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Chapter 2, part VI starts "I will now enter upon the description of that almost forgotten incident with which my story properly speaking begins."

In the audiobook, that's 2.5 hours in.

A character uses the word "literally" to mean "figuratively" in this book.

"I got her through my old friend, Blandly, who has proved himself throughout the most surprising trump. The admirable fellow literally slaved in my interest, and so, I may say, did everyone in Bristol, as soon as they got wind of the port we sailed for—treasure, I mean."

Also, Silver's wife is described as a "woman of color".

I really enjoy this book and normally a dense nerdy book is exactly my thing. I even love audiobooks about math! But something about this one feels like forcing yourself to exercise or eat healthy as opposed to doing those because you want to. I always put off reading it when I don't feel "like it" or when I need something more light, fun, or encouraging.

I'm less than halfway through and impressed how faithful the movie has been to the book. But at this point in the film, it was approaching the end. So I'm wondering what the extra 60 percent has? Maybe some of Ed Tom's story, which hasn't yet been covered? Hmmmm.

Monte Cristo is a bit of a Jane's Bond archetype hero. Smooth, sexy,, mysterious , desired by everyone and seemingly free from error. He's also repellent to me for the same reasons Bond is, with the addition of a heaping additional scoop of pride, wealth and spite. Get over yourself, bitch. Fourteen years in a prison where they were consciously humane?? Seems better than the average accused can hope for today.

I just read "Pretty Girls" by Karin Slaughter & was disturbed by the torture & sexual violence. I picked a Sci-fi book because I thought it would be a good change of pace. I also knew this one was made into a popular TV show, so doubted it would be quite as graphic. I was wrong. A male character has his consciousness put into a female body, so they can torture him by shoving a hot iron into his vagina. For example.

"A bullet, no doubt. I congratulate you, Count, on your baptism of fire!"

"Kutuzov's adjutant whispered to Prince Andrew that this was the wife of the priest whose home it was, and that she intended to offer his Serene Highness bread and salt."

Nice.

I'm playing a game called "Spot Sapkowski".

I made it up.

When you find a reference that seems like it was used as inspiration or referenced in the Witcher series of books, you mentally go "oohh there's one!" And then you give yourself a point for being The Biggest Nerd.

Some examples:

"An ax will be useful, a hunting spear not bad, but a three-pronged fork will be best of all"

"

I like the part where the dad is writing a letter to his [presumed dead] daughter and tells her he how he can never stop thinking about her, except when he is having sex (with her mother who is also his ex wife, since she is married to someone else now). He's like "it's nice ".

How sweet.

*deep breath*

challenge accepted.

If you're reading this Dostoevsky, no offense but I got three words for you: kill your darlings, babe.

Some books (Cloud Atlas included) seem to start with the GRE vocab list as their writing prompt. Genuinely a suspicious number of those words in some books, and none in others.

I was unsure if I'd hate this - since I was a child I've HATED slapstick/farce. I've also loved satire since then. This book is both. I was also sternly guarded about finding any humor in the book. Like. Was it just fat jokes and fart humor? I've seen people laugh at strange things. But this is definitely written as comedy. I think it's funny... Wild. Stay tuned.

I am enjoying the change of pace in this book. I like that all the main characters are being allowed to stand on their own and develop as individuals. I like the allowance for "good people, who do good things, who enjoy hurting people". Honestly I was getting kinda annoyed with Naomi being a hot, genius who is always calm, charming , understanding, yet sassy and sexually generous.

Everything I have encountered by Ehrman (podcast interviews, YouTube Lectures, Great Courses from the Teaching Company, & a few of his books so far) has just had me going "stawwwwpppp being so perfecttttt, omg, I have a platonic crush on you, dude". I relate very deeply to being one of the "many a poor boy" to which evangelical Christianity has led to "ruin". Yet Ehrman has turned me into a real bible history nerd.

I'm into it.