THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO - CHAPTERS 10-12 A Can we all pause a moment and acknowledge the fact that we have completed over 100 pages!!  I love running into you as I'm out and about and hear about how it's going! Some of you doing the audio book have kept right on going, and that is just fine! I would never want to slow down enthusiasm for a book! Now for this week's discussion! - Who looked up all the French phrases the king was spouting? Extra piece of chocolate for you if you did! It is on my list to do tomorrow! - Where is the reference seven fat cows and seven lean cows from and how does it foreshadow what happens in the rest of the chapter? - What information does the condemning letter hold? -Describe the complicated relationship de Villefort has with his father, M. Noirtier. Do you have a clear idea whose side de Villefort is on?

THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO - CHAPTERS 10-12 B -Seven Fat Cows/ Seven Lean Cows is a reference to the story of Joseph who lived in Egypt during 7 years of plenty and 7 years of famine according to the Bible. As our reading unfolds we see Napoleon return and the end of the monarchy again. - The letter contains the details of Napoleon's return which is already in motion when the letter gets to the king -Complicated is an understatement. Whose side is he on? He's on the side that benefits him the most. (Just wait until this week's reading!)

THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO - CHAPTERS 13-15 There is so much we can address in these 3 chapters! We have 2 government changes in a quick time frame. Called The Hundred Days, Napoleon returns to try and gain control. However, it quickly comes to an end and Louis XVIII returns to the throne. As can be imagined this causes a lot of instability. We must spend a few minutes on Villefort and his character. Have you ever known anyone like him who literally lives for their own personal gain? Despite his mistreatment of his father, it is because of him (his father) that he (Villefort) is able to keep his job under Napoleon. Did you note his view towards his engagement/fiancee? And his incessant lying?! Dumas keeps us all informed of our Terrible Trio, Mercedes, and Old Dantes. Then we have the inspector visit the prison, and we get an update on Dantes, and we meet Abbe Faria. Do you get the feeling that either one of these men is "mad?" Both appeal to the inspector. What are the outcomes? Chapter 15 reveals to us Dantes' inner soul. What struck you the most about his journey from the depths of despair to the highest of hopes and joy? Have you ever found yourself in a situation of despair or what seemed impossibile? Do you remember when the walls of that situation began to break and the sounds of rescue or the cracks of light began to shine through? Did you note the personification of death?

THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO -CHAPTERS 16-19 A  Wow! I know we aren't too far in the book, but these chapters are my favorite so far! We start off with physical, mental, and spiritual descriptions of Abbe Faria. He is a package of human awesomeness. What about him stuck out to you? Through the chapters we hear the stories that landed both Dantes and Abbe in prison. Both profess their innocence. Compare/contrast their stories. Which one is willing to give up that innocence and why? The theme of HOPE continues to show up in this book. Sometimes the loss of hope, sometimes the gain of hope. How does HOPE show up in these chapters? What did you think of Abbe's walking Dantes through who was to gain from his imprisonment? Did you have any particular quotes that caused you to stop and think in this week's reading? We can't leave our reading without discussing Abbe's revelation to Dantes of the treasure. Do you think there really is a treasure? After spending this time with these 2 men do you think they are mad?

THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO - CHAPTERS 16-19 B - Abbe's spiritual, mental, and physical descriptions - Phrases about his physical that jumped out at me "firm moulding of his features implied a man more accustomed to exercise his spiritual than his physical faculties." Also the way he resigned himself to letting "God's will be done" when he miscalculated his escape. Mental is demonstrated through his learning, creation of tools, writing, etc. -Both are betrayed. Dantes by life acquaintances and Abbe in the political world. Both are innocent, however, Dantes is willing to give that up to escape by killing. -Hope- The hope of friendship/companionship, also when one has a purpose and growth hope abounds. We see this demonstrated through Abbe/teacher Dantes/student relationship. -Abbe's ability to cut through all of the unknown to arrive at the point of "who had the most to gain" and then help Dantes fill in the blanks demonstrates how strong his reasoning and mental abilities are. He also mourns that he did this when he realizes the seed of revenge has been planted in Dantes' soul. Dantes, in turn, refuses to comment about it. -Two quotes really jumped out at me. Both came from Abbe. "Misfortune is needed to plumb certain mysterious depths in the understanding of men;pressure is needed to explode the charge. My captivity concentrated all my faculties on a single point. They had previously been dispersed, now they clashed in a narrow space; and as you know, the clash of clouds produces electricity, electricity produces lightning and lightning gives light." And " Learning does not make one learned: there are those who have knowledge and those who have understanding. The first requires memory, the second philosophy....Philosophy cannot be taught. Philosophy is the union of all acquired knowledge and the genius that applies it: philosophy is the shining cloud upon which Christ set His foot to go up into heaven" -I will leave the speculation of the treasure to each of you for now. Madness does appear to be the furthest thing from both of these men right now.

THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO - CHAPTERS 20-22 Starting to wrap things up to take a Christmas break, so I'm posting a little early this week! - This week our community has been rocked by a terrible tragedy involving teen brothers, a friend lost a sibling unexpectedly, and it was the 1 year anniversary of the passing of a close friend of mine. With these things floating around in my head as I opened my book to begin Chapter 20, Dumas' description of Abbe and the gulf of death that now separates him from Dantes was very real. It's amazing how HOPE has been such a theme so far in this book, and it is the HOPE we have in Christ that we cling to in the face of these losses. - We begin to see Dantes' HOPE pendulum swing in the face of this loss. For a moment the idea of suicide returns, but Dantes is an honorable man with a " thirst for life and freedom." With this in mind a plan goes into action, a parting gift from Abbe that he never knew he gave, a chance at life again. -Similes abound in our text   -about suicide "returned like a ghost and rose up beside Faria's corpse."   -when he realizes the possibility of escape " his gaze fixed, like a man who has been suddenly struck with an idea .."    -when he hits the water "he plunged like an arrow into icy water " -Let's talk about Dantes metaphorical "baptism/rebirth" into his new life 14 years later. Sewn into the burial sack, dumped into the water, reborn from a womb of death, a new man emerges. Who exactly that man is we haven't discovered yet. Interestingly the story points out to us after his shave, fresh clothes, change in features from imprisonment, his best friend wouldn't have recognized Dantes. -An internal oath was made by Dantes, and we, the reader, are now aware of it. Vengeance. It has become a reality as Dantes is now free. -The Smugglers- we are introduced to two main things that stuck out to me about them. First one of the smugglers has been named to us, Jacopo, and it is clear that there is a dedication and friendship forming between Dantes and him. The second is the appearance of the Island of Monte Cristo. Foreshadowing is in the air. Thoughts and comments?

THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO - CHAPTERS 23-25 To all of our new members we have a book club running. Each week those who have desired to participate read (or listen to) 3 chapters, and I put a few points out on the week's reading on Thursday and Friday. Normally Thursday is a question day and Friday is the response day. This amazing classic has 117 chapters and 1243 pages. Yes, we are doing the complete novel! Feel free to jump in and join us. This was started so that anyone can join at any time, and if you love it, feel free to plow right through it and not worry about staying right with us! With that being said I know of at least 1 person that started with us and has listened to it all! She has just raved about it. She told me she's now going to go back and do it again with the group. How cool is that? Thoughts for this week- Spoiler Alert!! Do not read if you haven't read the chapters!! I don't know about you guys, but I was on the edge of my seat as we approached Monte Cristo. Dumas is a master of suspense and Dantes' "hope" was again registering the highest of highs to the lowest of lows through these chapters. Thoughts on Edmond's dream in the beginning of Chpt 25? Trace the "hope" path in these 3 chapters. Did you fall for Dantes' "accident?" I'm going to take a moment to say I am loving the faithfulness of Jacopo. Did you note the allusions to Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves? If you have never read this Arabian tale, it is worth it. Chapt. 26 opens with a beautiful scene that helps us imagine everything is good in the world. Looking back at Dantes' life I was wondering if this would be the calm before another storm. When Dantes' enters into the cavern sparkling with the granite, it just kept popping into my head about fools gold and settling for something less than what is available round around the "bend." I was urging Dantes' to "keep going!" The moment of the clang of the pick ax against the chest, and the eventual lifting of the lid...were you not there with Dantes' shaking in wonder and possibility? And after all that, he sets out to find out where everyone from his past is. Buckle your seatbelts folks. We're in for a ride!

THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO - CHAPTERS 26-28 A Just when I start to think that our adventures can't get any better Dumas peels back another layer to this amazing tale! It is hard not to keep on going! My book has underlines and notes all over it! When my husband and I were first married, there was a show on TV called The Pretender. The idea of the show was that a boy was taken from his family and raised in a place called "The Center." He was unbelievably brilliant. One day he escapes from The Center. Every week he becomes someone new, able to work in any field and in any position. In doing so, he attempts to find and piece together clues to his past. Dumas takes us on a similar journey with Dantes this week.  Dantes needs to be sure of the events that led up to his arrest and imprisonment. It's time to verify the conclusions that he and Faria came to. First stop - Gaspard Caderousse. Comments and thoughts on his conversation with Caderousse. Did you feel that he deserved the diamond? Second stop - M. de Boville. Comments and thoughts on his visit with Boville. I loved the quote," The man made a deep impression on me. I shall never forget his face." Obviously from Boville's startled expression when they first meet, he knows that he's meet this man before. His mind is so occupied that he doesn't take the time to place him thank goodness! Whew! And I don't know if there's something up with locusts and their "monotonous call" but they've shown up right before the conversation with Caderousse and before Dantes discovers the treasure. Is this just a couple of times happening or do we have some type of ominous foreshadowing or some type of monotony before something big occurs? Not sure, but I'm on the lookout for locusts! My thoughts on the conversations tomorrow!

THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO - CHAPTERS 26-28 B Just a few thoughts on the conversations- with Caderousse - One of the biggest things that stuck out to me is the conversation of the righteous man being rewarded and the wicked punished (according to the priest - Dantes) and Caderousse sharing his tale of the opposite, how Danglars and Fernand are being heavily rewarded despite the evil they have done. Not too long ago Dantes was in prison wondering why these things had happened to him. Is he starting to think that he is being rewarded since he is righteous (innocent, escaped prison and been given an amazing treasure) or is he about to take matters into his own hands to right the wrongs. Are all these happenings because of God or man? Not only has he confirmed the people that worked against him. He has also confirmed those who were faithful to him. And the diamond - is it real or fake? Did he deserve it? I personally feel that it is real. As to whether he deserved it, I wanted to loudly protest and cry out, "Traitor! Coward!" Deep inside a small voice reminded me of all the times that I had stood by when wrongs were done. Do you not love Caderousse's excuse "politics?" Can we all understand that in today's world? I find that just as Jesus addressed the Pharisees saying "That he who is without sin cast the first stone," you hear the sound of the plop as mine hits the ground in this matter. conversation with M. de Boville- Can you just imagine the scene of Dantes laughing with Boville about what his face looked like when he found out where the cemetery was for dead prisoners (body tied with a cannonball around their feet and dropped in the water) in his attempt to escape. I loved the description of him laughing through clenched teeth. To the world Edmond Dantes is dead. He verifies Villefort's hand in all of this. Game on!

THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO - CHAPTERS 29-31 So we enter the series of chapters that take us through the rewards of Dantes' faithful friend, Morrel. There are so many parts to these chapters that could be discussed: - the description of the current state of the House of Morrel. I could not help but in my mind parallel Dantes' journey of life and celebration to imprisonment and expected death to the description of Morrel's Company. It would have been a place bustling with deliveries and people. Excitement and laughter punctuating the air now degraded to an "Indefinable air of sadness and death." Undeserved, through no fault of his own. -the loyalty of Emmanuel Herbault and Cocles with his "unshakeable faith" and the crew of the Pharaon. -Morrel's concern for the safety of his crew over the loss of his ship (which guarantees his ruin) -the denial for help from Danglars -the saving of Morrel who still thought of others first with his near suicide attempt (were you not hurrying the daughter to get back in time with the red bag that had once been given to another in attempt to save that person's life?) -the resurrection of the Pharaon (or actually it's replacement) -Dantes' words at "taking Providence's place to reward the good" but praying for Providence's favor for his (Dante's) turn to revenge now. And then we meet the unknown character of Sinbad the Sailor and his interaction with an aristocrat named Franz. Who is he, and where is he headed next? I have a slight wonder....

THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO - CHAPTERS 32-35 I'm going to back up just a moment to chpt. 31. It's important to note that 10 years have passed since Dantes rewarded the faithful. In those 10 years the Count of Monte Cristo has been relatively quiet and a new person has joined our cast- Sinbad the Sailor. When I am out and about, I really enjoy running into those of you who are reading TCOMC. I find it so interesting to hear what is resonating with you about this great classic! One of you, who has already listened to the entirety of the book and is now reading it, told me to watch the names in this story! They are so important. What a wonderful piece of advice! So with that in mind- Who is Sinbad the Sailor? Who is Vicomte Albert de Morcerf? Dumas weaves us a tale this week following the footsteps of a young aristocrat named Franz. This may sound funny, but I found myself absolutely enthralled with Dumas' descriptions. He is a master of strong adjectives and action verbs. I found myself going back through and rereading passages, hunting to see how many "being" verbs he used. Very little! Because of this, we find ourselves in the middle of the action, seeing the beauty of the descriptions as an actual observer instead of being told about it. It also gives us a feeling that our character, Sinbad, is larger than life. To round things out for this week there was a significant amount of time spent with bandits. Travel carefully, friends! Heed the warnings to not stray out in certain areas of the city at night! Something tells me we haven't seen the last of these lawless men.

THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO - CHAPTERS 35-37 TCOMC journeyed with me to Meadowbrook for a basketball game last night. This book has seen a few miles! Each time I finish up our reading I find myself shaking my head wondering how Dumas can keep so much excitement going! Certainly, there has to be a moment of lull, but instead the storm continues to rise! Did you figure out who Albert is? If not, he is the son of Fernand and Mercedes. Does the count's interest now make sense? Do we now understand the tremble in the handshake? Questions are answered but new questions constantly arise. There is an air of constant mystery around our count as to his relations with so many different types of people such as the bandits. Poor Albert and his failings at love! Last thing I want to mention in this reading is the imagery of the mocoletto candles at the close of the carnival. The quote " The same is true of the mocoletto as of life: mankind has so far found only one way of transmitting it, which he owes to God. But he has found a thousand ways to extinguish it- and here the Devil has surely given him some little help" gives us an image of what the count was earlier discussing with Franz and Albert before the executions. Franz's melancholy and despair at the point of extinguishing the candles is very telling as well. Speaking of that, the count has revealed his plan to us. No quick death is in the works for those that have wronged our protagonist. Intense suffering and pain equal to what he has experienced is on the menu for these men. He has the means and connections to accomplish just that.