I have fond memories of an elective course I took in college on classic literature that exposed me to Dickens and the Bronte sisters. Occasionally, I will read a classic novel for a break from the popular fiction I consume. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas has been on my radar since the release of the movie The Shawshank Redemption, which is based on the short story by Stephen King, Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption. You know, the scene where Andy tells his friend he would like the book because it’s about a prison break?

Every time I watch that movie I think, “I really need to read that book!” The movie was released in 1994, so I’ve been thinking and saying this for a few decades. I finally purchased the audiobook from Audible, narrated by Guy Mott. Surprisingly, it hasn’t stared at me from my ridiculously long TBR for too long. I decided to participate in a reading challenge this year organized by another book blogger, Runalong the Shelves, they named the 2024 Book-Tempter’s TBR Challenge. The April challenge is to read a book more than 60 years old. The perfect nudge I needed to read this door stopper of a book.

And I mean a DOOR STOPPER! I couldn’t imaging reading this book in print. I would need some serious help holding it. I’m happy with my decision to read the audiobook; it’s 55 hours! I think it’s the longest book I’ve ever read! I listened to this book for varying amounts of time every day and it took me three weeks to complete.

I truly enjoyed my time with the Count of Monte Cristo/Edmond Dantes. The story was captivating from start to finish. I anxiously awaited the famous prison break, which was everything I hoped for. There are so many characters, at times it felt like I was reading several different stories. The book pretty much covers Dantes’ entire life, yet at the end I wanted there to be more. I liked the ending, and yet, I feel like there is more story to be told. I don’t mean that anything was left unresolved, just that Dantes’ story wasn’t finished.

I quickly learned that this book is more than the prison break scene. It’s about love, suffering, and revenge. It’s a piece of literary art. I’m happy I finally read the book and feel inspired to read more classic literature.

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