The Procrastinators Book Club discussion

Welcome to the The Count of Monte Cristo Buddy Read Discussion thread! This thread officially opens on June 1st and anyone can join at any time. Please keep in mind that spoilers are allowed in this thread but only up to the group's current reading place. Do not spoil the book if you've read further than the group. Any extra days can be used to catch up!

Each day we will be reading by chapters or page numbers. Page numbers are an approximation based on the hardcover or paperback that is the default on Goodreads. The suggested Buddy Read discussion schedule is as follows:

Week of 06/01
June 1: 1-5
June 2: 6 - 10

Week of 06/03
June 3: 11 - 14
June 4: 15 - 17
June 5: 18 - 21
June 6: 22 - 26
June 7: 27 - 30
June 8: 31 - 32
June 9: 33 - 34

Week of 06/10
June 10: 35 - 37
June 11: 38 - 40
June 12: 41 - 44
June 13: 45 - 48
June 14: 49 - 52
June 15: 53 - 56
June 16: 57 - 60

Week of 06/17
June 17: 61 - 65
June 18: 66 - 69
June 19: 70 - 73
June 20: 74 - 76
June 21: 77 - 78
June 22: 79 - 82
June 23: 83 - 86

Week of 06/24
June 24: 87 - 90
June 25: 91 - 95
June 26: 96 - 99
June 27: 100 - 104
June 28: 105 - 108
June 29: 109 - 113
June 30: 114 - 117


PARTICIPANTS
~ Brianna
~ Anushka
~ April
~ Hafs

Really looking forward to this one!

I was able to get a few chapters in during May so here are thoughts through end of Chapter 5: (view spoiler)[
The OG captain (Leclere) got sick and died randomly within 24 hours so like.... poison? foul play?
Danglers and Fernand are sus AF - not a fan. (hide spoiler)]

I agree about Danglers and Fernand. Also, the story seems to be at quite a fine pace so far. I was afraid things would drag, seeing as how big a book this is. I'm glad that's not the case. The arrest has me worried enough to want to read ahead, but I'll stick to the schedule. A little mystery is a good thing.

I feel horrible about the bride though. I could really punch a few characters for doing this on her big day.

Anushka wrote: "I feel horrible about the bride though. I could really punch a few characters for doing this on her big day."

Right?! Poor Mercedes being completely screwed over by someone she views as family (Fernand).

I also agree with how easy of a read this is for being a thick classic.

I’m going to hop onto this one if that’s okay?

I agree that the pacing is natural. I was worried it would drag, but we are only at the beginning so who knows.

I’m pretty sure, unless I misread, that Mercedes and Fernand are cousins? Creepy.

I am annotating bits as I go along, and there was a quote in chapter four that was foreshadowing for what’s to come- “but Dantès cannot stay in prison for ever; one day he will come out, and on that day, woe betide the one who put him there!” , and that really hints at Dantès possibly taking revenge and getting justice for what’s going to happen to him, and that aligns with the themes I’ve heard are present.

I'm rereading Wuthering Heights atm and cousins inter-marrying really seemed to be the norm back then. Creepy? For sure @sophie. But not unusual.

Revenge is really the major theme for this one and I'm already feeling for our poor hero and the hardships he'll go through to reach the point where he is bitterly consumed by the need for revenge.

It's too bad that this is such a famous book that I've been subjected to a few rather critical spoilers of this story in the other books that I've read. Haha.

I read this one before but I can't really remember much except that I loved it so I'll hopefully I won't be the "wait till you get to that part person lol

So far so good. I remember now why I hated some of the characters didn't take too long for them to remind me straight to the point.
Fernand doing all that bc of his fragile male ego and Danglers just wanted a promotion and Caderousse just being a hater?? like if you guys just went down to the pub the story would be over like hey Dantes we need to talk and then you'd solve it?? in literally 30 minutes but anywho so excited to continue I'm afraid I'll finish it in a week like last time hehe

Hahaha you're right about how things didn't need to be such a hassle @hafs. This seems to be all about the pride and idiocy of a few up until now.

I agree that it is such an easy read being a classic. I am loving it so far!

@Sophie - welcome! If I recall I also noted that quote - like talk about some foreshadowing!

@Anushka - I know I've seen the movie but it's been a bit and I don't recall a *ton* of details. I know it's a revenge story and there are definitely some twists but that's all I got. lol

@Hafs - if you finish this in a week - props lol I don't know if I could read a 1200 page classic that quick - no matter how easy to read it is.

through the end of chapter 10 (the little cabinet in the tuileres): (view spoiler)[
Chapter 6 was kind of confusing - was Villefort getting married or was he just there? Now he's going to make an example of Dantes only to prove a point that he is not like his dad and is truly a monarchist.
So... the letter Dantes had was for Villefort's dad and now Villefort has some sort of plot himself - oh the intrigue!
What the heck kind of BS did Villefort pull to get Dantes in prison without so much as a trial? Also - Why? He could have gotten away with being connected via his father if he just let Dantes go get married and live his life.
Ugh - not a fan of Villefort or Danglers or Fernand still. Of course Caderousse is just going to go drinking away his pain/emotions. (hide spoiler)]

Up to chapter 11

(view spoiler)[
@Brianna

I’m at the same point as you and as far as I could tell, Villefort was also due to get married that day to a woman called Renée, and I think he was talking to her and her parents.

I really feel for Dantés, you could feel how hopeful he was, and seeing it disappear in real time was heartbreaking.

Caderousse is just one big eye roll for me. He’s been involved in a life changing thing, and is treating it so frivolously as if he’s the victim. (hide spoiler)]

up through end of chapter 14:
(view spoiler)["...to fall and to learn of ones fall through the telegraph..." - oh technology just ruining everything lol
Villeforte's dad is kinda sneaky!
So after all this Danglers just leaves and goes to Madrid without a thought?! Ugh - he's the worst. (hide spoiler)]

To the end of chapter 14

(view spoiler)[ I just really feel awful for Dantés. Now his father has passed and he doesn’t even know! And it’s been seventeen months? Insane. At least he has had Morrel in his corner, even though that’s not really working out because Villefort is manipulating him. I’m looking forward to get to the treasure aspect of the story, now that it’s been mentioned. (hide spoiler)]

Sophie wrote: "To the end of chapter 14

[spoilers removed]"

@Sophie: (view spoiler)[The time going by so quick was unexpected! And probably by the end of the chapter it was over 2 years later - probably almost 3. I am certainly curious to see about the treasure and how Dantes makes friends with the Abbe. (hide spoiler)]

Hi, can I join you guys in reading this? I started it beginning of last month but stalled out 25% of the way in.

Up to the end of chapter 21

(view spoiler)[ Abbè is dead…..I’m glad Dantès at least had a companion for a little while.

The way Dantès escaped was very clever, and then he got thrown into the sea lol. At least he tried and ended well for him in the end with finding the boat and the seamen.

Again, there have been times that I’ve been a little lost with the timeline. I can’t believe he was inside for 14 years. I do wish that had been a little clearer.

I’m excited and curious to see how Dantès plans to get revenge on Fernand, Danglars and Villefort.

Also, I’d like to see what Mercedes has been up to, did she end up marrying Fernand? (hide spoiler)]

through the end of chapter 17: I continue to be surprised at just how easy this reads. I really like the Abbe but pretty much confirmed that he will not be around much longer. :(

I have been quite behind (and am still behind) but thoughts up through end of chapter 23: (view spoiler)[That escape was crazy and super brave of Edmond. How he got the treasure - I just have an inkling that someone saw him or knows what he got - I don't think he was fully alone on the island. I like that he's been pretending to be these other people (I think?) to talk to those from his past to piece together the real story. I wonder what he's going to do with all this information. (hide spoiler)]

Apologies for the lack of updates, I’ve been busy 🫣

Up to the end of chapter 65

(view spoiler)[ I’ll be honest, the last 10 chapters or so, I’ve been a little confused, so after reading I looked up some chapter summaries which definitely helped. It absolutely cleared up the whole Villefort situation, because as soon as he was back, (in the present May I add), I had to go back and read previous chapters bcs I swear I remembered that man dying lmao.

Quick question, does anyone know who Lucien is lol? I’m trying to find where he first popped up but I’m lost. (hide spoiler)]

I totally am lost with some characters I swear. I should've made some pictorial rep or something to keep me centred about who's who. Lol. And I'm way behind. Multiple reads does that to me and I still can't stop myself. Haha. Will catch up soon hopefully.

I am up through the end of chapter 85 and now that a lot of the pieces are starting to come together, I am using chapter summary's to help me make sure I am understanding and remembering things from many chapters back. The website that has been the best in my opinion is LitCharts (https://www.litcharts.com/lit/the-cou...). Now that things are coming together it's been super fascinating seeing how intricate his planning has been and all of the moving pieces involved.

Oooh. Thanks for the LitCharts suggestion. I think I'll check that out as well.

through the end - first can I just say let's be super proud we finished a 1200+ page book - a classic at that!
okay now for actual book thoughts & spoilers: (view spoiler)[I absolutely loved the Count's growth in this. As soon as bodies started dropping and really the bodies of the innocent, he started to re-think his plan for vengeance. It's crazy how intricate his planning went and for how long back he started laying down all the pieces. I think it ended on a positive with him realizing what he had in life and no longer wanting to smite every single person down. (hide spoiler)]

3.5 stars ✨

I finished it! Pause for a pat on the back- ok.

Let me start by saying that this one really surprised me, in both positive and negative aspects.

I loved the first 300 pages or so. There was a lot of emotional tension that built up momentum, but when it needed to go full force, it kind of fizzled out.

It definitely did need to be long, I completely get it, but I do think 200 pages or so could’ve been cut.

I would’ve liked a little more vengeance, and more of Monte Cristo being ruthless. When he behaved in that manner, it made it much more dark and high stakes, I loved it.

Overall, I can absolutely appreciate it, and I may have at some points considered it to be to my tastes, but in totality it wasn’t. I do wish I had given myself longer to read it, I think I may have liked it more if I had.

It really came full circle in the end. “Wait and hope”.