The Count of Monte Cristo

What a great classic!!! This is another one of those books that must stay on your bookshelf. This is a riveting novel about revenge and the patience to wait for it. The novel begins with laying out the background for the revenge and introducing you to Edmond Dantes through the events that happen within a couple of days/weeks. Edmond Dantes is a very young, trusting and noble man who honors his father and adores Mercedes, who he plans to marry upon his return from sea. But while out to sea the captain becomes ill and asks Edmond to complete a task for him before he passes away. This tasks sets off a landslide of terrible events for Edmond. After returning home, Edmond prepares to marry Mercedes and is arrested during their betrothal breakfast. When he was arrested he met the deputy who made a verbal agreement with Edmond that he was free, but the deputy needed him to wait. Edmond soon found himself being taken to the island where the prison is located and not understanding what was happening. Edmond eventually ends up in a dungeon where he spends four years before meeting a priest who is in a cell near him and they become fast friends. While spending time with the priest, Edmond learns of a family treasure that is hidden and agrees when they get out they would find it. The priest eventually dies while in prison and Edmond uses this to his advantage to get out, dressing in the death clothes. Edmond soon finds himself being thrown over a cliff and into the sea. He survives and begins his long journey of revenge…

So with that I leave you to read the book…just watch out for all the twists that will happen, you will be hooked.

A book is only as good as the discussion that can rise from it.

Well I have not been keeping to my promise of blogging more…Thank you GranolaMom for “reminding” me. For the last two weeks, we have had some colds that hit everyone and Bubba has a double ear infection. So to say it has been kind of miserable in our household is an understatement. So that is my excuse.

About two weeks ago, I was invited by a friend to join a book club with her and some other ladies that I know from church. This is really exciting to me, because I have always wanted to do one with all the reading I do but never have. So of course I was “yes, sign me up” and then she told me that they were reading the Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas. My thinking- “Oh, classic I have never read. I can do this within two weeks.” I did not realize that it was 618 pages and at first I was thinking “What have I gotten myself into?” But I rose to the challenge (with a little help of 2 sick days) and finished the book by this past Saturday morning. Yes, the house did not get clean nor did the laundry. But the kids did get fed and bathed, so it was not a complete distraction.

The book was great, but I will discuss that in the next post. Last night was my first meeting of the book club, which we meet at a coffee/bakery place pretty close to my house (which was really nice and convenient). At first I was a little worried, because I was not fully sure that I was at the right place because there is another one about 10 miles down the road and I was the only one there. But I figured if no one else was there by seven, then I would head to the other one. So I ordered my large chai tea and a glass of water, but it wasn’t long before another member showed up.

The group was great. There were 7 of us and all the different backgrounds of everyone. We had a very good discussion about the book through the use of questions on cards. I had never seen the cards before, but they were really good and did create some discussion. It was interesting to see all the different versions of the book everyone had.

Thank you for inviting me to join and I am looking forward to our next meeting.