Sunday, July 26, 2009

The Sunday Salon: Big Thick Book

I was a bit mortified to realize that I haven't reviewed a book in nearly three weeks. I've been having an odd reading summer since I've been concentrating on re-reading classics or reading them anew. For the past week I've been immersed in an unabridged version of The Count of Monte Cristo. Again, this is one of those books that I can't believe, in all my years of literature courses, that I've never read. I don't remember it ever even being on a reading list! But one of my friends says this is her favorite book and another suggested I have my World Lit students read it, so I finally ordered it.

Now I'm having a hard time putting it down. I am only 200 pages into this 1200-page book, and I was wrapped up in the story from the first page. I need to get some serious reading time in, more than just 30 minutes before falling asleep each night, or I'll be reading this until December!

But today promises to be a gray, rainy day—exactly the kind of day for reading a big, thick book after church. If only I can stay awake.

7 comments:

Table Talk said...

When I was a child I had a dramatized version of 'The Count of Monte Cristo' on a LP record. It was superb. What's more, it was accompanied by extracts from Tchaikovsky's Sixth Symphony. I can never hear that now without being transported back into Dumas' world.

JoAnn said...

I loved 'The Count' when I read it a few years ago! It is truly an all-consuming book.

serendipity_viv said...

Can't wait to hear what you think. It sounds like a huge book to read. I may have to look out for it, if it is that good.

gautami tripathy said...

I loved it! Dumas is a great story teller!

crochet lady said...

I love that story, but have never read the book. Hope you post what you think after finishing it.

Andrea said...

I'm a lurker (enjoy reading your reviews). I really like The Count of Monte Cristo. It is one of those books that makes me disappear from the family for a while - definitely hard to put down! I hope you enjoy it!

hopeinbrazil said...

Like you I discovered Count of MC at a later time in my literary meanderings. I don't know how I missed it, but I'm sure glad I finally made the effort to read it.