I purchased The Count of Monte Cristo on my last visit to Powell’s. I have no idea when I’ll be able to browse through a whole city block of books again, so for that reason alone it was worth cherishing. Then I started reading and suddenly I was in love.
I’ve always hated the question “What’s your favorite book?” I read so much, and I enjoy such a wide variety of genres that it’s hard to nail down a top five, let alone a single favorite. My reading tastes often depend on my mood, interests, or daily experiences; I don’t know if I’ve ever answered this question the same way twice. In the past I could fall back on the Harry Potter series, but I think I’ve reached a point in my life where I can’t claim that my favorite books are a young adult series. Harry Potter is ageless and can be enjoyed by all generations, but I’ve matured over time and so should my favorite things. In the past few years when I’ve been asked what my favorite book is I respond with a few titles that I’ve read recently. But now, ten days and 1,078 pages later, I can say without a doubt that The Count of Monte Cristo is my favorite book.
For a long time I’ve been familiar with the basic plot: a young man is imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit; years later he escapes and finds a vast treasure which he uses to seek revenge on the people responsible for his imprisonment. Reviews promised a book packed with action and adventure, romance and revenge. I was excited to finally read this classic.
Arc de Triomphe in 2009- more cars than carriages compared to 1838
I got all the action I could possibly want- from the middle to the end I could hardly put the book down because I absolutely needed to know what happened. There were moments when I literally was sitting on the edge of my seat, and there were a few times when I audibly gasped and clutched my heart (who clutches their heart in the 21st century?). I was wholly invested; I’ve had a few nights of little sleep in the past week because I needed to read as much as possible. The most monotonous section were the chapters covering the Carnival in Rome, but it’s easy for me to forgive any tediousness there. I studied abroad for a semester in Rome, so I too was once young and drunk running around the Eternal City. The Corso, Piazza del Popolo, the Spanish Steps, St. Peter’s, the Colosseum- these places are all familiar to me, and I found myself looking at old pictures and maps to test if my memories were accurate.
Piazza del Popolo, Rome
Beyond the action, though, I was most drawn to the character development of Edmond Dantes. From the optimistic and joyful young man to the depressed prisoner to the vengeful manipulator, then finally to the man who comes to terms with all his past; it was a beautiful cycle to follow. The Count of Monte Cristo is known for being a story of revenge, but it’s also very much a story about love and the power it holds over us. Love is the thing that saves us, and patience and hope are the things that get us through. My mind and heart are still processing what I’ve read but I can tell that this one will sit with me for a while. After all, The Count of Monte Cristo is my favorite book.
Somehow it’s autumn, and I don’t know where 2019 went. Or rather, I know where it went, I just don’t want to believe it’s almost over. This year has passed by in a montage of airplane windows, mountain views, sunset walks, 6am meetings, indulgent dinners, countless beers, and yes- a number of books enjoyed from my couch, a park bench, and hotel rooms all over the world. But now it’s fall- my favorite season full of all the best things in life: cozy sweaters, apple cider, pumpkin beer, ankle boots, colorful leaves, and red wine. Keeping in the spirit of all my favorite things, I’m sharing the top ten books that I’ve read so far in 2019 (and a few honorable mentions because I’m incapable of limiting myself).
This book was on my radar for a long time, and I finally read it in July. Months later, I still feel haunted by this novel. The story and characters have stayed with me, I can’t shake them from my head. Much of this book took place in the confines of one hotel in Moscow, but the themes and emotions it inspired go far beyond building walls and the pages that contained them.
On a rainy Friday night in March I treated myself to a Bradley Cooper movie marathon, and Silver Linings Playbook was part of the lineup. Watching the movie again reminded me of how much I enjoyed the book, and so I decided to reread it. It’s a beautiful story that explores relationships and mental illness; it’s equal parts endearing, heart-wrenching, and at times comical. Pat, the main character, is so engaging that you can’t help but root for him to succeed, even if you know what he’s doing is ill-fated. (And, of course, it doesn’t hurt to have a certain attractive, blue-eyed actor as the mental image of the main character.)
Another book that haunted me, but this one is a true story. It’s a combination of high-stakes business, international law, Russian politics, and ultimately the global fight for justice for a man wrongfully imprisoned and killed. The events in this memoir read like a James Bond novel, and it was sobering to remember that it was all real. This was also one of the first nonfiction books that I’ve read that has mainly taken place during my lifetime, and it was disturbing to picture where I was and what I was doing at the time of some of the more horrific events in the book.
This book started out slow for me, but once I was hooked I couldn’t put it down. After an embarrassing first encounter with a crippled girl, a young lieutenant takes pity on her and begins a friendship. She misinterprets his interest as romance, and he plays along to keep her happy and in good health. His actions are kindhearted in intent but cruel in practice, and they get worse as he finds himself more and more entangled with her family. This was a brilliant exploration of compassion and human nature set against the backdrop of pre-World War I Austria-Hungary.
This was a moving memoir, beautiful in its simple and direct style but heartbreaking in the events described. Yusra tells the story of her childhood in Syria, and her dreams of becoming an Olympic swimmer. As she enters her teens she describes the gradual yet devastating way that war took over her normal life, and how her family made the unimaginable decision to flee to Germany. Their journey was difficult, terrifying, exhausting, and very nearly fatal. As Yusra goes on to eventually compete in the 2016 Olympics on the refugee team, she reflects on what it means to be a refugee and have that word thrust upon you by a world that seems determined to use it against you.
Rereading To Kill a Mockingbird always feels a little bit like going home. I love Scout as a character, she reminds me a little of myself when I was younger. The story is so familiar to me yet it never seems to bore me. Scout’s innocent perspective of a very mature and traumatizing situation not only makes Tom Robinson’s trial more “palatable” to read but it brings out the true injustice and unfairness of the case.
Blomkvist’s apartment overlooking Gamla Stan in Stockholm
I’ve loved this book since I first read it in 2012, and this year I had the wonderful experience of rereading it while in Stockholm, staying in an Airbnb just a few streets away from Blomkvist’s address! Never having been to Stockholm before I didn’t realize how much of the city makes it into the books, but within a few hours of walking around Södermalm all I wanted to do was read this book and find the real-life locations mentioned throughout. Thanks to my local library and the Libby library app I was able to satisfy this craving and virtually borrow the book from nearly 5000 miles away- technology is great!
This is the better, real-life version of Moby Dick. It’s more exciting, less wordy, and based on the disaster of the whale ship Essex that inspired the novel. It’s an amazing tale of survival, and an interesting piece on early American history. I expected it to be dry and boring, but I was captivated. It had my book club talking for months!
This was an eye-opening memoir that made me feel truly grateful for my own family, upbringing, and opportunities for education. Growing up off the grid in rural Idaho, Tara Westover didn’t set foot in a classroom until she was seventeen. It was amazing to read of how she came to grips with her family and the unconventional way that she grew up while also accepting that she has every right to the education and accomplishments she has earned thus far in her life.
This is unofficial required reading for anyone interested in mountaineering and travel. This is Krakauer’s account of the 1996 disaster on Mt. Everest that claimed eight lives, and until 2014 was the deadliest year on the mountain. I think it’s brilliant how he captured the essence and personalities of his fellow climbers while also showcasing the physical, mental, and emotional toll that summiting Everest entails. It was clear that he was still reeling from the disaster as he wrote the book, and I appreciated his honesty in admitting his mistakes and regrets.
This is Angie Kim’s debut novel, and I was very impressed with it. She really brought the characters to life and made them real people with believable thoughts and actions. I can’t say I’m happy with how the novel ended, but I loved the way the story was told.
This was another eye-opener for me. Despite all the CNN that my mom watched when I was a teen, I’m disappointed to admit that I didn’t know a lot of what was discussed in this book. Warrick researches the people and events that led to the founding of ISIS. He highlights decisions and mistakes that were made for the sake of politics- in both the US and Middle East. It’s sad to look at the state of things today and wonder if the situation could be any better if only a few different choices were made.
one happy bookworm 