his heart throughout the long years spent behind bars, Edmond attempts his final escape. Whether it be death or great riches that lie outside his four prison walls, he is determined to play his part as the avenging angel. Those who have ruined his life will pay, and those who were undeserving of their fate will be avenged. He will have what is rightfully his, what he deserves...or...so he plans.
This is one of Dumas's greatest novels. It will draw the reader into its story within the first few pages. It is a book that is hard to put down or walk away from. If you enjoy tales full of unexpected twists and turns, you will love this one. Yet, as a warning, it is a book that you cannot just breeze through. It takes your full attention to catch all the details. I highly recommend it to anyone who is willing to take the time. So, if this is you, just sit back and prepare yourself for the ride of your life.

Rating:
Summary: Mr. Jolley Book Review
Review: Alexandre Dumas's captivating novel, The Count of Monte Cristo, is a tale of vengeance, anguish, sorrow, love, and redemption. It is an extraordinary account of a man's life which is full of intrigue and deception. With the great fortune of attaining a promotion as the new captain of the Pharaon and the hand of his beautiful fiancé who will soon stand at the altar with him, Edmond Dantès could not have been a happier man. Yet, behind his back and in the shadows jealous eyes watch him and plot his downfall. On the night of his much awaited betrothal feast, Edmond is arrested and accused of being an aid to Bonaparte. Not long after an interrogation, he is condemned to life in prison at the Château d'lf. Unfortunate souls sent here are never heard or seen again. Death is the only way out of this dark place. Many of Edmond's precious years are spent alone, forgotten, and in despair and wretchedness. When all seems lost, he has an unusual encounter with another prisoner, Abbé Faria. A strong friendship forms as they plan their elaborate and final escape. But only days before their escape, Abbé Faria falls ill and cannot make the journey. On his deathbed, Abbé Faria gives his beloved friend the whereabouts of a forgotten treasure. With the life of his friend fading, he must make the most important choice of his life. Spurred by the hope restored to him by his friend and by the vengeance that has grown and festered in his heart throughout the long years spent behind bars, Edmond attempts his final escape. Whether it be death or great riches that lie outside his four prison walls, he is determined to play his part as the avenging angel. Those who have ruined his life will pay, and those who were undeserving of their fate will be avenged. He will have what is rightfully his, what he deserves...or...so he plans.
This is one of Dumas's greatest novels. It will draw the reader into its story within the first few pages. It is a book that is hard to put down or walk away from. If you enjoy tales full of unexpected twists and turns, you will love this one. Yet, as a warning, it is a book that you cannot just breeze through. It takes your full attention to catch all the details. I highly recommend it to anyone who is willing to take the time. So, if this is you, just sit back and prepare yourself for the ride of your life.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent story that keeps you gripped
Review: I had previously kept way from Dumas novels thinking that they were about swashbuckling and helpless maidens. Since I decided that I should read more classics this year, I picked up this book. Since the film should be releases soon, I figured I should read it before seeing the film might ruin it for me.
That being said, this book was an exceptional story, and lives up to the acclaim. Rather than recount the plot, I will give a few reasons for my 4-star rating. The action begins immediately. While some books walk into the story, this book has significant plot development in the first few pages. Contrary to my preconception, there was really no fighting in the book. The action comes as the Count's intricate plan of revenge unfolds. Dumas does a great job of combining narration with introspection. While unraveling the plot, he provides insight into the emotions and personalities of his characters. In addition, the book isn't mired by excessive language. All in all this is a great story that should appeal to both men and women. I was able to read all 508 pages in a week of leisurely reading.

On a negative point, this specific edition contains numerous typographical errors. Somone favored the letter "A" over "S" and many words are misspelled. If that is important to you, I would suggest you try another edition.

Rating:
Summary: READ THE BOOK FIRST!
Review: I love this book! It's a great story about love, lust, money, and revenge. The first few chapters are a little dry, but after the main character is falsely accused of treason the pace picks up remarkably so stick it out. The plot keeps unfolding and there are a lot of little twists and hints. The ending might or might not surprise you, but suffice it to say Dumas is the one author that doesn't cop out and put everything in a neat little package tied up with a red bow. This ending is real. And if you haven't seen the movie yet, READ THE BOOK FIRST because you'll enjoy it more if you do.

Rating:
Summary: One excitement after another
Review: I originally read this book for school but it turned out that I really enjoyed the book. This book allows you to take a look into the life of royalty and of peasants during the early eighteen hundreds. The action in this book took a while to start but when the action started it kept up throughout the novel. I saw the movie before I saw the book so I thought that the book would be the same as the movie. The book in fact is very different than the movie. There is fighting in the movie and the details of the story are different. This story filled with deception, but you know whom to trust. But Edmond does not seem to realize whom to trust. Edmond does horrible things to the people whom he has revenge for. Edmond only does this however to get back what he has lost and he still helps people along the way. Edmond plans out this revenge that he destroys the people he is out to get. He makes them into laughing stokes.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful book, DREADFUL edition
Review: I picked up the book because I found the movie very entertaining and thought it'd be nice to read the classic novel. I bought this edition and was halfway through it before I found out it was abridged. It does not say so anywhere on the book and I frankly don't know how that is allowed. As soon as I found out I went and got the complete version of the book and started all over. It astounds me how much they cut out. They pretty much butchered the story. Please read the book because is fabulous, but not this version.

Rating:
Summary: It was good, but difficult reading
Review: I read this book over the summer when i was 11. I am now 12. It was pretty dificult for me to stay interested in it for a long time. I regret reading it when i was 11 because i know that if i had waited and read it now i would have understanded it better and enjoyed it more. I can always re-read it but now that school has started i dont have a lot of time, and it is a VERY long book. I would often get confused at who's perspective it was, for it changed perspectives quite often and was always in first person. Of what i payed attention to, it was an excellent book, and very well written. I could really get a picture of it and have many ideas of what it was like. I would highly reccomend it to anyone who is commited to a long book.

Rating:
Summary: Count of Monte Cristo Review
Review: The Count of Monte Cristo is one of the most thrilling tales of betrayal, adventure and revenge that I have ever read. Edmond Dantes is betrayed by his best friend and imprisoned. After a daring escape, he turns himself into the wealthy Count of Monte Cristo. He soon puts his plans of revenge into action! This thriller will have you on the edge the whole time until the last ounce of revenge is exacted. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys adventure and a good thriller!

Rating:
Summary: I want revenge
Review: This isn't a review so much as a warning; I never read the book once I found out that it is an abridged edition. It says so across the back of the book, but there's nothing about it on Amazon's page. I sent the book back and received a refund. If you want to read Alexandre Dumas's complete masterpiece, find yourself another edition.

Rating:
Summary: Wait - and hope.
Review: Truly a marvelous classic, the Count of Monte Cristo is a challenging tale of vengeance and love. Having been thrust suddenly from a life he loved to a world he cannot call life, Mr. Edmond Dantes spends fourteen incredibly long years in a prison not fit for rats or cockroaches. While there, his mind fills with nothing but thoughts of vengeance, and even the most brutal of situations takes Edmond Dante deep into the recesses of his mind, where he recalls with hatred and and anger the bitter trap he fell into unjustly, the people behind it, and how he will avenge. No book I have ever read has expressed the soul of man with a spark of life against all odds as this one has. Edmond believes he will one day return to overtake all of his enemies, and it is that belief which gives the strength of the book real power. All Edmond has to do is wait. And hope.
Don't miss this one.