I finally finished the The Count of Monte Cristo last night. What can I say, except that it was a Thoroughly entertaining book.

Edmond Dante’s, engaged to Mercedez, is arrested on his wedding night and sent to a prison Island to waste away for 14 years of his life (Edmond is 19 I believe when this happens). In Prison he meets an Italian who teaches him to become a “man of the world”, and upon Edmond’s escape, he seeks to work out a 10 year plan to avenge his imprisonment.

The revenge that he pays back to his adversaries is delivered in spades. Ultimately, it makes revenge stories, like the modern day series The Crow seem almost clumsy by comparison. Alexander Dumas is a master story teller with a knack for poetic language.

** SPOILER ALERT **

I was disappointed with a feel details of the ending. Firstly, that his relationship with Mercedez is not fully repaired. Rather it’s left with a sort of ambiguous ending in which the reader can only hope that Mercedez finds happiness and Edmond Dantes returns to sweep her off her feet. But Dumas’s writing style seems to indicate the two have retired any hope of patching up the damage that has already been done. Although, Dante’s does hint that he would seek to win over Mercedez’s son in order to secure her aquaintence again. It was the one dangling plot line that I felt should have been resolved.

Rather Dumas resolves the relationship between Valentine and Maximilian Morrel, something I always considered to be secondary to the revenge plot, but it ended the story in an almost too-Hollywood style ending. Regardless, it didn’t diminish the enjoyment of the Novel.

It was at times humerous, at others infuriating, and always emotionally riveting. When the revenge is exacted upon Dante’s adversaries, it is always done with an understanding that Dantes is acting as an agent of “Providence”, and not out of cold blooded revenge. But make no mistake, I found myself smiling with the fall of Caderousse, Fernand, Villefort, and Danglars.

My work here is done. Thank you.

Well done! Your bi-annual updates on your progress have been a joy, an absolute joy.

I've spent the whole afternoon using teeth whitening products and reading short stories by Dostoevsky. I haven't read any novels for a good 6 months now (I usually read Eastern philosophy in bits and all out of sequence), so I'm trying to work my way back into it with these short stories of around 30-150 pages each.

Fauxie said:

OH lawd, I'm picturing me siting in a room in which you read me eastern philosophy. With that cultured accent of yours, it would be like you whispering sweet nothing's to me.

Imago said:

You need to be defiled.

Wait, I'm just playing into your hands aren't I?

Wait, you'll make something out of 'playing into your hands' too, won't you?

Yeah, what a complete self serving thread.

jerseykrs said:

Self-serving is right. Put your hands where I can see them, Somchai.

LOVED the movie!!!!

Ocean said:

I can't seem to think of you in a sexual way with that avatar. I can't work out why.

Change it now, for yourself, for me, for the good of all mankind.

Fauxie said:

It's because my arse is missing isn't it

Ocean said:

Well, that and the fact that your Dan is in abundance.

Fauxie said:

Yeah but his arse is mine

Ocean said:

You can have it!

Fauxie said:

um oh ..maybe I can auction it?

Ocean said:

Start low.

Fauxie said:

Ur just wanting it at a good price

Ocean said:

Somehow I think there is no 'good price'.

you assholes!
This isn't about avatars and auctioning ass! This is about Edmond Dante's and his sweet sweet revenge!

Imago said:

Dude, you read a book all the way through. That is not going to cut it on the org. You should be thanking us.

Why does the word Monte Cristo make me hungry. Is it a food?

luv4all7 said:

I think it's a euphemism for ass. I don't understand half of what Imago says and I've learnt to just assume he's talking about ass most of the time.

Fauxie said:

Are U saying I'm hungry for a piece of ass?

Fauxie said:

You can forget ever receiving a copy of IMAGO magazine this year mister!

Imago said:

luv4all7 said:

No, I'm saying Imago is hungry for anything that might entail the word ass, the use of ass, his name in reference to ass, or anyone who writes a reply that doesn't include the words 'fuck off, and stay away from my ass'.

Fauxie said:

Dan is hungry for any and all attention. Period.

jerseykrs said:

He deserves ALL the attention he gets!

luv4all7 said:

luv4all7 said:

True. He certainly deserves a bigger penis. I mean, he is half-American after all, so it just doesn't seem fair.