Bienvenue à Paris - The Count of Monte Christo, thread 2

Yes, all that sneaking around and then « who cares! » although from Max’s pov also desperate times!

Yesterday's chapter when a distraught Maximilian bursts in on a grief stricken Villefort is actually quite funny.

Todays chapter also funny as you see the Count tie Danglars in knots. Danglars sees it too but can't do anything about it.

I agree - the last few chapters have been great!

I also love all the fantastical elements like buying the house next door and installing a secret bookcase. Or putting on a different hat and becoming unrecognisable. I hadn't expected the book to be so amusing.

I'd be keen on another read along. I did try Les Mis many years ago and gave up as it was heavy going. But with you all explaining it to me I may have more luck

I’ve finally caught up after lagging behind for a few weeks. I’ve got to say I’m really enjoying the book again after struggling in the middle quite a bit. I think I would have given up if it wasn’t for the thread!

This weeks chapters were particularly good. I haven’t quite worked out how the Count has managed to fashion a secret sliding bookcase hideout next to Valentine’s room without anyone noticing. 😂Also absolutely loving Eugenie’s character and story.

Registering interest for Les Mis next year.

@LuckyMauveReader I fancy doing a read along to Don Quixotic, it's been sitting on my TBR shelf for a while. But I need a readalong break, I really enjoy them but it also complete interferes with my normal reading! So not Don Quixotic next 😂

@AgualusasLover agree it would be best for readalongs to stay here (and thank you for being our leader!) Although I have enjoyed others on Insta and Substack, there is a unique flavour to Mumsnet book chats and I wouldn’t want to change that! I know I can come here for feminism and snark and humour that I wouldn’t see elsewhere!

I think it’s fine for our readalongs to stay here, they work quite well - this one has been going for a good while, as has the Really Dated one and of course Piggy’s Dickensalongs have been going since I can remember. Another platform opens us up to a wider range of people (for better or for worse).

I will collate all the suggestions once we’ve finished and we can muse on them a bit.

I have a feeling those of us who haven’t yet finished will be doing so at various points over the next two weeks, it’s quite hard not to read on.

Les Mis is a great film, so tackling the book, I hope, will be better. I had a look at the book in Waterstones and it's a doorstop. It will be a book I will look forward to reading.

Although I am slightly biased, what about Don Quixote? It sounds a little like The Count, as in it would be as adventurous but also humorous.

I went on to Substack to have a look at their read-alongs, but their page setups don't appeal to me. The chat/threads seem like they could get a little disjointed.

Is there anywhere else anyone can recommend for a parallel read-along?

Will do, LuckyMauveReader!

I think we may tackle Les Mis next January, but we need to decide on another book before that.

I'll second that @FuzzyCaoraDhubh . It's been a great way to spend time every day.

I'm looking forward to the next book. Has it been chosen yet? I hope to get both Spanish and English versions to improve my language skills. As soon as it's decided, please let me know so I can get both books in time. 💐

For a moment ('My father is not involved in this fearful plot...'...'No...' I was struck by Villefort's fundamental decency, then caught myself!

Agree that Villefort is an awful father. Only got to look at how he lets Mme indulge him to see that.

Valentine is different because of her mother's / maternal family influence.

I've really got enjoyed the last few chapters and have also had to resist reading on.

I finished it today. Can’t wait for you all to catch up! Things to talk about!!

Thanks Agua. This has been a brilliant readalong. I'll look forward to our next one after a break.

I feel very sorry for Noirtier in this episode. Poor man can hardly give expression to his grief.

Well, what a look of drama. The Count being all Friar Lawrence, let’s hope he has more success.

Next week:

Monday: Maximilien
’Villefort got up …’

Tuesday; The Signatures of Baron Danglars
‘The following day dawned sad …’

Wednesday: The Pere La Chaise Cemetery
’M. Boville had indeed crossed the route …’

Thursday: The Share-Out
’The first floor in the house on …’

Friday: The Lion’s Pit
’One sector of La Force …’

Saturday:The Judge
’It will be recalled that Abbé Busoni…’

9 chapters after this, making 24 May the end.

I expect we’d need a break to relax, read other things, watch adaptations before starting anything else.

I am up to date and sitting on my hands not to read ahead!

I'm starting to hope that as well as some justice for those who wronged Edmond we might get some happy endings for our friends? The Count certainly seems to be quite fond of Valentine even if it's just because he decided he would look out for Morrell.

I'll do another read along one day, but this has had me baffled so I often I think I will take a break!

Just imagine lying in bed and having the handsome, pale Count of Monte Cristo slowly enter your room via a sliding bookcase

Poor old Val, she's mortified at the idea that the count has been spying on her!

Pretty dramatic chapter but I think it's fair to assume that not all is as it seems!

Actually I think I was getting a little carried away there 😂

I also forgot to say thanks to @MotherOfCatBoy and @JaninaDuszejko for the info about substack. That's very helpful. I think I will probably just stick to the MN read alongs for now, but I'll put substack read alongs on my mental list of things to do when I retire and have more time to read books! Unless I succumb to the temptation earlier.

Lol @cassandre 😄😄

Good point Fuzzy about the Count stepping into the father role for Valentine. I agree that Villefort falls short on the family love side. Even in terms of his relationship with his own father, he has always seemed more motivated by a desire to preserve the family reputation than by any genuine affection.

Presumably he's not madly in love with his wife either, given that he had an affair with Mme Danglars.

DuPain I love the idea of the Count as a Slytherin, ha!

I liked the chapter when he visits Valentine (haven't caught up with today's chapter yet). Just imagine lying in bed and having the handsome, pale Count of Monte Cristo slowly enter your room via a sliding bookcase. Sadly the bookcase in my bedroom seems irrevocably fixed in place 😂

Yes DuPain! It's quite the turnaround!
Is it fair to say that Villefort is a failure as a parent? He seems to sit there with his head in his hands rather than do anything useful.

Some really great chapters, I agree with all the comments above. The Count seems to have made up for his original indifference about Valentine’s fate now that he knows Morrell cares about her - he’s such a Slytherin 😄

It's very clear that the Count is taking on the role of father and guardian instead of Villefort. Villefort seems blind with regard to his wife. The only thing he's interested in is his work and bringing common criminals to justice. It's all about his reputation, of course and keeping his good name.

These two chapters 'The Apparition' and 'Locusta' are brilliant. I had to skim read 'Locusta' yesterday. It was too difficult not to read on! Poor Valentine!

I also thought that 'The Law' was excellent. The irony of it all; Villefort and Mme Danglars wondering about the identity of the criminal Benedetto, was too good.

I don't think he does, because Valentine is carefully guarded during the day but is left alone at night in a room which is accessible to Mme Villefort. But, but, how can he not?!