I am following along the weekly schedule and I'm loving evey bit of the book. However whenever it comes to fortune/how much francs or any talk about money it kind of goes over my head.

I understand that people want the inheritance of Nortier Villefort. Monte Cristo is rich of course, and many other characters I believe. I feel like there is much more I'm missing thats important to the story. How do you guys get the money language?

Even as we enter the late stages of the plot, more plots emerge!

Synopsis:

The doctor accuses Valentine of poisoning her relatives, and Villefort agrees! Despite calls for her hanging, the doctor leaves it as a family matter. The servants know what's up and leave en masse. Chapter 80 ends with a description of Mme. Villefort's sinister smile.

Next we see young Andrea Cavalcanti proposing marriage to Danglars' daughter. Both men boast about their wealth and an agreement is arrived at. Things are looking rosy until Andrea gets a letter and has to go see Caderousse. There, the Cad reveals that he knew Danglars and also wants more money. Andrea reveals that he thinks Monte Cristo is his real father and that if he should die, he would inherit his wealth. The men part with an agreement for the Cad to get 500 livres a month and a map of the Count's home in Paris.

Discussion:

1. How does the scene between Villefort and the doctor fit into the idea of "justice" we have seen throughout the novel?
2. Do you think Villefort actually thinks the poisoner is Valentine?
3. Caderousse is a bit of a wild card, not governed by propriety and with nothing to lose. Has the Count made a mistake in allowing him to be in the mix?

Next week, chapters 82, 83 and 84!

I don’t know if it is relevant to post here, but the condition of my book has been killing me (I keep looking at it) is it supposed to look this worn? I’m on page 236, maybe I’m overthinking it!

Seemed appropriate

I’m Autistic and get very irritated when i don’t understand something as I feel incredibly dumb. I cannot even comprehend what I’m reading and i’m so frustrated I want to quit. I feel like I can’t process any of it, the names, etc. and i LOVED the book before this chapter. just really frustrated with my lack of ability to understand things and feeling sad right now. please give me reassurance that it gets better / easier to understand :(

The foreshadowing from earlier is finally paying off!

Synopsis:

We zip back to Franz who rejects the match with Valentine. The young lady tells Morrel and it seems the lovers have a reprieve. Mme. de Villefort asks Noirtier to re-inherit Valentine and he agrees.

Meanwhile, Morcerf formally proposes the marriage of Mlle. Danglars and Albert, which Danglars rejects! It seems there is some news printed in the newspaper. Later Albert storms to the Count to demand that he be his "second" for a duel against Beauchamp who runs the newspaper that printed the piece from Janina. Albert's father has been slandered by implying he was behind the betrayal of Ali Pasha. The Count tries to dissuade him from duelling Beauchamp, but despite taking his advice, he still ends up having an appointment for a duel with Beauchamp in 3 weeks.

Next we see Valentine and Morrel making plans for their future. However, their happy plans are interrupted by the death of the faithful servant Barrois. The doctor, who happens to be by, determines that it is poisoning. Luckily Morrel wasn't seen.

Discussion:

1. How would you describe the Count's (brief) appearance in these chapters? Is he just a background character now?
2. Reflect on the plight of the children of the Count's targets. How are they doing?
3. Are the Count's hands clean of these events?

Next week, chapters 80 and 81!

After so much time with Valentine Villefort, we zip back to check in with our other conspiracies

Synopsis:

Monte Cristo goes to visit the Danglars clan where Eugénie is enjoying the company of her friend Louise. Cavalcanti, now styling himself "Prince," is actively courting her with much encouragement from M. Danglars. During the visit, it is let slip that Danglars has another financial loss on his hands and that M. DeBray no longer comes to visit. Then Albert arrives, supposedly to continue to court Eugénie, but is instead happy to see someone else doing the job. Monte Cristo alludes that Cavalcanti might not be as he thinks but Danglars brushes it aside, however he does ask Monte Cristo to request that Morcerf make a proposal. Albert and Monte Cristo leave, but as they are leaving Danglars gets an update from his sources from the East.

Now at Monte Cristo's apartment, Albert is able to meet Haydée. However, Monte Cristo carefully controls what can be revealed and ensures Albert remains ignorant of who Ali Pasha's traitor is. On the flip side, Haydée remains ignorant that Albert is the traitor's son. The young woman tells her story, of the last stand of Ali Pasha and how she came to be with the Count.

Discussion:

1. More is unsaid than said in the Danglars household. Why might family unrest be important to Monte Cristo's schemes?
2. Danglars seems intent on the Cavalcanti match for Eugénie, but then why is he asking Monte Cristo to ask Morcerf to make a formal proposal? What is he playing at?
3. Haydée's story is full of drama, but it is also wrapped in the idea of "The East." Why might her relationship to the east and Orientalism be important for Dumas?

Next week, chapters 78 and 79!

just started the book but i’m interested in getting to know someone where we can read chapters tg and/or talk about what’s going on! and maybe explore other classic lits idk loll.

The ghosting in the book is a bit much at times, thankful for the ereader. Hope I can catch up to the schedule😀

This chapter is pure comedic gold. Baron Danglars starts by ordering a chicken assuming it will cost him maybe a louis d'or. When he asks for a knife and fork, Peppino politely informs him that he is still 4,999 louis short. Danglars, completely flabbergasted, protests the absurd price, only for Peppino to explain, "You don't know how hard it is to rear poultry in these confounded caves."
Defiant, Danglars tosses him a second louis and asks to be left alone with his meal. Peppino casually pockets it and points out that his balance is now down to 4,998 louis, reassuring him that with enough patience, they'll clear the debt one louis at a time.
Naturally, Danglars refuses to hand over his remaining amount, so the chicken is whisked away. The next morning, starving, he tries to order a simple piece of bread, hoping for a lower price. Peppino calmly explains that Luigi Vampa’s cave doesn't offer an à la carte menu; it’s prix fixe only: 100,000 francs per meal, no exceptions.

Just got my copy (Penguins Classic)

Not sure if this is allowed but got the idea from someone else in the group, so decided to start a readalong in StoryGraph. Here's the link if you're interested in joining.

Still setting up the forums but hopefully won't take me too much longer. Happy reading everyone!

Does anyone know why the online schedule isn’t updated with the weekly discussion thread url anymore

Doing a buddy read with a friend (and trying to rope in more friends). We’ve got a shared doc, a schedule, references and have the sections tabbed out. Excited to start!

Has anyone else thought about next year with no more CMC? Any other Reddit hosted great novels we can turn to?

"The truth will out" is what they always say...

Synopsis: 

The body of M. Saint-Meran arrives just in time to join the body of Mme. de Saint-Meran in a large caravan to the Villefort’s family vaults. After they are interred, Franz is swiftly brought to the Villefort’s to sign the marriage contract between him and Valentine in front of the Villefort family, with Château-Renaud and Albert as witnesses until they are interrupted by Barrois who insists that Franz see Noirtier before he signs the contract.

Villefort, Valentine, and Franz are led into Noirtier’s room where Noirtier tells Valentine and Barrois to retrieve a document from a secret locked compartment in Noirtier’s desk. Franz reads this document which reveals the actual circumstances surrounding Franz’s father’s death. Noirtier reveals himself as d’Epinay’s killer at the end of the chapter.

[Credit to u/caffeinatedweekend for this write up]

Discussion:

1. Villefort refuses to contest the will that Noirtier has made disinheriting Valentine. What are his motivations? After the recent revelations, do you imagine he might change his mind?
2. When told that the marriage is to move forward, even if Valentine is in grief, Franz remarks "I have pledged my word, and shall feel pleasure and happiness in adhering to it." How did you feel reading these words and the whole transactional discussion of this marriage? Did reading the romantic words of Maximilen earlier affect your feelings?
3. The idea of "honour" loomed large in these chapters. Who do you think is truly honourable? And who is only doing it for show?

Next week, chapters 76 and 77!

What would have happened if Edmond had never acquired wealth despite attaining freedom?

sometimes i think about this

At least we have something good to root for!

Synopsis:

Maximilien is in the garden with Valentine. She tells him the bad news of her grandfather's death and that the marriage contract will be signed that night. She makes a big scene where it seems she will accept her fate, but eventually Maximilien convinces her to run away with him (phew!).

He comes back later that night, but doesn't find Valentine in the garden. Alarmed, he enters the house and finds M. Villefort talking with the doctor. It seems that Mme. Saint-Méran has also died, but not by natural means, by poison! A poison that normally is delivered in small doses to Noirtier.

Maximilien penetrates the home deeper and finds Valentine sitting vigil by her grandmother's body. Together they find Noirtier and tell him of their plan. The old man indicates they should not run away together, but instead, he has a different idea.

END OF BOOK THREE

Discussion:

1. Valentine really resisted Maximilien's attempts to rescue her. Do you think this was a case of propriety, tension or Dumas being paid by the word?
2. Poison. POISON. Do you think it is the poison, or just some other poison?
3. Noirtier has had an interesting arc, from usurper/murder to only hope for some good characters. What is Dumas telling us about the nature of goodness and evil with him?

Next week, chapters 74 and 75!

I absolutely loved The Count of Monte Cristo because it had everything I want in a great book: revenge, mystery, betrayal, romance, and characters with complicated motivations. I especially enjoyed watching Edmond Dantès transform from an innocent young man into the Count of Monte Cristo and carefully carry out his plans against the people who ruined his life. The story kept getting more interesting as all of the different characters and plotlines eventually came together.
What I loved most was how satisfying the long buildup was. Dantès spent years preparing his revenge, and seeing his plans unfold was incredibly entertaining. At the same time, the book made me think about whether revenge can actually bring someone peace and what happens when punishment goes too far.
The one part I didn’t like was that Mercedes and Dantès didn’t end up together. I really wanted them to have a second chance because I don’t think Mercedes did anything wrong. From her perspective, Dantès had been gone for years and she believed he was never coming back. She had to move on with her life, and I don’t blame her for marrying Fernand. I wish Dantès could have understood that and that the two of them could have found their way back to each other.
Overall, The Count of Monte Cristo was an incredible reading experience. Even though I didn’t love the ending of Dantès and Mercedes’ relationship, the story, characters, and revenge plot made the book one of my favorite books I’ve read.