The Calorie Count of Monty Crisco

My Spanish could stand improvement (see previous entry).  To this end, I've been reading books written in it, looking to improve my vocabulary in a - hopefully - enjoyable way.  

So, I downloaded this big book by a guy named Alex something, and plunged in.  And almost drowned.

As far as I could tell, the book was about some guy on a boat who was going to marry some girl, and I think Napoleon was mentioned, and then he was in jail, I think.  Not Napoleon; the guy.  So anyway, then he got really rich and it seems like he did some nice things, and then he got even with other people.  I mean the guy, not Napoleon, although he got even with people sometimes, too. 
Look, this was a really, really big book, and I'll bet it was confusing even in English.

So, I'm going to tackle another book now.  I'm thinking this time it's going to be another classic, like El Gato En El Sombrero, by the famous author Theodor Geisel.

May all your books be classics, and your calorie count be lower than the Alex guy above.

Dave