I used to listen to lots of audiobooks when I drove to work alone. Now, that's been replaced by conversations with my carpooling partner. But when Austin's commuter-rail line opens up later this year (or early next year, or...), I'll be back in the audiobook business.
This has been on my "to read" list since high school! I don't usually listen to audiobooks, but maybe that's what I need to do-- listen to audiobooks while on the treadmill-- in order to read it finally.
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas père, narrated by John Lee, Blackstone Audiobooks, 2008
So let's say you are stuck without electricity and you discover that it really is not possible to knit by battery lantern light. Well, thank goodness you charged up your mp3 player beforehand and have this classic tale of intrigue and revenge to listen to.
I had NO idea that this audiobook was read by John Lee but at the first sound of his voice intoning his name I did a mental happy dance. This was going to be good, I thought.
I was correct.
Earlier this year, I thoroughly enjoyed Lee's reading of Ken Follett's Pillars of the Earth. His voicing and characterization are always on the mark and very engaging. For this story he has created a wide range of accents and voices for characters who seemed to appear effortlessly in my imagination. His French accent is perfection. [Image] I confess, I had never read this classic before and when I shared my delight in this recording with the entlings, they responded, "we know that story, we saw it on Wishbone."
Ah Wishbone, I have much to thank that little Jack Russell Terrier for. That really was a terrific program.
The Count of Monte Cristo is about justice, reward, revenge, retribution and forgiveness.
Just promoted to ship's captain and on the eve of his marriage, Edmond Dantes finds himself overtaken by events that have nothing to do with him. The political intrigues of others result in his unjust imprisonment in the Chateau d'If for fourteen years. During that time, he makes friends with the Abbé Faria who gives him directions to a fabulous treasure, if Edmond can have if he ever escapes. Edmond does escape, just not in the manner Wishbone did.
When the wealthy and pale-skinned Count of Monte Cristo appears on the Paris social scene, disasters begin to befall the villains who caused Edmond Dantes's misery.
I found it hard to believe this story was written over 150 years ago. Drugs, sex, stock market manipulation, specious banking schemes, and political machinations--as the old saying goes, "Ripped from today's headlines..." This is a totally enthralling story and a perfect audiobook listen.
4 Comments
Close this window Jump to comment formOooh, I'm glad you had such a wonderful way to make it through the storm. Good choice!
12:59 PM
OOh, don't you LOVE Dumas? When I've finished reading A Tale of Two Cities I need to reread The Count.
Hope you get power soon. I'd be going nuts if I couldn't read OR knit.
1:01 PM
I used to listen to lots of audiobooks when I drove to work alone. Now, that's been replaced by conversations with my carpooling partner. But when Austin's commuter-rail line opens up later this year (or early next year, or...), I'll be back in the audiobook business.
I might just have to start with this one!
6:04 AM
This has been on my "to read" list since high school! I don't usually listen to audiobooks, but maybe that's what I need to do-- listen to audiobooks while on the treadmill-- in order to read it finally.
11:43 AM