Great point.

Fair enough. I loved everything in between. I love reading about political scheming, or seeing a master plan slowly coming together. The middle portion/bulk of the book was that and I was riveted. I can see how it would be tedious if that sort of thing doesn't appeal to you. As for me, by the time I was approaching the end, I didn't want it to end.

Or maybe you just didn't like it. Not everything works for everyone.

Not sure what to tell you except that you can choose to scroll past. Personally, I haven't read any other reddit posts about it. I just loved it and felt like sharing my thoughts. :-) EDIT: Downvoted for this? Some of you are grumpy gills lol.

You're right, that's a part of the tragedy of the story, and Edmond doesn't realize it until it's too late. Only thing I disagree on is that Fernand and Mercedes had a happy marriage; I definitely don't believe she was happy, other than having Albert. But I get what you mean, it was more or less functioning.

Oh, you most definitely should read the book. Funny thing is that hardly anything from the book is spoiled for you.

You perfectly summed up what I love about the character of Edmond Dantes. Quite possibly one of my favorite protagonists I've read about.

Yes, I read the unabridged version. :-)

I used to think this, but as much as I love the LOTR films, I wouldn't call them better. I think they're masterful films which make the most of telling the story in a cinematic medium (albeit with many changes). My biggest problem with them is something that another person mentioned, that they fall into the trap of reducing certain characters (like Gimli) to comic relief. I also thought Faramir's movie characterization suffered in comparison to the book, and I remember the Shelob sequence being far scarier in the book than in the film. The movies are still excellent, with terrific casting, production value, and a clear love for the story. And Howard Shore's music.

The book, meanwhile, makes the most of being essentially an epic myth. It's been several years since I've read it, but thinking back on it, I think the book gives a sense of just how much time passes over the course of the story, making Middle Earth feel that much more like a real world in which these people inhabit, real people whose lives were disrupted by the One Ring.

As someone who is very nostalgic for the movie Holes (my 4th grade class read the book, and then saw the movie together as a class when it came out), I have to agree with this. I still really like the movie, but it is very early 00s in style (even down to having Even Stevens-era Shia LaBeouf as its star).