Reviews tagging 'Stalking'

The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux

25 reviews

livelaughomo's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Stalking, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Murder and Torture

Minor: Body horror, Racial slurs, and Suicide attempt

jobaji's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

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

3.5

I thought this book was pretty interesting! It was told in a cool way, with Leroux assuming the role of a historian or reporter. Some of Erik’s lines were truly spine-chilling, but the themes of nature vs. nurture and showing compassion to those whom most people would turn away from were definitely worthy of further thought. It’s a slow read at the start, but towards the middle the story starts to pick up.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Death of parent, Stalking, Death, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Abandonment

fishbones's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Stalking, Kidnapping, Emotional abuse, and Murder

Moderate: Suicide

linnylionheart's review against another edition

dark sad tense fast-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Stalking, Emotional abuse, Torture, Confinement, Kidnapping, Death, Gaslighting, and Murder

Moderate: Bullying, Mental illness, Classism, Suicide attempt, and Suicide

Minor: Child abuse, Misogyny, Blood, and Death of parent

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

sarasreading's review

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.5

This was an enjoyable reread! I haven't read it since I was in high school, and I thoroughly enjoyed it then as well. I remember it was the first book that gave me a jump, but I couldn't tell you what that point was this time around. 

There was some meandering about, and a few chapters at the end that were too bloated in my opinion. But it was an easy and engaging classic for the spooky season!

p.s. there was a part where one of the managers was backing into his office, extremely butt first, and all I picture was him twerking his way back lol 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder, Stalking, and Kidnapping

lostinafilmscene's review

dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

4.25

Watched the 2004 movie and the 25th anniversary version before reading the book. Needless to say, this book really intrigued me with its antique and mysterious vibes that were always there during Leroux's narratives. 
Positive things: 

• Christine was less shy and immature than the stage/movie version, which I liked by the way;
• Raoul was less irritating to read about, but  more possessive in the book;
• More focused on actions than the romance (my preference);

Negative things:

• Erik was seen more as a monster than a man who has many traumas from the past by Christine (even though her main charm was being a compassionate person);
• It's very slow paced, so you've got to take your time to read this book;
• The order of events
  (masquerade -> chandelier crashing -> disappearing)
  is also different, but i enjoyed the musical order even more (it makes more sense to me, i don't know)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Toxic relationship, Blood, Physical abuse, Alcoholism, Grief, Kidnapping, and Stalking

taelights's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

While I do prefer the stage version and the movie a lot more, I did really enjoy getting to read the original book which inspired Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical. I definitely have to give a lot of respect to this book for being the inspiration for my favorite musical ever.

The Phantom was truly creepy in this version and not sexy at all. While I do enjoy the more sexy twisted version in the book version was very interesting to learn about.

All the characters do pale a bit in comparison to the musical. But it was also interesting to get some extra context on inspirations for the musical. 

The writing, especially the dialogue was a bit bad at times but I'm not sure if that's just how it is or how the translation is seeing as the original novel was in French. Or perhaps a bit of both. 

I wouldn't recommend this book unless you are a fan of the musical or movie because honestly if I had read this without being a big fan of the musical I'd probably have dnf it but I only enjoyed it a bit due to the musical. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Death, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Murder, Stalking, Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Kidnapping, Sexual harassment, Suicide attempt, and Toxic relationship

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

nyssa_jo's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-paced

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

3.0

this book is crazy, but most of it is told in exposition, making it quite boring.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Confinement, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Stalking, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Death, Murder, and Torture

Minor: Death of parent