Finished: The Count of Monte Cristo (Dumas). I loved it! One of my favorites so far! It was so long, but so worth every page. I can't imagine a chapter being left out. Finally, there were some characters to love, as well as the ones who always seem prominent in novels to loath! The characters were rich, the conversations were detailed and lively, the historical references made me actually put down the book and take a small lesson in some French history, the scenic descriptions were vivid, and the emotions evoked were quite worthy.

I don't usually like to read a book, or see a movie, about an innocent person who is unjustly accused and punished by evil people. And, this was no exception in that I hated the suffering that Edmond went through, and that his father and fiance were left so heartbroken at his circumstances. Then, to have him despairing away in prison for so many years was hard to read. However, I just knew that he would somehow get out and take his vengeance. He had to because there were so many pages left to read. :-) And, the vengeance was yummy on all counts!

I wasn't completely satisfied with the ending, and who he ended up with...or with the fact that he made Maximillian wait so long in his grief. But...overall, I do believe this book is going on the favorites list! It would be really hard to pinpoint so many of my favorite snippits of writing, but here is one example of the writing I found so delightful:

"It happened that on that particular night the minister's box was placed at the disposal of Lucien Debray, who offered it to the Comte de Morcerf, who again, upon his mother's rejection of it, sent it to Danglars, with an intimation that he should probably do himself the honour of joining the baroness and her daughter during the evening in the event of their accepting the box in question. The ladies received the offer with too much pleasure to dream of a refusal. To no class of person is the presentation of a gratuitous opera-box more acceptable than to the wealthy millionaire, who still hugs economy while boasting of carrying a king's ransom in his waist-coast-pocket."

Love that! :-)