The Count and Les Miserables

I definitely know that when I am able to go back for my Master's, I will be wanting to complete it in French literature. I'm reading The Count of Monte Cristo and Les Miserables right now and am completely captivated. It is taking me longer to read because I am basically savoring the words and images these writers create for me. After I finish reading The Count, I plan on going back and reading the abridged version we picked up for Eric (he really wants to read, but has drastically less time for it than myself). I'm curious to see if the things I would have shortened or removed in the interest of time and space are the same as previously committed. I'm sure I'll get to the point of doing the same with Les Miserables. Of course, those are both with the desire to some day in the future obtain French copies of these classics and be able to read and comprehend them in the vernacular. Great expectations? Think I'll make it?