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Summary: The Count Of Monte Cristo
Review: I read this book for a high school book report in 1966. And I mean I read every page. When I started reading the book I had the feeling that I had bit off much more than I could chew. The book is over 1400 pages which would be a very large book for a 16 year old. I found that I could not put the book down. The writing and the intrigue of the manuscript was spell binding. I even read on the week ends and late into the night. I have forgotten much about the book but I am in the process of buying the book to read again now that I am 52 years old. If you want a spell binding, can not put it down, book to read - this is a strong candidate.
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Summary: My all-time favorite
Review: I absolutely love this book. It is an amazing story that inspires and compels. Love, intrigue, revenge, wealth, determination -- it's all here.
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Summary: Excellent book, one of my favorites
Review: This is simply an amazing book. Sadly, I accidentally bought the abrigded version, but I will definitely read the whole one as soon as I get time to. The plot of this story is so captivating I literally could not put it down. Who doesn't like a good book with revenge and the seeking of a lost loved one? Dumas sure did a hell of a job on this novel. Everyone should read this book, although it will take a while if you get the uncut version.
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Summary: The Best Book Ever
Review: This is the best book I have ever read. I am not usually the type that likes to read books as long as this but The Count of Monte Cristo was worth all the pages. I have never been more excited to read a book before. Each time I picked it up I would tell myself I only had time to read one chapter but I always read about ten chapters before finally and reluctantly putting the book down. If I was to recommend any book to anyone, this would be the book. No matter what you are looking for in a book you can find it in this book.
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Summary: The Count of Monte Cristo is the Best Adventure Book Ever
Review: Everything about this book is good. I can't think of one negative thing to say about it.The story and charactors were fantastic. The level of the writing and mastery of the language are without equal. Alexandre Dumas writes and tells a story like no other. This is one book I can guarantee you will like.
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Summary: Simply, the BEST!!!
Review: BUY THIS BOOK, NOW! (unabridged Modern Library version, 1996) READ THIS BOOK NOW! Then, and only then, can you say "I have lived."
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Summary: My favorite adventure novel ever
Review: I really love this book! I read it when I was young and it still has found no rival. It is a wonderful adventure, I promise you won't regret this one ;)
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Summary: 5 stars is not enough for this book
Review: 'The Count of Monte Cristo' is, in my opinion, the greatest book ever written. The first time I read it, I was 13. I was at summer camp and read the book in 3 days. I'm 19 now and I have read it around 15 times. I never get tired of the story. I love how Dumas writes subplots that all get entwined all through the book. I've read the abridged version, too. It's not even close to being as good as the original. If you only read the abridged one, you'll miss a lot of the plot that is very important. Anyways, I love this book so much and I want everyone else to too!
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Summary: What an Adventure!
Review: This is truly one of the most amazing books I've ever read. There's something for the adventurer, the romantic and the intellect. I believe it should be required reading for anyone who considers himself a reader.
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Summary: "Wait and hope" for what?
Review: Modern television did not invent "MacGyver", Alexander Dumas did. "The Count of Monte Cristo" follows the life of Edmond Dantes who is falsely accused of treason against the crown, imprisoned, escapes in true MacGyver fashion, and then spends the remainder of his days wreaking revenge on his enemies. Dumas creates an interesting plot which winds its way through some 400 odd pages (and this is the abridged version). The plot is never boring and it is truly fascinating how Dumas manages to make what seem initially to be the most tangential details essential elements to the Count's plan for revenge. Also of interest are Dumas' explanations of events such as Dantes' tunneling through a stone prison cell using a tool he made from a soup pot, escape from prison by wrapping himself in his friends funeral shroud which he sews from the inside, and the construction of the crypt containing the seed money which transforms him into the count. That Dumas could coordinate all these nitpicky details and meld them into a singleminded plot makes the book worth reading just for that. Unfortunately, that is probably the only reason to read the book. Admittedly the abridged version leaves out significant portions of the story, but 441 pages should leave enough room for explanations without everything being attributed to sheer coincidence or to being brought into action via bribes and million dollar franc pensions. My other criticism of the book is that the singlemindedness of the Count seems fickle and unbelievable. Revenge is the overwhelming thought process of the count. In the abdridged version he spends some 350 pages ruminating about how he's going to have his revenge. Then suddenly towards the end, he has a change of heart - he feels that he just might have gone a bit overboard, after spending millions of francs bribing people and ruining the lives of several innocent people, all to give three persons their comeuppance. The count mopes about for a few days, then remembers that he truly was miserable in prison, and finally decides that he did the right thing and everything is fine and dandy. Bologna! If a man spends the majority of his life planning revenge and assumes the powers of essentially a sovereign entitity in doing so, what seems reasonable is that at the end he is either a hideous fiend who feels utterly no remorse or he is a total wreck of a man filled with unending guilt and remorse - certainly nothing that can be relieved by the joyful sight of the Morels. In summary, "The COunt of MOnte Cristo" is a great tale to quickly read (and that is probably needed since it is so long) but on closer inspection is unconvincing because of its reliance on coincidence, bribery, and superficial emotional turmoil.
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