Reviews tagging 'Violence'

The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux

14 reviews

banned_book's review

funny medium-paced

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Not sure if I found the clownish character interactions funny on their own, or whether Christopher Lee's phenomenal voice acting made the story quality seem much better than it is. Either way, I enjoyed the immensely stupid plot. Always love a good and pathetic fictional man. If he's the clear loser in a nonsensical love triangle, even better.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Violence

cursed10fold's review

adventurous dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse and Kidnapping

Moderate: Violence, Suicide attempt, and Toxic relationship

Minor: War

kileyjojo's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

1.0

 This book is very dated. There are words used with negative connotations. Some of the phrasing is rather offensive.
Aside from that, the story is very dull. If you're interested in this novel because of the musical or the film adaptations, this is not the story you would expect. The characters are whiny and unlikeable. The pacing is odd. Any of the action and suspense is taken away by unbearable dialogue. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Death, Murder, Racial slurs, Suicide attempt, and Stalking

uparrowhead's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

A classic which, in my opinion, deserves to be considered timeless; the Phantom of the Opera raises the question on how we should treat the truly low members of society.

The novel introduces the story of the Opera Ghost, which stalks the shadows of the Paris Opera House and hunts for mischief and mystery. Strange events emerge and connect as the singer Christine Daaé slowly begins her rise in fame with her heavenly vocals, supposedly learning to sing from the Angel of Music. The reader navigates through this episodic novel and slowly gathers the truths to the unfolding story.

The Phantom of the Opera places a great emphasis on concepts of love, obsession, desire, and pity. How can we learn to, not love, but accept someone who is supposedly heartless? How can we take pity on people who are seemingly monstrous? How does unrecieved love mould into an overpowering obsession built upon desires we are unable to satisfy? The novel feels like it is truly a love letter to these themes as both pain and pleasure are combined into the flowing story.

I have loved this ever since watching the musical, and the original story that brought it to life is absolutely incredible.

I can't get over how beautifully tragic the ending for this novel is. It ends in Erik's death for his own overflowing love of Christine, one which he had never experienced with another woman in his life. It just serves to show how much Erik wished for nothing but a normal life but was cursed from the endeavour ever since he was first born just for his horrific features, leading him down a path of using his wits and intellect for his own disturbing gains as a way to not acknowledge his pain.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Body horror, Confinement, Kidnapping, and Torture

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Classism, Death, Drug use, Violence, Stalking, and Suicide

Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Self harm, Racism, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, Death of parent, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

seapotatohowisitalrtaken's review

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Toxic relationship, Gun violence, Suicide attempt, Kidnapping, Violence, and Torture

Moderate: Blood, Stalking, Panic attacks/disorders, Classism, and Sexism

enchantingreads's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I absolutely loved this book. I decided to finally read it, because I was named after Christine Daae. This book was so much better than the movie. This book is full of so much detail that it really ties the book together and makes it enjoyable. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Torture

Minor: Violence, Murder, and Kidnapping

They do mention the deaths, kidnapping, and violence, however, they do not go into to much detail. Near the end of the book, they go into a bit more detail revolving around the ,

charity_ix's review

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0

My first classic! I was intrigued by the first chapter alone and knew I was going to love this book. The penguin classics edition was also super easy to read and the notes gave me so much insight into the world this book takes place in. I was very invested throughout the book and it was so intense at times. Some parts did feel very long and at times I felt like the pacing was slightly odd, but in the end, it was fine. The epilogue tied everything together for me and it just felt perfect. Erik as a character was written so well and even the descriptions of him gave me chills. Overall, this is the perfect book if you want to start reading classics or if you just want to read a whimsical story of The Paris Opera in the 1800s. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Violence and Kidnapping

smithreads's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny informative reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Murder, Stalking, Violence, Death of parent, Body horror, Classism, Grief, Kidnapping, Torture, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide attempt, Gun violence, and Racism

annoyedhumanoid's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Toxic relationship, and Torture

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Grief, Gun violence, Death, Suicide attempt, Violence, Murder, and Suicide

Minor: Alcohol, Classism, Blood, and Fire/Fire injury

isabella_boytsan's review

dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt and Murder

Moderate: Death and Torture

Minor: Kidnapping, Stalking, Toxic relationship, and Violence