Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion

Mahi wrote: "I've decided to join in on this, though I have no idea when I'll be able to get ahold of a Penguin Classics version and have the time to read a book longer than anything I've read before.

My very ..."

That is a very reasonable goal indeed!

I read it in 7 sessions over 9 days, and would have in 4 days/4 sessions if I didn't have any appointments, but trust me that reading it this fast isn't normal xD

I finished it last night and loved it so much! Cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy and reread it one day!

I’m slowly chugging through my copy. I don’t really like the excess wordiness of Victorian literature, so I committed to myself to read two chapters a day. The chapters are pretty short so that’s easy enough. I did a quick calculation, assuming I won’t read every day, and I estimate it will take me 34 days to finish. That’s not bad, for a 1000+ page book! I’m on chapter 8 now - Dantés has just been arrested.

I only got through the first chapter so far, my library went and bought several books that I'd recommended years ago which kind of put a wrench in my reading plans. So trying to get through them first! I'll try to get in a few more chapters this weekend though.

I'm considering picking up The Three Musketeers just so I can jump on the Dumas bandwagon!

That one’s on my TBR for this year as well! I am doubly excited for it now!

Has anyone else started? I read the first two chapters today. I think I have an inferior version, but it will do for now. I can always go back and read the good translation later.

I think I’m going to use this book for “seven deadly sins” - I don’t really know what’s going to happen, however, so I’m not certain if it’s a good fit? Those of you who have finished (or at least know some plot details): do you think this book works?

I'm 10% into the Penguin edition - how did I not realise that it started in 1815, just as Napoleon leaves Elba, which led to Waterloo? That's one of the periods of history I've read a lot about - which is actually kind of helpful.

Nadine wrote: "I think I’m going to use this book for “seven deadly sins” - I don’t really know what’s going to happen, however, so I’m not certain if it’s a good fit? Those of you who have finished (or at least ..."

Good one. Its certainly got Greed and Envy thus far - they're basically the reasons why Danglars does what he does to Dantes. Probably Pride can be attributed to the prosecutor. And methinks Wrath may be along later: after all, it is a novel about revenge!

I’m on chapter 14 and finally we are talking about the Isle of Monte Cristo! All this time I’ve been wondering: “why is this called The Count of Monte Cristo? This guy’s name is Dantes”!!”

Nadine wrote: "I’m on chapter 14 and finally we are talking about the Isle of Monte Cristo! All this time I’ve been wondering: “why is this called The Count of Monte Cristo? This guy’s name is Dantes”!!”"

In case you or anyone else is curious, the Monte Cristo sandwich does not get a featured part in this book.

Well now you ruined all my hopes. I thought this was the most epic classic about a beloved sandwich!

I have read 4 chapters so far. Have not even thought about what prompt to stick it in. I do Catching up with Classics, so it's no problem finding a place for it there.

I’m up to Chapter 17 now, (view spoiler)[Dante’s has acquired the treasure and bought himself a yacht (hide spoiler)]. The casual mentions of going to a “Jew” to sell jewels were startling. I know many gem stone dealers were and are Jewish, but it feels icky to say it like that. Did anyone find that offensive?


My ebook library loan is about to expire so I suppose I’ll move on to a different edition. I’m curious to see if it feels quite different or not.

Brandon wrote: "Nadine wrote: "I’m on chapter 14 and finally we are talking about the Isle of Monte Cristo! All this time I’ve been wondering: “why is this called The Count of Monte Cristo? This guy’s name is Dant..."

I needed that!

I have been reading this on and off, but I'm farther along than you guys, so can't say anything is discussion except to let you know I've been reading it.

Jackie wrote: "I have been reading this on and off, but I'm farther along than you guys, so can't say anything is discussion except to let you know I've been reading it."

A few people have finished it, but maybe they don't check this chat very often. You can use spoiler tags.

I've been trying to note which chapter I'm on when I make a comment - I don't know if that helps anyone or not!

Nadine, I've put this under 7 sins as well! It works for quite a few of them!

And yes, I found that bit icky as well, but then I think about when it was written. Times have changed, luckily!

Nadine wrote: "I’m up to Chapter 17 now, (view spoiler). The casual mentions of going to a “Jew” to sell jewels were startling. I know many gem stone dealers were and are Jewish, but it feels icky to say it like that. Did anyone find that offensive?"

You're definitely reading a shorter version than me! I've just got to chapter 21 of the Penguin version, and I haven't got to that bit yet! (view spoiler)[Dantes has only just left the Chateau d'If (hide spoiler)]

It is a product of its time, so some of it is going to feel like that.

I got more of a shock when I read To Have and Have Not last week, which is full of references to n*****rs and ch***ks, but was written much more recently

Trish wrote: "You're definitely reading a shorter version than me! I've just got to chapter 21 of the Penguin version, and I haven't got to that bit yet! ..."


Oh no!! Did I end up with an abridged version??? It doesnt' say abridged!!! Ugh. Why is it so difficult to find one definitive version of this classic? I mean, even if the translations are subtly different, I assumed they would at least maintain the correct chapter numbers ...

My chapters have headings. For example:
Chapter 15 (when he leaves) is titled "The Isle of Tiboulen"
Chapter 17 is titled "The Auberge of Pont Du Gard"
Chapter 21 is titled "The Carnival at Rome"

This copy has 53 chapters total.

What do all your copies look like with respect to chapters?

Nadine, I went and got the penguin edition. Mine is 1200 pages or so. The library ones were all in the 800 pg range digitally, for mine at least

Mine has 118 chapters looks like

I just poked around Overdrive at the various editions my library has. None of them are listed as “abridged” in the Details, but I can see the tiny print on the cover image of one does say it’s abridged. Which means Overdrive is not listing them properly. Ugh!


The only way I’m going to get through this book is in the ebook format.

Now I need to decide: how much do I care if I end up reading an abridged version??? There is a Penguin edition available in Kindle format for $9. Do I care $9 worth???

Yeah my audio had well over a 100 chapters! I personally couldn't read an abridged version and be content with that. There are some classics I want to reread as an abridged version, just to see the difference, but I could never do so the first time around.

It's so strange that this book is so difficult to find properly. It's the same with Little Women! So many abridged versions (not listed as such!) and so many 'part 1' versions. *deep sigh*

I just paid 9 bucks for the penguin ebook, I figured I’d be more likely to get through it if I had the best translation

Nadine wrote: "My chapters have headings. For example:
Chapter 15 (when he leaves) is titled "The Isle of Tiboulen"
Chapter 17 is titled "The Auberge of Pont Du Gard"
Chapter 21 is titled "The Carnival at Rome"

This copy has 53 chapters total."

The book should have 117 chapters.

Chapter 15 is titled "Number 34 and Number 27"
Chapter 17 is titled "The Abbe's Chamber" (or Cell)
Chapter 21 is titled "The Island of Tiboulen" (or Isle)
Chapter 26 is titled "The Pont du Gard Inn"
Chapter 36 is titled "The Carnival at Rome"


Here are some places where you can check chapter titles and numbers, etc.

https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Co...

http://msdl.cs.mcgill.ca/people/tfeng...

https://www.coursehero.com/lit/The-Co...

https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/montec...

I got a free copy from iBooks which has the full 117 chapters, if you don't want to shell out the $9

Wow I never use iBooks so I didn’t even think to look there! Sure enough, the Penguin edition that Amazon lists for $9 is free in iBooks!

Now I just need to get used to a new reading format.

iBooks? Is that from the app store? We just switched from PC to Mac, but I haven't even set up my updates account because I am still miffed that they require a credit card for free updates. I will eventually have to break down and do that, I'm just not rushing.

So this weekend, I finally dug out my copy of this - it took some searching!

And then I discovered that my copy is filled with marginalia. I first read this for a high school course, so there's all sorts of thoughts and "insights" and reactions jotted throughout. So it will be interesting to read now and see how my reactions compare to my high school self!

Just started the first couple chapters, but I'll read more soon to be able to join the discussion properly.

Nadine wrote: "Wow I never use iBooks so I didn’t even think to look there! Sure enough, the Penguin edition that Amazon lists for $9 is free in iBooks!

Now I just need to get used to a new reading format."

The free version in iBooks with the Penguin Classics cover is actually the Gutenberg version, just FYI. It is unabridged though so there’s that.

Mahi wrote: "... The free version in iBooks with the Penguin Classics cover is actually the Gutenberg version, just FYI. It is unabridged though so there’s that. ..."


Well I guess that explains why it's free!! Seems a bit unethical to display a "Penguin classics" cover but have the content be Gutenberg.



Karin wrote: "iBooks? Is that from the app store? We just switched from PC to Mac, but I haven't even set up my updates account because I am still miffed that they require a credit card for free updates. I will ..."


The app came with my phone. I don't have a Mac computer so I'm not sure about that.

Wish I’d realized that! Oh well, already bought penguin, might as well keep going

Nadine, if you get through the 800pg version, you're still doing well!

Not sure which translation it is, but there's a version on Project Gutenberg with 117 chapters, which is another option: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1184

I think the Project Gutenberg one is the one I got free through Amazon years ago. I am reading one to two chapters a day. In no rush.

Isn’t the Gutenberg one the censored one? 🤔

I do think I have heard that. If I’m super motivated, I’ll borrow a hard copy of this behemoth from my library and try to compare. The story is pretty good so I might be motivated!

Carmen wrote: "Isn’t the Gutenberg one the censored one? 🤔"

Not sure. It might be, I guess. Although it's pretty much full length.

Gutenberg is the censored one - it’s an old enough translation to be available to us for free so it reflects English sensibilities of its time.

Is penguin uncensored? I think someone said it was the preferred translation at least

Penguin is as uncensored as we have with these translations I think.

Ok cool, good enough for me then

There are two Penguin versions: one old one which is censored and a new translation, that's why I linked to the right one earlier (link is on other page). :-)

Oh wow. I didn’t even know there were two versions. The Robin Buss one is the uncensored one right?

Yes, exactly. (They're not making this easy for readers!)

Anyone else on ereader going nuts with footnotes? I keep trying to tap them and it just flips the page. I’ve only managed to read maybe half of them si far because after five times of paging back and forth I give up. I’ve never had this much trouble with them before!

The apparently abridged copy I had from the library didn’t have footnotes. I haven’t started with the iBook copy yet.

Footnotes always work great on PC for me, whereas they're a nightmare on the android app.

I have a kindle voyager, i don't really like kindle touchscreen technology. I miss my ancient kindle with the keypad! Their touchscreen tech is so finicky and drives me nuts.

Oh no, censored? My copy also has no footnotes. Looks like I will have to buy the Robin Buss translation after all.