Day 11 of the Tackle Your TBR Read-a-thon

     Today I'm going to cover not only my update for the day but my findings for today's challenge: A Scavenger hunt! Fun, fun! Princessica of Books posted this challenge. Here are my findings for it...

Flashback Friday - The Count of Monte Cristo

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas Genre: Classic, Historical Fiction

     Some books are worth reading over and over again. Granted, if there was a surprise plot twist, you aren't going to have that feeling of awe during the re-read. However, a lot of times I pick up new details that didn't seem important on the first read but on the second time around facts will click in my head as my excuse for a brain realizes just how this small piece of information fits into the big picture. Somehow it would feel like cheating to review the same book a second time or to just copy and paste my original review into a new post and attempt to make it all new and sparkly again. For those who have just found this site and haven't looked through my archives (seriously does anyone read the complete archive of a blog?) I have decided to periodically highlight certain books that I have reviewed in the past, that just HAVE TO be read, at least once in life, if not more.

The Count of Monte Cristo - Review

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas Genre: Classic

     While many reviewers are quick to proclaim Edmond Dantes as a villain, I have to disagree. Granted his motives are far from pure as he seeks vengeance against those who had wronged him. He serves the ball into play, and it is up to the other characters as to what they do with the ball when it is in their court. They ruin themselves through greed, jealousy, or their desire for power without him putting a gun to their heads, or twisting their arms behind their backs.

     Most of the time it is the case where Dantes provides his enemies with enough rope to hang themselves and then sits back and watches the drama unfold. In one instance, he is horrified when one of his schemes progressed further than he had foreseen. He quickly becomes remorseful with some of the circumstances that he had set into motion.

     The Count of Monte Cristo is a very hefty book, with intricate plots, and lots of characters, but well worth the time. I look forward to reading it again as it seems like the type of book where you will get even more out of it the second or third time through it. This is definitely one of my new found favorites.

I give it 5 stars!

And the Plot Thickens

     I think it is interesting how the characters of The Count of Monte Cristo intertwine within the story. The count randomly meets Franz on his island who, as it turns out, is betrothed to one of his enemies' daughter. Said girl is actually in love with the son of one of the count's friends. Franz's best buddy, Albert, is found to be betrothed to the count's other enemy's daughter. As luck would have it, one of his servants had smuggling dealings with one of the few characters who had felt remorse towards the count while he was imprisoned. Even Dantes' first love shows up later in the story as we get more and more entangled in the web that Dumas spins.

     This story is like an onion with many layers to peel away and examine in great detail. There is so much more going on in this book than just unadulterated revenge. I'm a little over halfway finished and haven't even gotten to his vengeful wrath yet. However the characters are all in place, the foreshadowing is beginning to clue the reader in on the count's thoughts, and we begin to await the drop of the guillotine, so to speak.

Then and Now

     Through time and space, the festivities of Mardi Gras are still going strong. I've always wanted to go to New Orleans to experience Mardi Gras. The previous book that I read What She Doesn't Know was set in New Orleans during this wild tradition. It told of revelers dressed in costume, parades, and huge crowds.

     The Count of Monte Cristo was written by French author Alexander Dumas in 1944 and set primarily in France and Italy between 1815 and 1838. It also describes a grand festival in Rome where revelers ride up and down the streets in their carriages while dressed in costume. The festival is not referred to as Mardi Gras per se, merely as the Carnival, but there is reference to the fact that it is the Tuesday before Lent.

     I find it amusing that while reading the old timey classics from different continents, there are some things mentioned that are still common in today's world.

The Count of Monte Cristo - First Impressions

     I really have to say that I'm quite surprised with The Count of Monte Cristo. I'll admit that I read a lot of classic books without having much clue what the book is about. The only thing that I had heard about this book is that it dealt with revenge for past wrongs inflicted on the main character. While that may be the overall feeling the book leaves with a reader as it must take place later on in the story, I'm quite impressed that Dantes is not completely consumed with revenge. He first takes care of those who remained loyal to him even after he had been marked as a traitor. It took me quite a few chapters before I was really drawn into the plot. I was a bit lost in the beginning as I'm not very educated about France during the Napoleon era. The Count of Monte Cristo is quickly becoming a book that I enjoy more than I had expected.