Show HN: Read The Count of Monte Cristo and others in installments in your email
serialliterature.com
serialliterature.com
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The Conte of Montecristo was published according to Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Count_of_Monte_Cristo#Publ...
> from 28 August 1844 to 15 January 1846
The original (book) has 117 Chapters: http://catdir.loc.gov/catdir/toc/ecip0720/2007023856.html
As a matter of fact the first date there is chapter 1:
https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k446668c.item
And on the last date ther is chapter 117:
https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k447166b/
And an indication that it is the fourth "part" and the dates where the previous "sub-parts" were published.
They are not sequential (i.e. every day), and they have long gaps, so, without checking the exact dates, it seems plausible that it was actually pubished in 117 times.
Another idea is to graduate the project into a more cohesive system: one of the emails you could periodically send is the first N pages of a random, untitled book.
Subject: "[Mystery Book] A story about redemption, a wrongfully imprisoned man." —just a byline summary like that.
And at the end of the email, you provide a link they can click that will subscribe to the rest of that book.
Like the idea that if you read the book, you aren’t actually reading it as intended.
On the other hand, splitting a book that wasn't meant to be serial can make certain sections feel meaningless - they aren't meant to be taken separately. A perfect example is the movie adaptation of the Hobbit: you had two movies that felt unresolved and one movie that just dropped you in right before the climax of the book.
But I am wondering what other aspects of reading I can improve for people. For example, I have in mind creating "virtual book clubs" where I match people that happen to be in the same chapter of the same book. This means that the initial reading doesn't have to be through email, it can be anyway the reader prefer.
Monte Cristo is a good summer read. The 3 musketeers and the follow ups are also great.
I get these audiobooks from librivox and litteratureaudio.com. Fantastic work is done there.
I wasn't aware of Verne's views, but I would guess they were pretty common during his time, so I would abstain to pass a judgement on him and focus on his pioneering work on scifi.
I had the site ready for launch today and already including "The Count of Monte Cristo", but I pushed the book to be the first one on the list and mention it in the title precisely because of the Google Doodle.
Yes, 1844 is the correct year.
(I can't edit my reply above anymore)
About being against the original author's intent, there is no way to escape that I think. Those original installments were published in print, some of them were installments of dozens and dozens of page. I had to break "The Brothers Karamazov" in many more installments that it was originally. It is an adaptation to a new medium, so I will have to make changes. The idea is more preserve the spirit of the initial publication and encourage people to read more fiction.
Like: where's the place where All The Things are clamouring for your attention more than anything else? Yup, your email inbox.
Where's the place you unsubscribe from as much as you possibly can to keep it clean?
Where's the place there are even automated "unsub" tools and "zero" is considered the Holy Grail?
Where's the place you're likely to give up your literature reading when yet another urgent email from your boss pops into view?
I'm just not convinced that long form reading in your inbox is what people want, or if it'll stick.
I guess I also just think: buy the book. Buy the book, in paper form, turn off your phone and actually live the story rather than trying to turn it into some serialised, EASY snackable form. Sometimes words and books are hard, but that's often the point. Be immersed in it, lost in it, consumed by it.
I'm ready to be proved wrong so will sign up and see, but these are my initial thoughts.
It's partly delayed gratification, but it's also having something in your week schedule to look forward to. I experienced similar thing with Planetarium (https://www.beholder.uk/planetarium/) and I'd recommend it to anyone.
In periods of high-stress I can barely bring myself to pick up a book, but Im sure I'd read that email first thing in the morning. Very well done!
Now please, add Atlas Shrugged to the list, its due a re-read :)
I wish I could decide how large each instalment was.
Edit: the most bizarre thing. I’m trying to scroll and the ink is smudging everywhere and I can’t read things.
The custom size for each installment is interesting, but tricky to do right. I'll think about it.
Love your idea.
Why is this service better?
It's pretty epic in many ways, and for me it's the ultimate revenge story.
The video basically introduces me and what I'm doing.
What I think is you should have an index of similar novels too. You can put a list of recommended novels in the newsletter email, or sent a follow up email after finishing the whole seris of 117 chapters of Monte Cristo.
A preview would be nice. Something to get a feel of how long a chapter might be. Also time is a fickle thing. Your 3pm might differ from mine. You might want to include the timezone somewhere. Finally: What's up with the blots that appear onclick in the upper quarter of the page?
The ink drops are just a quirky effect that I found cool to add. Hopefully it didn't disrupt your experience (it works better on desktop btw).
I always kind of hoped Cell phone novels [0] in English would come, but I've never seen any.
Does anyone know of new works being written and released in installments this way? Through newspapers, magazines, blogs, etc?
But nice implementation, nonetheless...
An example at the top would be perfect, Of what the email would look like.