The Count of Monte Cristo left a sour taste in my mouth

By GlimmerBrocaded

I gotta say, I really, really liked this book. I was basically reading it anytime I wasn’t doing something else, and I’d even listen to the audiobook while doing chores. At one point my arms were actually sore from holding the book so much. That said, the last couple chapters really soured me on the Count. For one thing, he ends up with Haydee. He’s known her forever—since she was a kid—and he also “owned” her as a slave. He acted like she was a princess and didn’t go all creepy about her, but still… how do you even get together with someone you’ve seen like your child? Also, I wasn’t happy with how Fernand and Villefort’s stories ended. With Villefort especially, it feels like a lot of the damage came from inside the family, more than the Count’s doing, aside from the part about his illegitimate son being revealed. Early on I thought the family really had it coming—like they deserved the bad stuff. But once it actually happens, it just doesn’t feel right. I’m honestly trying to figure out why I don’t like the character I was rooting for so much.