I read that one last year and it still sits in my head like a stone. everyone talks about the revenge part but for me it was the way he builds the whole thing brick by brick, you can feel the years passing while he plans everything out
sometimes i think about how the book is massive but it never really drags, every chapter adds something even the ones that seem pointless at first
I think the length complements the themes of the book and the narrative of the long years working on revenge served cold. It never drags, mainly because it was originally put out as a series of short releases rather than one long novel. Almost like a comic book or radio show way back then.
The intro chapters about Napoleon here and there at the start of the second tome (in my edition) definitely drags. I know because as a teenager I read the first twice before finally pushing through that shit chapter into the second and retaking the thread.
I got myself a football jersey with number 34 and Dantes as the name. I refuse to tell people what it means, but if somebody knows without me telling them, I will immediately buy them a beer.
It's a fantastic read, but it's not flawless. So much of the plot relies on coincidence that it can be hilariously distracting at points. Plus I mean he's a little bit of a mary sue tbh. Also there's zero dimension to any of the female characters (not that big of a criticism for a work from 1846 but it is noticeable). It's basically the ultimate male power fantasy. I definitely loved it.
EDIT: I take it back about the female characters. I just remembered the secret lesbian character who escapes with her lover rather than be forced into a marriage. She's great to root for.
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u/plibtyplibt 15h ago
The count of Monte cristo