Book Review: The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

I have longed to read this book since the movie came out. I was told many times from different people that it is very different than the movie. They are correct. 

“The Count of Monte Cristo” by Alexanre Dumas is a complex story that spans 23 years where a man wrongly thrown in prison escapes after 14 years and seeks his revenge on those whose lies put him there. This is a book with over a thousand pages that is filled with rich detail and intertwining storylines that draw you in and makes you want to find out just how far it will go before it ends. 

It became a little overwhelming in some parts because of the audio, I think. If I ever get the time to read it again, I will do it with just the book so I can be drawn into it a bit more. I think even though the audio helps get through it faster since you can listen when you can't read, for me, it sometimes loses some of the depth that comes with being IN the book. 

The characters are very well developed. The details of every scene are incredibly vivid. The author did a great job of diving into so many different lives and situations but managed to bring each one to a conclusion at last quarter of the book. If you have seen the movie, you know that Edmond was betrayed by several men. That part is true in the book, but it is done just a bit differently. Each of those men are in this book, plus one that isn't in the movie. The Count visits those lives and plays a role in how things turn out. We do get to see some of their lives before the Count shows up. 

Edmond takes on several different disguises and personas, if you will, after escaping from the prison. In the movie we only see him as the Count. He not only takes an interest in the men who wronged him, but he also goes to find those whom he loved and who were good to him. Many strange things happen and not everything is as it seems. You'll find mystery and intrigue throughout the story. There is a bit of romance, yet it isn't a huge part of the book. 

I have a beautiful copy of the book, but I chose to listen to it on audible because of the length. The audio was 53 hours long. I kept track of what page I ended on with the actual book. I sometimes followed along in the book, especially the last part of the story. The audio helped me pronounce the names correctly and the narrator did a great job of bringing the characters to life. I still love the movie for its story and now I love the book for itself. 

​If you love a book that is long, full of details and descriptions that take you on the adventure with each page you turn, you should grab a copy of this book and be prepared to spend hours in the world of Edmond Dantes aka. the Count of Monte Cristo.