[JPK]

Briar King, on 24 February 2017 - 02:14 AM, said:

JPK, on 23 February 2017 - 07:25 PM, said:

Briar King, on 23 February 2017 - 06:07 AM, said:

Listened to ch 5 but not posting thoughts since Ambien is kicking in.

I'm happy that you found a way to make this work BK. Who is doing the narration for the audio that you're listening to? I actually listened to it the first time I went through it too.

Yea no promises but it def worked out yesterday. I haven't listened at all today as I've been playing FF15 since I woke up. If I did manage to hear it all it ll be my very 1st audio. Look at Pucks link on pg 1. That's what I was using. Listen to a ch or so and tell me if he is doing justice to it. I like his Dang and Car voices. I ll try to atleast get a ch or 2 tonight.

It's not bad, but it has an odd off-putting sound quality issue that makes it sound like it's underwater to me. Do you have audible? If so, have you accepted a onebook suggestion? If you haven't yet, I could send you the suggestion for the one that I listened to a couple years ago and it'll let you download it for free.

[JPK]

Briar King, on 24 February 2017 - 02:48 AM, said:

I'm just using my iPhone to listen to it not any special ereader(I take it that's what an Audible is?)

So audible is amazon's audiobook service. They've got a nice app for iphone too.

[Andorion]

Finished the 15 chapters. I will post detailed thoughts later.

[Traveller]

Chapter 12 now.

Spoiler

I like the way Villefort was described as being very close to letting Dantes go... as his instinct told him of his innocence. But the way things escalate and the rewards he sees for himself take over completely, before he even finds out about his father's involvement.

At this stage the set up is working as intended - Dantes is looking like a total victim, of both circumstances and certain individuals.

(I mentioned earlier that it would be interesting to see the difference how much more I'd get out of the story since I last read it - so far I'm finding that having read so much on the Napoleonic era over the years has definitely helped to put everything in context.)

This post has been edited by Traveller: 24 February 2017 - 07:47 PM

[Andorion]

Briar King, on 25 February 2017 - 02:47 AM, said:

Listened to ch 10

Spoiler

intro of Louis 18th. I must admit I was at 1st really getting bored listening to him talk to the Duke and Master of Ceremonies. Lots of droning on and it was probably important but I lost focus. That changed when Villefore showed up. Things got interesting. He spun that shit around deftly didn't he?! Also that ending was def kinda cliffhangery!!

So when this was coming out how did it do so? A chap a week, month? A few chapters at a time?

Spoiler

Villefort is a very interesting character to follow. The way he plays the game...

[JPK]

Briar King, on 25 February 2017 - 02:47 AM, said:

Listened to ch 10

Spoiler

intro of Louis 18th. I must admit I was at 1st really getting bored listening to him talk to the Duke and Master of Ceremonies. Lots of droning on and it was probably important but I lost focus. That changed when Villefore showed up. Things got interesting. He spun that shit around deftly didn't he?! Also that ending was def kinda cliffhangery!!

So when this was coming out how did it do so? A chap a week, month? A few chapters at a time?

It looks like it was a few chapters at a time. I can't find a breakdown of how much came out in a particular issue though, only that it was in 18 parts.

[End of Disc One]

Are you guys reading the abridged version? My copy is over 1200 pages, Robin Buss translation: https://www.amazon.c...k/dp/B002RI9KL8

[Gabriele]

I didn't remember the book was so verbose. I read it years ago in a German (my native language) translation and it was just one of those typical 19th century novels - they tend to have a lot of description, narrative intrusions and inner monologues. But while my French reading competence is certainly good enough to cope with a book of this length and complexity, I'm not as fluent as I'm in reading English or Swedish. I have to guess some words from the context, which means rereading a sentence or even a paragraph occasionally (I try not to use a dictionary since that kicks me out of the reading) and that brings the verbosity more to the fore.

Strangely, I find it a bit more difficult reading than Balzac, but it's easier than Flaubert. I also read The Three Muketeers in French some time ago, and that was an easier read than the Count of Monte Christo.

[Mentalist]

Just read the 1st 15 chapters in one sitting.

Spoiler

Yeah, now I remember why I loved it as a kid- everything about it builds up a sense of total outrage over completely undeserved misfortune Dantes has to endure.

Villefort and Danglars are both the type of pencil-pushers who made "careerist" a slur that endured past the collapse of the Union. And, being a licensed pencil-pusher, I can't help feeling extra disgust (Kinda how Bakker's Kellhus makes the psych major in me seethe with indignation)

Villefort, of course, is all the worse since he straight up took away from Dantes the same love and happiness he was about to experience himself.

I obviously didn't pay as much attention to the social commentary when I was younger, but now the "big picture" issues.

We got Dantes finally meeting Faria now. let's see what happens...

[Andorion]

Thoughts on completing 15 chapters

Spoiler

1. The primary thing that sticks out is Dantes' innocence and naivety. Dumas clearly wants us to contrast those traits with the jealousy and vindictiveness of Fernand and Danglars, and the self-serving cruel nature of Villefort.

2. The second thing is the horrific nature of the French prison system and the callousness of the guards.

3. What remains to be seen of course is the future development of these characters - I am always interested in Mercedes.

[JPK]

Andorion, on 26 February 2017 - 03:41 AM, said:

Thoughts on completing 15 chapters

Spoiler

1. The primary thing that sticks out is Dantes' innocence and naivety. Dumas clearly wants us to contrast those traits with the jealousy and vindictiveness of Fernand and Danglars, and the self-serving cruel nature of Villefort.

2. The second thing is the horrific nature of the French prison system and the callousness of the guards.

3. What remains to be seen of course is the future development of these characters - I am always interested in Mercedes.

I finished up the last few chapters last night as well. I have one thought in response to yours, and then one of my own to make.

Spoiler

1. I agree that the contrast there is very clearly designed to stick out as much as it does. I think it goes beyond just the self-serving nature of Villefort to him being completely juxtaposed to Dantes though. I see it more as though but for the whims of fate Dantes and Villefort could easily have exchanged places. If the situation of Dantes and the letter had fallen to any judge beyond Villefort, Dantes would have walked free and M Noirtier would have been fingered and Villefort would have fallen with him. More so than any of the other antagonists I feel that Villefort is the push to Dantes' pull.

My other thought is about Danglar. Having let his jealousy of Dantes' coming promotion to captain provoke him into setting up the framing job, he then allows his fear of Dantes potential return with the favor of Bonaparte push him into leaving the ship and not obtaining that promotion that was the very source of his jealousy and Dantes' misfortune in the first place.

Oh, and EoDO I'm reading the same edition as you.

I also updated the OP with the chapters and dates for week 2.

This post has been edited by JPK: 26 February 2017 - 06:32 PM

[Andorion]

I.. um.. may have finished this weeks quota last night...


..What? I really like this book!

[Andorion]

Briar King, on 27 February 2017 - 01:59 AM, said:

Andorion, on 27 February 2017 - 01:11 AM, said:

I.. um.. may have finished this weeks quota last night...

Go fucking figure.

It's still Sun for next 4 hrs for me. I have 1 ch left. It's a big one at 35 minutes. Avg is around 21. I ll try and get it done in time.

I am going to take it easy now, maybe only 2 chapters a day

[JPK]

Briar King, on 27 February 2017 - 03:10 AM, said:

I have finished ch 15. I'm sure that was one of those cliffhanger endings in the magazine. Very enjoyable to listen to these so far. I hope I'm able to keep up but Horizon comes out this Tuesday and I'm sure it will wind up taking most of my free time. At least I was able to keep up for wk1 though.

Spoiler

How did you handle those last two chapters with your whole hating underground sections thing?

Andorion, on 27 February 2017 - 01:11 AM, said:

I.. um.. may have finished this weeks quota last night...


..What? I really like this book!

I know that you mentioned elsewhere that you've had a hard time understanding why most of the classics that you've been reading for your challenge have achieved classic status. From what you've read so far, does this one break that mold?

[Traveller]

Now the scene is set and the characters and motives are established, it really starts to pick up, if I remember.

Into chapter 16 now, certainly enjoying it a much as much as at the last time I read it, but obviously the cliffhangers don't have the same impact.

[Andorion]

JPK, on 27 February 2017 - 03:45 AM, said:

Briar King, on 27 February 2017 - 03:10 AM, said:

I have finished ch 15. I'm sure that was one of those cliffhanger endings in the magazine. Very enjoyable to listen to these so far. I hope I'm able to keep up but Horizon comes out this Tuesday and I'm sure it will wind up taking most of my free time. At least I was able to keep up for wk1 though.

Spoiler

How did you handle those last two chapters with your whole hating underground sections thing?

Andorion, on 27 February 2017 - 01:11 AM, said:

I.. um.. may have finished this weeks quota last night...


..What? I really like this book!

I know that you mentioned elsewhere that you've had a hard time understanding why most of the classics that you've been reading for your challenge have achieved classic status. From what you've read so far, does this one break that mold?

Oh absolutely. You see, here stuff actually happens, and it feels like there is a point to the story. As opposed to say Emma by Austen, which is a bunch of people talking.

[Aptorian]

I'm having serious trouble getting into this book. I thought I would get through the 16 chapters during the weekend and just couldn't force myself to finish them.

It's not actually the book I think, I'm just out of "reading shape", but it doesn't help that the chapters are pretty flowery.

On the other hand I find it interesting the way the book is written. It reminds me of stage plays, you can almost recognize how the different scenes and acts would play out on a stage. The way the characters speak or should I say spar is also very reminiscent of things like Shakespearean prose. I love how every exchange of words reads like somebody having a contest of wits and will. There's so much hidden meaning and navigating of traditions in every sentence, it feels like watching two lawyers debating.

I'm taking a day off tomorrow. I think I have to force myself to sit in a chair and read until I either give up or get hooked.

[Traveller]

Read 17 last night. It is quite long but it's pretty epic.

Spoiler

Although it's a pity that when Faria saw the 'light of vengeance' shining in Edmonds eyes, that he didn't give him a bit more advice about the end results of such a course.

[Traveller]

Chapter 20 -

Spoiler

'cliff hanger' heh. Great build up of tension, expectation and ending.

This post has been edited by Traveller: 28 February 2017 - 12:24 PM

[Traveller]

Opposite for me, I'm hooked all over again.

I was reading it at work whenever I could today. Chapter 29... gaining momentum!

Loved the whole

Spoiler

escape, and his subsequent return to Marseille. Dantes now loses his name iirc - he's now referred to as whatever the current disguise warrants. It kind of starts to distance him from the Edmond of the first chapters though, as the desire for revenge takes hold.