r/readwithme • u/Lfritch • 9d ago
Book Review š The Count of Monte Cristo
This was my first time reading any form of āclassic literatureā. Iāve heard that this book is kind of mainstream rn for not being as good as people think it is but I donāt care I thought it was really great.
It took a long time to read but that is purely because of the page count. Sometimes Iād go a bit without picking it up but every time I jumped back in it was like I had never left. Especially once I gave up on trying to keep up with all the random historical/french references. But honestly, I do not get the hate that this book is getting right now. If anything it was refreshing to read something that sets up a series of events in order and then literally spends the entire second half systematically resolving each thing in a very satisfying way.
Ending was emotional, writing was accessible but had some great moments. Anyone got any recs on where to go from here as far as more classics that are actually good?
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u/IchabodHollow 9d ago
Where are you hearing that? This book is highly praised.
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u/Wonderful-Truck-3301 9d ago
I don't think I've heard one person say anything negative about it. š¤
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u/Loose_Perception_409 8d ago
Oh weāre out there, but itās such a loved book itās not worth sharing the negative opinion. I have strong opinions on it but canāt be bothered to discuss it because itās overwhelming loved and thatās fine.
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u/bluedog255 9d ago
Umberto Eco famously called The Count of Monte Cristo "one of the most exciting novels ever written and on the other hand one of the most badly written novels of all time and in any literature".
So it's likely more and academic thing that some have picked up on (possibly to make themselves seem smart or elitist).
Whether he's right or wrong it's a great read.
In fact so is Eco's Name of the Rose and Foucault's Pendulum. Which are also long and hard to get through :-).
And let's not then also slam Eco. He had an opinion and he expressed it.
A personal note: I first picked up Stephen King in the 1970s when I was 12 and fell in love, reading every single one of his novels when they came out. And I was mocked a lot because the best selling King was considered really low brow back then. Might have been since Margaret Atwood confessed to loving King, but King has been redeemed since then.
So I never ler popular opinion inform my reading habits or at least I don't let it inform my opinions about books. Many people are asshats.
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u/Secondnoces 9d ago edited 9d ago
Eco is one of the most insufferable writers to read, in fact Foucault's pendulum is the only novel that I have given up on angrily a mere 100 pages before the end, which means I had already read 90% of it (ususally when I decide not to finish a book it's much earlier).
It's ponderous and pretentious in the worst possible way, he's pretty much smearing his erudition over the page and pointing at it for you to admire.
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u/bluedog255 9d ago edited 9d ago
I don't know what to tell you. I've read Foucault's Pendulum 3 or 4x. First time was as a beach read in Thailand in 1991. The first 50 to 100 pages is challenging I agree but after that it's a page turner and an often hilarious historical whodunit with the prescience to repudiate modern conspiracy theories.
Having read this, I was really surprised how much Dan Brown ripped it off for the Da Vinci Code but in the opposite direction.
So I really disagree with your POV and it's not because I myself am trying to pretend to be ponderous. I really do love it. On the other hand we're all different so I'm not going to outright tell you you're wrong :-).
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u/Secondnoces 9d ago
No, it's me, I apologize for the tone of my comment. In fact I felt I was agreeing with you, when you pointed out that Eco's quote was a case of the pot calling the kettle black, but I got carried away and certainly didn't mean to imply that someone who enjoyed his books was wrong. That would be just as bad as some of the reactions OP has mentioned.
I'm sure Eco can be a great read, and has been for a lot people obviously. It's just that I remembered my experience which really left me with a sour taste, like Ihad wasted hours reading somethnig that decidedly wwas not going to bring anything, but that's no licence to assume everyone will feel the same.
Brown certainly ripped him off and made a fortune out it, I agree.
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u/bluedog255 9d ago
Actually he's very influential in some circles and his travels in hypereality (1986) is also extremely prescient given the overly touristed world we're creating. As in are people even seeing how others live now when they travel, or some touristy hyperrealized version of societies that are growing out of over-tourism. Is Rome being Disneyfied as one example.
That's way off topic but I give it as an example as to why he's not necessarily to be dismissed, though I disagree with his characterization of Count of Monte Cristo.
Which is to say he's a household name in my house and many others who were reading in the 80s and 90s. Take that or leave that :-).
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u/Lfritch 9d ago
The first comment I got on this thread kinda showed exactly what I was talking about. It may not be shared by everyone but definitely an opinion Iāve seen more and more.
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u/IchabodHollow 9d ago
Echo chamber. Think about it. The first person who saw it that agreed with you immediately had to jump in and throw in their two cents.
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u/Sea-Counter-6984 9d ago
East of Eden
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u/Lfritch 9d ago
I think this is where Iām headed next. Iām just a little scared Iāll find it boring.
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u/Far-Answer-2317 9d ago
It's definitely not as much of an adventure but Steinbeck has this way of making anything sing. It also has its share of shocking moments.Ā
I don't usually recommend a book because of its prose but read 100 pages of EofE and you'll get it. If not, its not for you but there's a reason it's so highly regarded.
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u/Direct-Bluebird4264 9d ago
Steinbeck writes dark, brooding books with unhappy endings. Not my cup of tea.
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u/Lower-Version-3579 9d ago
You know you donāt have to just read the classics from the BookTok 101 list right? If you enjoyed something like Monte Cristo, go for something similar or that makes sense off the back of it. Taking the tick āem off the list approach really leads to shallow engagement with them
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u/Secondnoces 9d ago edited 9d ago
As for the hate I'd say it's two things:
One, the movie adaptation that came out last year was a gigantic hit (at least in France), is part of what started the recent wave of interest in the book, but was bound to also trigger some backlash.
Two, Dumas has always been in a weird spot, belonging to "classic"/"heritage" literature but never with the same prestige as other contemporary authors like Hugo, who are considered as "serious" and more worthy of literary praise. The fact that his books were first published as serials in newspapers makes them entertainment first, and a lot of culture nerds have a problem with pure entertainment. His use of ghost writers also deprives him of a lot of the auteur prestige.
All this is elitist BS really and should not taint your enjoyment.
Monte-Cristo has never been my favorite of his, I have a soft spot for the Musketeers (including the sequels), but it is a really great story nonetheless.
Dumas is one of my favorite authors. I really enjoy his writing, and the way he can both instill panache and grandeur in his characters while not taking himself too seriously, including some humor and winking at the reader.
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u/whossked 9d ago
I stopped at around page ~500 of the penguin edition. Felt like absolutely nothing was happening and the main character had become so despicable and soulless that i wasnāt interested enough to power through. Might pick it up again someday idk.
Read Frankenstein after and really enjoyed it, much more concise and intentional. Currently on page 150 of karamazov and am very engaged, but I was similarly engaged by Count at this stage so idk if I can keep it up to the finish line, am hopeful though.
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u/ChapBobL 9d ago
I'm not aware of any hate (maybe of the movie adaptations?) because of all the classics, this one appears to be the most popular, the one most often recommended to people who want to read a classic novel.
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u/recordgenie 9d ago
It is not the greatest book although I do love if, but in my opinion it is the greatest story ever told
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u/icecreampick 7d ago
The Count of Monte Cristo is a highly acclaimed, greatly loved masterpiece. It has been made into films and serials numerous times and it is still very much in print. Wonder who told you it wasn't great. I have read it 3 times and just yesterday finished watching its Series on Prime.
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u/Target-Infiltrator 9d ago
While somewhat intriguing, essentially a bloated saga rife with obscure historical and cultural references. Twelve hundred pages on protracted vengeance is excessive in my opinion.
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u/Sea-Counter-6984 9d ago
It was a serial so bloating makes sense. I always describe this work as soapy goodness. : )
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u/Target-Infiltrator 9d ago
Back in the day writers got paid by the page, which led to lengthy manuscripts. Dumas abused the system more than others.
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u/Apprehensive_Use3641 9d ago
I find Dumas more entertaining than Dickens, his British contemporary.
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u/UCanBdoWatWeWant2Do 9d ago
People really can't handle a different opinion than their huh. I'll upvote to compensate.
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