If you have kids, read this book with them. Better yet, listen to the audio CD. (We listened to it on all our long drives in Utah.) You won’t regret it. All about having a soft heart even in adversity. SO good. (Thanks Sayds for the recommendation!)
But I can’t recommend this one:
I hear the reason I didn’t like it is because I read the abridged version (a huge, fat, 634 pages), as opposed to the “real” one (even fatter, 1462 pages). The book clubbers who read the real version loved it. But as for me it was the first time I’ve liked a movie better than the book. I must be too much of a romantic.
I did, however, really love the underlying moral of the story (at least in my mind) which the Count relates in a letter to a friend at the end of the book: “There is neither happiness nor misery in the world; there is only the comparison of one state with another, nothing more. He who has felt the deepest grief is best able to experience supreme happiness.”
Amen.
Thank you! Were always looking for good book recommendations. That place where the fairy photos were is natural bridges just north of Payson. It’s an awesome day hike place. Kids love it.
Oh, you HAVE to read the complete Count of Monte Cristo! It’s my favorite book…EVER. I’m reading the Twilight series right now. I had to see what all the hype is. We haven’t read Ida B. We’ll have to get that next. Hope all’s well.
Having a soft heart in adversity??? I need that book. Thanks for the recommendation, Shawni.
Oh no my daughter is reading the abridged for our homeschool right now- The Count is one of my most favorite movies! OK now we will have to wait and see the reaction!
I am always looking for new reads! You need to check out Goodreads.com it is really cool. If you join let me know!
The movie will always be my favorite but the unabridged book version is soooooo good! Do it, read it next time you’re on a long flight or something, it’s very different than the movie. I think I might like the movie because, you know, Jim Caviezel is in it! Am I the only one who thinks he is gorgeous?
A little FYI: Dumas was a literary equivalent to a movie producer, meaning he didn’t actually write his books! He actually hired a team of excellent writers, told them the story and had them write it for him…kind of like ghost writing…sort of.
I loved the book (abridged), but I have heard complaints about the relationships in the book being far too confusing to be enjoyable.
Dumas’ historian and main writer, Maquet, was the only other writer that Dumas credited for the Count of Monte Cristo. The idea for the Count was all Dumas’ and he polished off every chapter personally. BTW, if you haven’t read the full version, you haven’t read the book…abridged versions should be outlawed!