Reading the Chunksters discussion

The Count of Monte Cristo

The below schedule is based on the Penguin Classic edition translated by Robin Buss

2/22/13 Introduction - Ch VII p 1 -72
3/1/13 Ch VIII - XV p 72 - 148
3/8/13 Ch XVI - XXIII p 148 - 227
3/15/13 Ch XXIV - XXX p 227 - 300
3/22/13 Ch XXXI - XXIV p 300 - 380
3/29/13 Ch XXXV - XXXIX p 381 - 456
4/5/13 Ch XL - XLV p 456 - 525
4/12/13 Ch XLVI - LII p 525 - 597
4/19/13 Ch LIII - XL p 597 - 678
4/26/13 Ch LXI - LXVIII p 678 - 751
5/3/13 Ch LXIX - LXXIV p 751 - 821
5/10/13 Ch LXXV - LXXX p 821 - 896
5/17/13 Ch LXXXI - LXXXVIII p 896 - 979
5/24/13 Ch LXXXIX - XCVI p 979 - 1051
5/31/13 Ch XCVII - CV p 1051 - 1129
6/7/13 Ch CVI - END p 1129 - 1243

I know this is an ambitios schedule but from what I have read this book reads faster than many of the classics. if people fall behind we can always add in a break or reconfigure the schedule to 50 page sections.

Works great for me! Thanks Andrea.

I read while commuting so how much I read depends on how tired I am but I'll do my best to keep up:) Thanks for taking this on, Andrea

My copy is due back @ the library Monday. I will try to renew it.

Thanks Andrea! I am happy for the fast-paced schedule, since I think I will be more likely to stick to this instead of racing ahead. (I royally failed at sticking to the schedule for the Umberto Eco side read!!!)

This will be my first read with the group.....I probably won't start until Mar 1, due to other reading challenges. Hopefully I won't get too far behind.

Glad you are joining us JoLene! I think you will be fine :)

I'm really disappointed. I was really looking forward to rereading this book with the group, but my work schedule has been totally crazy lately (50-60 hours a week). I haven't even had time to start The Count of Monte Cristo yet, and it's already week 6. Maybe after my two project deadlines next week I'll be able to catch up.

We seem to be a bit behind schedule (at least I know that I am), so please join when you can

I had never read this before but assumed that I knew the story because I had seen several movie versions. I wasn't sure how the story could be stretched out so long. Now it is like a soap opera- sort of trashy, not at all believable, and hard to stop wanting to know what is next. I'm enjoying this much more than I expected to and find it hard not to laugh out loud at the improbability of some of the lines.

Anne, I am in the same boat as you - I am just about to finish the first section. I keep chugging along though because I think at some point I will be able to catch up since when I do get going it reads fast!

SherrieL, I am glad that you joined us! I agree this book reads like a soap...hahahah

I totally agree with you Sherri! Going in I expected this to be some sort of serious work, but instead I do feel like I am reading a mid-1800's soap opera. Not complaining though---I've been quite enjoying this so far :)

Should we re-think the schedule? It seems like everyone, including me, is way behind. I'm enjoying the book anyway... Still, it would be great if we could have some discussion.

Or maybe I'm the only one still reading it?

I had set aside for some other reading but am also still interested. When it seemed like no one else was discussing, I got side tracked :-)

I am also still reading and would love it if we could kick some life into the discussion. I feel all alone in this adventure:)

I am still reading, but I am behind. Right now I'm on page 559.

I'm behind by about three weeks. I will catch up as soon as I'm done with some library books that are due right away.

I'm only on page 300. :-(

Hi guys, I'm so sorry I'm also really behind. I do plan on reading this weekend but I'm not sure when I will catch up. Do we want to change the schedule or keep it as is with the hopes that people will catch up?

Since it seems that everyone, including me, is far behind, I vote to change the schedule so we can all read together (I hope).

I would vote to change the schedule as well. I was enjoying it, but since no one seemed to be reading I got side-tracked. Are others still interested?

I'm interested. I'm not setting it aside until it's done. Even if it takes a while...

Did this end? I checked it out from the library months ago and waited to start with y'all, but someone put a hold on it and I to return it. I want to order it. Is anyone still reading it?

I am still reading it. :) I am not keeping up with the schedule though. Right now I'm on page 696.

I'm reading it too.

I was reading it but put it down at about page 380 because I wasn't keeping up with the schedule and I didn't think anyone else was reading.

I started reading another book for another group I'm in instead but I would love to pick up the book again and have a discussion.

I'm about the same as Ellen in terms of progress.

I bought this book today to start reading. Hopefully I'll be able to catch up.

According to the schedule, the discussion should have officially ended, though of course Goodreads discussions really have no end date but go on as long as people are interested.

But it seems to be getting on for time to nominate and vote for the next Classic Chunkster.

Everyman, Andrea is in the process of re-working the schedule for those people who are behind and still want to finish this book. I'm wondering though, should we see if there's interest in nominating another and making this one a side read??

I will post in the Gen discussion thread bout this. So comment there, and we'll keep this thread for TCOMC.

Hi Everyone,

I want to apologize as I have not been around for the last couple of weeks. I had asked what people wanted to do and then I was not able to get back here and work on it.

It looks like there is a lot of interest with turning this into a side read - this is fine with me.

Since we have a few peoplw that are new and many that are behind do we want to pick a starting page of say 500 in a couple of weeks and then we can move forward from there? The reason I say this is that I hate to have the people that are ahead have to wait months for everyone new and behind to catch up.

I can rework the schedule with smaller amounts of reading with a starting point of July 6th and then we can continue discussing from there.

I'm open to any idea you guys have so if you can think of a better way to do this feel free to suggest away and we can discuss again as a group.

Sounds good. I have the book but I didn't manage to read it at the same time as 1Q84. I'll give a try if you reschedule. I'll start reading this week to get caught up.

I have a different edition so if you could again include chapter numbers as well as page numbers, that would be great.

I hope you guys do continue this as a side read if there continues to be interest. For those of us who started to read this in February, though, it would be nice to move on to something new. I really like the concept of this group and have been looking forward to the next book selection. :)

- E

I've caught up but I'm not going to wait, I'm just going to continue now because I want to finish this by the end of the summer season for challenges (end of August).

Maybe if something like this happens again the rest of the threads could just be posted so people can comment whenever they get there? It does sound like some people might still be reading.

Rosemary, I am so sorry, I truly dropped the ball on this book and I feel horrible! I checked back after my last post and there was only one comment so I thought I would give people a little more time to add their thoughts on what we should do to finish the book. I then got extremely busy at work and never got back. If people are still reading I am happy to post some threads so the few of us reading can at least finish the book. I will check back this weekend to see if there are any responses.

Thanks, Andrea

I'm am resolved to finish it before the year ends.

I'm still eager to read this book. I fell way behind and dropped out because it seemed like nobody else was reading it. But I'd happily start up again.

I'm still slowly pegging away at it (amidst a lot of other books). Andrea's "before the year ends" seems about where my finishing goal has been pushed back.

Okay so it looks like there are 5 of us still reading this, that's great! I can make a schedule that will take us from Sunday til the end of the year. Does that seem like a good idea?

Also, should I start at the beginning or is there a general area of the book where we want to start from?

That sounds good to me. I'm currently on chapter 55, so about halfway there?

I'm only on chapter 35 and I have forgotten a lot of what I've read.

Maybe start when he gets out of jail?

I just finished, but I'd still love to participate in the discussion. Start whereever, IMO.

I'm on Chapter 46

I'm not sure where I am --- he's out of jail, but that's about all I remember. Like the story, but have a couple other chunksters including the 2 the group is reading now --- too many books, too little time.

Okay, I'll figure out the point when he gets out of jail and see if tht that is a good place to start our new schedule.

Okay, I'll figure out the point when he gets out of jail and see if tht that is a good place to start our new schedule.

I am still interested in reading this with the group. I am on page 705ish.

Wow, you are more than half way!

So you guys are all ahead of me but I'm catching up fast or at least trying hard!

I think I am the only one not over 500 pages but I was thinking we could discuss either pages 1-250 or 1-500? I think this would get us going again but I am open to any idea anyone has. Since we are all at very different places it is hard to pick a specific place to pick back up again.

I'm only up to about page 380, though I'll have to go back a good bit to refresh my memory. What if we do a two-week start of 1-500 so us slow pokes can catch up and then take it from there?