East of Eden vs The Count of Monte Cristo: Which Should You Read?
Both live on shelves: Classics
East of Eden
Steinbeck considered East of Eden to be his masterpiece. In his journal, Journal of a Novel (often read as a companion to the novel) he notes that “this is the book I have always wanted and have worked and prayed to be…
vs
The Count of Monte Cristo
Thrown in prison for a crime he has not committed, Edmond Dantès is confined to the grim fortress of If. There he learns of a great hoard of treasure hidden on the Isle of Monte Cristo and he becomes determined not only…
The verdict
- Ratings are close across the board — any is a safe pick by score.
- The Count of Monte Cristo is the quickest read — about 4 hours vs 11 for East of Eden.
- East of Eden has the widest readership — 711929 ratings behind its score.
How to choose
Scores by source
| East of Eden | The Count of Monte Cristo | |
|---|---|---|
| Goodreads | 4.5 (711929) | — |
| Hardcover | 4.5 (1033) | 4.4 (1585) |
| Google Books | — | 5.0 (8) |
| Apple Books | 4.5 (1809) | 4.5 (153) |
Reception
| East of Eden | The Count of Monte Cristo | |
|---|---|---|
| Ratings | 711929 | 1585 |
| Editions | 104 | 3 |
| Citations | — | 1 |
| Film adaptations | 1 | 1 |
| Want to read | 1172774 | — |
| Pages | 602 | 242 |