Thursday, April 26, 2012

My one doorstop for this year


I haven't been reading doorstops lately. Just one look at these books, with their thick spines and pages running to more than 600 pages or so, is enough to make me feel all cringe-y.

But this year, the book club has chosen The Count of Monte Cristo as its book for June. Now, dear reader, I have yet to read a novel by Dumas, and I've heard several bibliophiles mention that this book as a favorite. This got me to thinking: I might as well read the unabridged edition, no?

So bring on those 1,000 pages! I could surely use a challenge, not to mention lots of caffeine.


14 comments:

Jack Tyler said...

Don't worry, amigo; if the book is as good as you hope it is, it will be waaaaay too short to satisfy you. If not, grab the Cliff Notes, speak when spoken to, and leave the meeting a less entertained, but much wiser man!

Peter S. said...

Hello, Jack! That's a great way to look at it!

Stepford Mum said...

This will be my third doorstop for the year, Peter, once I find an unabridged copy! I read Crimson Petal over the Holy Week, and recently finished Henry Fielding's Tom Jones. Jack's right - when the book is good, you don't notice the length. Plus it's a nice arm workout holding the book up :)

Peter S. said...

Hi, Stepford Mum! I hope you liked The Crimson Petal and the White as much as I did!

Kaz said...

Hi Peter,

I haven't got to this one yet. I've been staring at The Three Musketeers of Dumas for a long time for the same reason though...as well as my collection of Dickens (see one of my earlier posts on that). However, the lure of the bookshops keeps sidetracking me!

Just remember to swap the book from arm to arm - re the previous person's comment - so you have even bicep development!

Kaz

Peter S. said...

Hi, Kaz! For some reason, I haven't seen an adaptation yet of The Count of Monte Cristo although I've seen two of The Three Musketeers. Hmmmm... Weird.

Now bicep development. I can certainly use that! LOL.

sundersartwork said...

Great book , but your right, you get your moneys worth in terms of the size of it. I read it when i was a teenager, but i can barely remember any of it. I think iwas reading Ivanhoe at the time as well and then i drifted on to Dostoyevsky and was hooked on him. Monte Cristo is a big casino town now?. Or am i thinking of MONACO?.

Peter S. said...

Hi sundersartwork! At least you've read it. I'm 38 years old and I'm just going to read it now! Hehehehe.

Ryan said...

Loved this book when I was younger. I really should give it a go sometime soon to see if I still do.

Hope you love it.

Peter S. said...

I'm enjoying it so far, Ryan!

Mona said...

Yes, it's a doorstopper but the story moves quickly. You won't have time to get bored.

Peter S. said...

Hi, Mona! I just hope that I get to finish this in time for June. I stopped after a few chapters.

Ana said...

It took me 6 months to read it, and my unabridged version had 1500 pages, not 1000. It is AMAZING! One of the best things I've ever read indeed. Good luck!

Peter S. said...

Hi, Ana! Thanks! I need all the luck I can get!