So, this book has basically been on my to-read list for about five years. I've spent the better half of that time thinking it wouldn't be interesting, because it didn't sound like something I'd like. 

Boy, was I wrong.

The Count is surprisingly very readable for such an old book. Unlike other classics I've read (cough, Les Mis, cough) it didn't feel tedious or boring, and I didn't find that its descriptions dragged on. Everything served a purpose, and every little detail was meaningful -- you need to remember things as you read, because all the things you'll most likely forget about will definitely come into play later. That's one of the things I really liked about the book; it was one of those full-circle stories, but it never felt too convenient. The way that stories and people came together was done so well. 

Also, I loved the cast of characters; they all felt really well-developed! I do have favourites -- Albert and The Count himself, namely -- but I thought all of them contributed something, and even the bad guys were the kind you love to hate. Also, the terrible people absolutely got what they deserved, which was so ridiculously satisfying that it made me smile. 

Another thing I liked: there was no definite sense of finality at the end for a lot of the major characters. I tend to not like endings that... well, definitively end; one character dies, another gets their Happily Ever After, and so on. That's one of the reasons I don't think I could re-read Les Miserables. I like having that freedom and room to imagine what characters are up to after the events of the book they're in, and I got that here. The best kind of book, in my opinion, closes one chapter in its characters' lives and opens another.

I highly recommend The Count. If you haven't given it a try -- I promise, it'll be worth your time. It's got something for everyone!