46-Week Reading Goals Update (2023)

The Count of Monte Cristo had better get his revenge soon.

2023 Reading Goals: Progress!

1. Finish Les Miserables by Victor Hugo: DONE!

2. Read Tartuffe by Molière (a play): DONE!

3. Candide by Voltaire (a satirical novella): DONE!

4. The French Revolution by Hilaire Belloc: DONE!

5. Scaramouche by Rafael Sabatini: DONE!

6. Napoleon: A Life by Andrew Roberts: DONE!

7. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas: 90/117 chapters done

8. Le Petit Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry: DONE!

9. An anthology of French poetry: DONE!

10. Pensées by Blaise Pascal (philosophical musings of a great mathematician)

11. The First Discourse by Jean-Jacques Rousseau: DONE!

12. Lafayette by Harlow Giles Unger: DONE!

13. From Mother and Daughter: an anthology of the writings of Madeleine and Catherine des Roches

Journal-Style Reflections

I buckled down and just focused on The Count of Monte Cristo this month. Although it has its slow parts, I’m intrigued by the plot, especially as mysteries are slowly being revealed and one man’s twenty-year vendetta draws to its close. I can’t make out the count’s character. He views himself as an agent of divine vengeance, bringing ruin on those whose power and prestige shield them from justice. He has few scruples about what means he uses, or who might get hurt along the way, and yet there are some lines he won’t cross.

Many “world-famous tales of vengeance” don’t actually end in revenge. I’m thinking of Scaramouche and Ben Hur in particular, and I have to say that I do like the trope of a man finally forgiving his enemies, in spite of everything, at the very end. But, darn it, I hope this most famous revenge story of all time ends with actual revenge, or I’m never going to trust book reviewers again. Yes, it’s nice to see the hero nobly drop his sword and let them live another day, but we also really like when Inigo stabs Count Rugen, right?

Also, I find it very amusing how the character of the Count of Monte Cristo, who is in his forties for most of the novel, attracts crowds of worshipping young men like a manosphere icon. He’s the ancient, heroic ideal — rich, smart, mysterious, deadly - and every rich young man he meets practically begs him to be the father they wish they’d had. Give the guy a podcast.

Other (Non-French) Things I Read:

I read Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen with one book club. I love this story so much, and this time I’ve really been appreciating the character of Mrs. Jennings. We all need women who are a little bustling, a little basic, a lot gossipy, who are nevertheless good judges of character and will stand by us through everything.

I’ve been listening to Little Women with my five-year-old daughter. She shares my opinion that the first half, which ends shortly after Mr. March’s return from Washington, is much more exciting than the second half when they all get married and published and so on.

My husband and I have continued to slowly read War and Peace. It’s a funny thing, since I’m bad at remembering names in real life, but I have been really good at keeping track of the different characters’ Russian and French names and their convoluted political and familial connections to each other. Maybe I just need more drama when talking to people in real life. When you introduce yourself to me, mention how many love children you have, whether you actually love your wife or not, and which of your friends you hope to use for professional advancement.

I’ve been plowing my way through most of Liane Moriarty’s bibliography: Apples Never Fall, Nine Perfect Strangers, Three Wishes, The Last Anniversary, and The Hypnotist’s Love Story (I’d read What Alice Forgot, The Husband’s Secret, and Big Little Lies a few years ago). I enjoy the elements of mystery in her books. Apples Never Fall and Nine Perfect Strangers are probably my favorites.

A selection of what I read with my kids: The Silver Chair; a bunch of books by Ingri and Edgar Parin d’Aulaire: Children of the Northlights, Leif the Lucky, Columbus, Pocahontas; Newton’s Rainbow: The Revolutionary Discoveries of a Young Scientist by Kathryn Lasky; The Thanksgiving Story by Alice Dalgliesh; Squanto, Friend of the Pilgrims by Clyde Robert Bulle; Going on a Bearhunt; Caps for Sale; Show Way by Jacqueline Woodson; They Were Strong and Good by Robert Lawson

Bible: Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Psalms, Proverbs, Mark

Next Steps

I’m going to finish The Count of Monte Cristo. I may or may not finish Pensées. I’m having a baby some time in December, so if the baby comes late, I’ll have time to be scholastic and read Pascal. If the baby comes early or on time, though, I’ll be reading murder mysteries on my phone during 3 am feeds with no guilt.

Non-Literary Favorites

We finished the addition on our house, and our daughters moved into their new bedroom. It’s tiny but cute.