A review by mes91
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

adventurous dark emotional mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This is an immense read, the size alone is daunting. However I'd heard how accessible this classic is, and it absolutely is. 
Its size means we really get to explore the characters in detail and the payoff when it finally comes is so much more satisfying.

Edmond Dantes is such a loveable character right from the start that his betrayal is infuriating. And for me it makes it all the more sad to see how he molds himself later as the Count of Monte Cristo who can be so cold and unfeeling.

I did find that some of the subplots felt overly long and at the time don't make much sense to the narrative. But they do pay off eventually, but the middle did drag ever so slightly in those parts.

But the writing is so high a quality and the narrative so expertly done that its hard to call this anything but a work of genius.