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The Count of Monte Cristo
by Alexandre Dumas - 2/5
I am aware how this doorstop from the past is accessible in its peerless translation to me...I, who found many ancient books boring and obscure and inaccessible to my contemporary mind. I acknowledge how certain parts of the book are delectable to read. Should that have been enough? Am I wrong in wanting the impossible from a book overtaken by obsolescence? I must hasten to state that the prose is modern but some ideas are clunky and outdated. But I don't regret in reading Monte Christo, because I need to tread trodden paths to recognize the merit in books that are humble and promise little, only to deliver on all counts.
The major problem of the book is that it requires us to be invested emotionally in all characters equally, without laying the foundation for us to care about the newer persons that appear in the book. The chapters dedicated to Abbe Faria are among the best I've read. This performance failed to reappear in the sometimes melodramatic meanderings of the middle and conclusive chapters. The more sentimental chapters remind me of an off form Dickens, or of a faithful Dickens, depending on your opinion.
Regardless of the complaints I have against Monte Christo, it's surprisingly modern and there are no cultural shockers here. It's just that sometimes the book takes on the form of ancient and boring texts, such as aesop's tales, the arabian nights, or the Odyssey. Narrators' characters narrate in their turn. Newcomers adopt painstakingly detailed orations of what new information they bring. As someone who looks forward to sad turns of the phrase and poetic insights, I was left cold by the fate of Mercedes, and Albert. There's something wrong in preparing me for caring about these innocent characters, then treating them coolly and giving them no closure. They were the key to humanizing the Count's revenge. These people were spared, but their destiny was not given enough gravitas. This sat ill with me, who was looking forward to see how well the endless flow of words would conclude. I feel the book is average and I feel my rating of two stars reflects my reaction to the book. Others will no doubt have different views.
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