The Count of Monte Cristo in The Roundtable

Jun 05, 2009 Cait rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 1001, classics, owned, favorites, read-in-2010

Over 3,000 people rated this book 1 star?! What... why... how...? To them I repeat what was once so eloquently stated in the timeless classic film Billy Madison: "I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul."

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Jun 24, 2012 Kathy Chumley rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: my-top-100, reread, classics

This true classic never gets old. It's a terrific tale of betrayal and revenge. ...more

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Nov 14, 2016 Elise rated it really liked it

Shelves: fiction, translated, read-in-2016, 1800s

The first fifth of this, comprising Dantes’s imprisonment and escape, is a lot of fun. But then, after creating his new identity as the titular character, he recedes into the background for the remainder of the tale, and the narrative then focuses mostly on those whom he rewards and punishes. The intricate plotline is great, but the way it’s told turns it from a story of righteous revenge to one of witnessing the torture of entire families. It gets really uncomfortable. However, this book is not ...more

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Jun 02, 2011 Rachel rated it it was amazing

Shelves: classics, fiction, 1001-books-to-read-before-you-die

I was amused that in the introduction it said that there was not an ounce of literary merit to this novel, just pure swashbuckling fun. What a blatant attempt to get kids to read it. Which they should, since I can't imagine anyone not loving this book. It's exciting and easy to read, which is not often the case with older classics. ...more

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May 16, 2008 Sera rated it liked it

Shelves: own, classics, 1001-books

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. What began as my sincere hope for a 5-star read dimished by the time that I finished the book. Hence, the three stars.

I didn't like the ending of the book, and sleeping on it last night didn't change my mind when I woke up this morning. Dantes' rejection of Mercedes was a harsh penalty in light of the fact that she had been under the impression that he died many years previously. I thought that Dantes calling her "faithless" was unreasonable and very arrogant on his part. His ending up with Hayd What began as my sincere hope for a 5-star read dimished by the time that I finished the book. Hence, the three stars.

I didn't like the ending of the book, and sleeping on it last night didn't change my mind when I woke up this morning. Dantes' rejection of Mercedes was a harsh penalty in light of the fact that she had been under the impression that he died many years previously. I thought that Dantes calling her "faithless" was unreasonable and very arrogant on his part. His ending up with Haydee was wrong in that she was supposed to be like a daugther to him. She also viewed Dantes as a father, but she then says "father, husband oh what's the difference". It's a huge difference, IMHO, and I found their romantic relationship to be completely inappropriate.

At the end of the day, this is a novel about vengeance, and the book failed to really offer any insight into that emotion, except to show that when one is consumed by it, then he becomess filled with hatred and a complete lack of compassion toward others. I can understand Dantes wanting to get back on his enemies, but he took it too far. Financial ruin wasn't enough? Public humiliation wasn't enough? When people starting dying left and right later in the book, I could no longer support what Dantes was doing. And the fact that he saves Valentine from death and ensures that she marries her true love is not enough to redeem Dantes or to show that he has a compassionate side to him. Instead, it merely shows his overzealousness to reward those who stood by him as much as to punish those who betrayed them. It wasn't enough for Dantes either that he destroyed the men who betrayed him. He also destroyed their wives and even their children. They became caught in the splatter-zone, and Dantes didn't even bat an eyelash. Sure, some to them weren't good people either, but who is Dantes to decide their fate?

There are many scenes in the book where Dantes acts and/or is seen as God-like, which is an insult to anyone who believes that God is a powerful, but loving and compassionate being. I also felt that Dantes' lack of humility made him appear to be arrogant and less likeable as a character. Readers should be able to root for the success of the protaganist in a novel, not be ashamed of his conduct, as I became as the novel went on.

I'm just glad that I didn't read the 1500 page unabridged version of this book. 600 pages of the Count and his over-the-top conduct was enough for me, thank you very much.

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