Re: That's fascinating. Of course, I disagree with Eco's praise.
DomA Send a noteboard - 11/01/2010 06:22:24 PM
He probably just read the book as a child. I've noticed he's nostalgic like that.
Unlike the Musketeers he found it unsufferable as a kid, could only finish it by constantly skipping ahead.
His fascination with the novel came after he was commissionned to abridge it and realised a hundred pages in that it just didn't work. He investigated why it didn't work, and the result was that essay in "Supermen".
I don't think (I could be mistaken) it's Eco himself but rather another commentator, quoting Eco's essay who said that getting frustrated at the lengths and redundancies and giving yourself the permission/pleasure to skip parts is part of the experience of reading Monte Cristo.
I personally enjoyed Monte Cristo when I reread it a few years ago (though much like Eco does in the end. And in my case nostalgia played a part, that and wanting to understand why I enjoy books like that - or WOT - despite objectively finding very little literary quality to them). I agree it's not a very good choice for a book club, though. It's the sort of book about which you can sum up your thoughts in a few sentences at most, not the sort that spark much discussion.
Paradoxically given its literary quality, it's the sort of novel that spark mostly platitudes from everyone except a few scholars, like Schopp (a French Dumas scholar) or Eco. It's actually more interesting to comment what on they have to say about Monte Cristo than comment on the book itself.
This message last edited by DomA on 11/01/2010 at 06:50:02 PM
The Count of Monte Cristo was a terrible choice for a book discussion.
09/01/2010 07:41:01 PM
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Hey, now (copy/paste)
09/01/2010 07:48:56 PM
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People should think about these things before recommending books.
09/01/2010 08:13:10 PM
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Which is why I voted for Bulgakov's M & M.
09/01/2010 10:56:00 PM
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I disagree slightly
09/01/2010 09:07:12 PM
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Well, by that standard a Jackie Collins novel is worthy of debate.
10/01/2010 01:08:04 AM
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Oh, I almost forgot
10/01/2010 01:11:50 AM
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Ooh...I'd love to hear them!!! What did Eco say to trash Dumas? *NM*
10/01/2010 01:19:43 AM
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Here's the French translation from Eco's work on supermen
10/01/2010 01:39:28 AM
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I love it. Strangely enough, though, he wrote an introduction to the book.
10/01/2010 01:54:24 AM
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Not really strange as Eco has long been fascinated by this book
11/01/2010 05:01:56 PM
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Did he mention it in his book on ugliness?
11/01/2010 05:12:55 PM
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Re: Here's the French translation from Eco's work on supermen
11/01/2010 03:49:15 PM
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That's fascinating. Of course, I disagree with Eco's praise.
11/01/2010 05:12:25 PM
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Re: That's fascinating. Of course, I disagree with Eco's praise.
11/01/2010 06:22:24 PM
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I agree that abridging it would not work well.
12/01/2010 04:06:26 PM
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I think there are plenty of things that can be discussed.
09/01/2010 10:00:06 PM
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Discussed and put to rest in 5 minutes or less, perhaps.
10/01/2010 01:17:02 AM
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Depends on who you are, one would imagine.
10/01/2010 08:16:11 AM
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<pretentious>Well, why should we cater to the lowest common denominator?
11/01/2010 02:17:03 AM
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I'd laugh...
11/01/2010 07:21:38 PM
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I don't get that. Well, of course I do from Tom, but let's put him aside for this discussion.
12/01/2010 03:35:21 AM
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It's frustrating though...
12/01/2010 04:18:37 AM
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I think if you posted that (or something like it) people would reply to it.
12/01/2010 05:08:53 AM
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Perhaps.
12/01/2010 05:26:38 AM
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Given the people who have read the Kushiel books, I think you'd be pleasantly surprised.
12/01/2010 05:58:33 AM
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You're not.
12/01/2010 02:16:09 PM
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Her next series sounds interesting
12/01/2010 02:20:17 PM
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It does, but the reviews I've seen aren't too enthusiastic.
12/01/2010 02:29:26 PM
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Yes, but how so?
12/01/2010 02:39:59 PM
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Well...
13/01/2010 07:03:08 PM
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Honestly...
13/01/2010 07:51:14 PM
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Absolutely.
14/01/2010 12:55:00 PM
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Re: Absolutely.
14/01/2010 01:57:47 PM
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In short, not a good name for a daughter. At least not one with an interest in Classics.
15/01/2010 05:32:35 AM
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I'm staying far, far away from Seneca.
15/01/2010 02:01:49 PM
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Ah, yes. The Apocolocyntosis. Possibly the least amusing humor ever penned. I hate Seneca. *NM*
16/01/2010 02:14:32 AM
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I really don't think it would.
12/01/2010 07:49:32 AM
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I have tried before.
12/01/2010 01:59:24 PM
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If it is well-written and defends the value of the book, I don't see why you shouldn't post it.
12/01/2010 05:12:58 PM
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I'm quite enjoying it.
09/01/2010 10:40:30 PM
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A kid's book of adventure doesn't translate into a good book club discussion.
10/01/2010 01:21:11 AM
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I have to agree
11/01/2010 12:36:55 AM
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How did you find deeper meaning (pun intended) in 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea? *NM*
11/01/2010 02:17:55 AM
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