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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A good story, but the translation from French is clunky at best. Very fun to read how individual sections of the book influenced the musical, but otherwise, this book is hard to recommend on its merits alone.
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Wow, I really enjoyed this! I've seen the musical, and loved it, and I didn't know much about the book at all, but I've been meaning to read it for a long time.
I was surprised to realise, quite early on, that the novel differed quite a bit in storyline from the musical. But this wasn't a bad thing at all, and I continued to look forward to seeing the variations. One in particular that I found striking was the reason behind "Keep your hand at the level of your eyes!" which I never really understood in the musical, but was explained here. I loved the Persian, as well!
I did find Raoul a bit whiny and weak, but it is a different time and culture and men would more openly weep; I suppose I'm more used to reading tales where men are more or less the dashing hero in some form or another. He seemed a bit too quick to give up in the room of mirrors for me, but he was young, and in love, and so I excused him for this.
The Phantom seemed much more menacing and awful in the novel, and yet in the end, I too reached the conclusion, though perhaps not quite so willingly as the narrator, that he was to be pitied, which was something I did not expect.
I'll definitely be buying a copy!
I was surprised to realise, quite early on, that the novel differed quite a bit in storyline from the musical. But this wasn't a bad thing at all, and I continued to look forward to seeing the variations. One in particular that I found striking was the reason behind "Keep your hand at the level of your eyes!" which I never really understood in the musical, but was explained here. I loved the Persian, as well!
I did find Raoul a bit whiny and weak, but it is a different time and culture and men would more openly weep; I suppose I'm more used to reading tales where men are more or less the dashing hero in some form or another. He seemed a bit too quick to give up in the room of mirrors for me, but he was young, and in love, and so I excused him for this.
The Phantom seemed much more menacing and awful in the novel, and yet in the end, I too reached the conclusion, though perhaps not quite so willingly as the narrator, that he was to be pitied, which was something I did not expect.
I'll definitely be buying a copy!
This book can't make up its mind about what it wants to be about. Is it a drama? Romance? Gothic Horror? Mystery? I am glad I read it, but the musical is better.
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Some memorable moments, but I didn't like the serial structure. There seems some padding in order to end some sections at a suitable moment after the same number of words. Deserved classic for its time, but I think there are better ghost stories now.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes