When it comes to page-turners, The Count of Monte Cristo is the great granddaddy of them all. Despite the novel’s gargantuan dimensions—it runs to more than twelve hundred pages in most editions—each of its chapters is like an exhibit in a compendium of narrative suspense; it’s hard to imagine any thriller plot on page or screen that isn’t foretold in the fantastic adventures of Edmond Dantès, Dumas’s sprawling tale of vengeance, cunning, patience, and hope. As Dantès is transformed from an earnest, responsible young sailor into the unforgettable figure who gives the book its title, he comes to combine the attributes of Odysseus, Robin Hood, a Western gunslinger, and James Bond, meting out his artful and implacable justice with equal doses of vindictiveness and generosity.
I've never read a 1,000+ page novel as fast as I read "The Count of Monte Cristo." The story, plot, and pacing are just that good and enticing. Easily, this is one of my favorite novels ever written.
Though an engrossing story, it is depressing to read so much about a life devoted to revenge. There are just more edifying stories to read.
0
Add Reply
Post Reply
Agree (99)
Life's too short (3)
Want to read
Share
Post Comment
We use cookies on this website
We use cookies to recognize you when you return to this website so you do not have to log in again. By continuing to use this site, you are giving us your consent to do this. You can read more about our practices and your choices here.