feel like that post suffered from some similar padding tbh
― I Am Fribbulus (Xax) (Doctor Casino), Thursday, 27 January 2022 12:31 (two years ago) link
oh wait -- I read the abridged version
― So who you gonna call? The martini police (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 27 January 2022 12:40 (two years ago) link
yeah i def don't remember anything about the previous bandit leader for example. and i still never loved those chapters... i get Alfred's point about their introduction to the present-day Count, but both of the dapper young lads just put me to sleep.
― I Am Fribbulus (Xax) (Doctor Casino), Thursday, 27 January 2022 13:03 (two years ago) link
hey, I'm on Franz d'Epinay's side!
― So who you gonna call? The martini police (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 27 January 2022 13:04 (two years ago) link
Yeah, at times it can remind me of those frustrating episodes of Lost, where they'd leave a character on a big cliffhanger and take half a season to come back to it.
Either way I'm a lost cause with this novel, I love the whole thing to pieces, even the digressions in Rome and the drippy romantic leads. I remember especially enjoying all the bandit stuff. Call it "storytelling overgenerosity".
― Chuck_Tatum, Thursday, 27 January 2022 13:30 (two years ago) link
I love the novel even more than I love the sandwich.
― immodesty blaise (jimbeaux), Thursday, 27 January 2022 23:02 (two years ago) link
the sandwich is gross tbh
― So who you gonna call? The martini police (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 27 January 2022 23:04 (two years ago) link
That's just, like, your opinion, man.
― immodesty blaise (jimbeaux), Thursday, 27 January 2022 23:18 (two years ago) link
My opinion, man: undeniably great but it doesn't half sag in the middle. I just wanted to follow the count's plan but had to put up with Franz and Alfred and Morrel and Valentine (christ!) and Haydee and Ali Pasha and Benedetto and who knows what else for hundreds of pages. I'm sure it's not the 'proper' experience but would be interested to see what the abridged version cuts out. The last third was a great thrill ride, from Nortier's incredible eye to Villefort's intense downfall. Danglars got off pretty lightly though and I'm still not exactly sure what all that business with Benedetto/Cavalcanti accomplished. The trick the Comte played on Morrel, and his justification for it, was abominable.
― ledge, Monday, 7 February 2022 09:52 (two years ago) link
spoilers, perhaps
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/39/95/87/39958718a7e5cc4218b2ee19b3772736.jpg
i can't remember any of the names ledge mentions...
― koogs, Monday, 7 February 2022 10:22 (two years ago) link
maybe this one will be readable
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/5e/33/4d/5e334df454f7ef5fa911756d5b550b20.jpg
― koogs, Monday, 7 February 2022 10:24 (two years ago) link
I'm still not exactly sure what all that business with Benedetto/Cavalcanti accomplished
Wanting to humiliate Danglars by forcing his (possibly lesbian!) daughter to leave? Benedetto does kill Caderousse.
― So who you gonna call? The martini police (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 7 February 2022 10:28 (two years ago) link
I thought it was going to be the final nail in the coffin of Danglars' financial humiliation when, after the wedding, Cavalcanti's fortune turns out to be a fantasy but that didn't happen.
Benedetto does kill Caderousse.
which is somewhat fortuitous for the count (though he does claim to be merely an agent of providence iirc), and certainly outwith the count's plan of revenge on those responsible for his original imprisonment.
― ledge, Monday, 7 February 2022 10:39 (two years ago) link
Caderousse is such a tragic but somehow still likeable putz
― Chuck_Tatum, Monday, 7 February 2022 11:12 (two years ago) link
The "blood from the ceiling" bit of his backstory is such a great moment
The trick the Comte played on Morrel, and his justification for it, was abominable.
Yeah it's true that a lot of the Count's behaviour is unforgiveable or baffling (especially to Mercedes!) and Dumas, by never commenting on it, seems to condone it. But D'Artagnan has similar issues -- as characters, they're both very "you can't make an omelette without breaking a few orphans and their extended families".
I guess it's either satisfying depth of character or storytelling inconsistency, depending on your patience.
I do love the supporting cast and the messy middle of the book, though. Dantes' absences from the narrative make his actual appearances much more exciting.
― Chuck_Tatum, Monday, 7 February 2022 11:24 (two years ago) link
yes, from the moment he drunkenly refused to go along with the plot against edmond i was on his side, and disappointed when i learned of his recidivism!
― ledge, Monday, 7 February 2022 11:28 (two years ago) link
and he's the only villain who begs for absolution
― So who you gonna call? The martini police (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 7 February 2022 13:14 (two years ago) link
He's definitely the character I had the most (perhaps only!) emotional investment in -- I guess because he's the only character who seems reflective about what he's done? Dantes is like "Have I gone too far in my quest for vengeance? Nah, probably not."
― Chuck_Tatum, Monday, 7 February 2022 13:28 (two years ago) link
is on TPTV as i type, the old man is just about to die in prison.
― koogs, Wednesday, 9 February 2022 15:38 (two years ago) link