Review: New Found Favorite!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 01 22, 2013
While many reviewers are quick to proclaim Edmond Dantes as a villain, I have to disagree. Granted his motives are far from pure as he seeks vengeance against those who had wronged him. He serves the ball into play, and it is up to the other characters as to what they do with the ball when it is in their court. They ruin themselves through greed, jealousy, or their desire for power without him putting a gun to their heads, or twisting their arms behind their backs.Most of the time it is the case where Dantes provides his enemies with enough rope to hang themselves and then sits back and watches the drama unfold. In one instance, he is horrified when one of his schemes progressed further than he had foreseen. He quickly becomes remorseful with some of the circumstances that he had set into motion.The Count of Monte Cristo is a very hefty book, with intricate plots, and lots of characters, but well worth the time. I look forward to reading it again as it seems like the type of book where you will get even more out of it the second or third time through it. This is definitely one of my new found favorites.