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ninetalevixen 's review for:
The Count of Monte Cristo
by Alexandre Dumas
This was so. freaking. loooooooooooong. And I'm not entirely sure whether it was worth it, but at least I can say now that I've read this one, I guess.
I tried years ago to read this but gave up pretty early on; it does get better after which is where I stopped the first time, though it's still slow going.
Honestly, I found a lot of the plot to be either predictable or too drawn-out (or both). Possibly some of it is just good foreshadowing, and I'm sure some people enjoy the slow build; it just doesn't work for me. The introspective/philosophical epiphany-monologues didn't help, either.
My problems with the pacing are exacerbated by the way so much of the story is told secondhand by other characters, which made it feel even slower (especially since I didn't feel like it was safe to get attached to any of the characters). Few of the characters seemed likable, especially among the main cast; as much as I wanted to sympathize with some of them, I just didn't really care.
And I know this is basically ancient in the grand scheme of publishing, but that really doesn't make the Orientalism and misogyny any more pleasant to read — especially with how pervasive it is. Yeah, it could be worse ... it could also have been much better.
Which is basically how I feel about the whole book. Seriously, this didn't need to be over a thousand pages.
content warnings:
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CONVERSION: 8.5 / 15 = 3 stars
Prose: 5 / 10
Characters & Relationships: 7 / 10
Emotional Impact: 4 / 10
Development / Flow: 6 / 10
Setting: 8 / 10
Diversity & Social Themes: N/A
Intellectual Engagement: 2 / 5
Originality / Trope Execution: 3 / 5
Rereadability: 2 / 5
Memorability: 3 / 5
I tried years ago to read this but gave up pretty early on; it does get better after
Spoiler
Dantes escapes the prison and transforms himself into the titular CountHonestly, I found a lot of the plot to be either predictable or too drawn-out (or both). Possibly some of it is just good foreshadowing, and I'm sure some people enjoy the slow build; it just doesn't work for me. The introspective/philosophical epiphany-monologues didn't help, either.
My problems with the pacing are exacerbated by the way so much of the story is told secondhand by other characters, which made it feel even slower (especially since I didn't feel like it was safe to get attached to any of the characters). Few of the characters seemed likable, especially among the main cast; as much as I wanted to sympathize with some of them, I just didn't really care.
And I know this is basically ancient in the grand scheme of publishing, but that really doesn't make the Orientalism and misogyny any more pleasant to read — especially with how pervasive it is. Yeah, it could be worse ... it could also have been much better.
Which is basically how I feel about the whole book. Seriously, this didn't need to be over a thousand pages.
content warnings:
Spoiler
major character deaths, death of a child, stillbirth, torture, racist slurs (n-word, g*psy), Orientalism, misogynistic language and attitudes, threats of suicide, thoughts of cannibalism, hunting (wild goats, gamefowl), animal abuse, rape & kidnapping, non-graphic violence, blood, slavery-----------
CONVERSION: 8.5 / 15 = 3 stars
Prose: 5 / 10
Characters & Relationships: 7 / 10
Emotional Impact: 4 / 10
Development / Flow: 6 / 10
Setting: 8 / 10
Diversity & Social Themes: N/A
Intellectual Engagement: 2 / 5
Originality / Trope Execution: 3 / 5
Rereadability: 2 / 5
Memorability: 3 / 5