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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Phantom of the Opera, when you expect dark romance and it gives you one (1) emotionally unstable Vicomte crying in the closet.
I went in thinking it would be tortured genius + tragic love story, because I’ve seen the movie. Alas, I was scammed 😂
Instead, I got money envelopes, opera house logistics, and a main character with the personality of a boiled potato (yes Raoul, you).
That said… I didn’t hate it. I actually kind of loved it (?).
Once I stopped expecting swoony romance and embraced it for what it is: an early example of the dark romance villain backstory—it worked for me.
Erik was tragic but one dimensional. Raoul was a disgrace. But I liked the atmosphere of the opera house, the myth of the Phantom and how we heard of him but not from him.
The ending hit me. A single act of kindness, and death.
Is it perfect? Not at all. But I can see why this story stuck around. 4 stars, because classics don’t care what I think, but I’m glad I read it.
My tags 😬
#FeralOperaGoblin
#BoiledPotatoRaoul
#GothicButMakeItFrench
#MenWillBuildSecretDungeonsInsteadOfGoingToTherapy
#ChristineGirlBlinkTwice
I went in thinking it would be tortured genius + tragic love story, because I’ve seen the movie. Alas, I was scammed 😂
Instead, I got money envelopes, opera house logistics, and a main character with the personality of a boiled potato (yes Raoul, you).
That said… I didn’t hate it. I actually kind of loved it (?).
Once I stopped expecting swoony romance and embraced it for what it is: an early example of the dark romance villain backstory—it worked for me.
Erik was tragic but one dimensional. Raoul was a disgrace. But I liked the atmosphere of the opera house, the myth of the Phantom and how we heard of him but not from him.
The ending hit me. A single act of kindness, and death.
Is it perfect? Not at all. But I can see why this story stuck around. 4 stars, because classics don’t care what I think, but I’m glad I read it.
My tags 😬
#FeralOperaGoblin
#BoiledPotatoRaoul
#GothicButMakeItFrench
#MenWillBuildSecretDungeonsInsteadOfGoingToTherapy
#ChristineGirlBlinkTwice
“We have Monte cristo at home” ass book
Not that bad but so average imo. I know it’s not at all similar to the count of Monte cristo but it felt like a sad Walmart version of it
Not that bad but so average imo. I know it’s not at all similar to the count of Monte cristo but it felt like a sad Walmart version of it
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
I read this annotated edition, while I added my own notes from previous reads between the lines. I really enjoyed the exploration of the characters, themes and other literary connections. It ended up with me writing a reading list for other stories in a similar vein of The Phantom of the Opera.
This book adds a lot of depth where I have previously missed certain things. Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this annotations and footnotes full of historical or literary information. It adds a lot more depth to the novel and heightened my experience, because I felt like I fully understood the reference made.
However I did feel like the personal opinion of the editor slipped into some of these footnotes. I did not always agree with these. My biggest gripe with these annotations was the way the editor wrote about Christine from the ALW-musical. He kept going out of his way to mention how musical Chrstine would NEVER behave a certain way and how much better the book version of Christine is. Now there is a point to be made, the portrayals of Christine are very different. But if you dislike the portrayal so much to keep mentioning how “musical Christine would never do this, because she acts too much like a damsel in distress”, then maybe just don’t mention it more than once? I did not read this to know more about the musical. There are other books for that.
Regardless this is my third read of phantom of the opera, and my second reread this year. So I have little to add to my previous reviews. I'm still absolutely obsessed.
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
My reading slowed down a bit once the Persian showed up. It was odd and I was confused, I think leroux just wanted someone who knew the inside deets of the Paris Opera House without having actual development of discovery
This book had good and interesting ideas, but it's executed very poorly. First of all, the writing style is all over the place. In general, I think this isn't well written but I'm willing to give the author the benefit of the doubt and say it was a bad translation or it just didn't sound as good in English. But there's more to it. The author writes this book in the point of view of an investigator of sorts who is compiling memoirs, interviews, etc., to solve the mystery of the Opera Phantom and Christine's disappearance. But he never properly commits to this idea and so a lot of the book, especially the first half, is told in 3rd person of what I guess the narrator thinks happened. I think this book would've been stronger if it was committed to being solely based on memoirs/newspapers/interviews OR if it was completely in 3rd person based on what the narrator thinks happened based on his findings. This halfway thing didn't really work out, at least to me. Or maybe it could've worked but the author just can't write.
I also want to say is that the first third was vaguely interesting, the second third was incredibly boring, and the last third was so absurd that it became amusing. The ending was also very anticlimactic in my opinion as well. I didn't need anything too big to happen but I also would've liked something better.
The themes weren't that good. The narrator tried to tell me that I should pity Erik and that he wasn't actually that bad but I'm like "hmm. I think the murderous incel is pretty bad, even if the world was injust to me. Surprisingly enough, people can be oppressed without becoming incels."
I'm harping on this book a lot but I do want to say I did enjoy it a lot when it wasn't being boring, but only because it was so stupid... is that a compliment? It was meant to be. It's just when it's trying to be funny it's dumb and when it's trying to be serious it's funny. Hm. Not as much of a compliment as I wanted it to be.
Credit where credit was due, the Persian wasn't that bad of a brown character in this older novel, even if the backstory involving Persia was kind of racist and the fact he is known solely as "The Persian" is kind of lame. My bar for racial diversity in older books are low, especially non-racist ones, but it managed not to completely hit the floor. In fact, I think the Persian was the only likable (and sane) character in the whole book. I'm not Persian but I am brown, and let me tell you I don't know any Opera Phantoms but I do know what it's like to be the only sane person in a room filled with crazy/stupid white people.
Raoul is the worst character though, you cannot change my mind. Erik was a worse person but Raoul was more annoying, especially since he was meant to be the main lead.
I think Lindsay Ellis said it best when she said this was a little nothing of a book. Yeah, if this book (not any of the movies/musicals, just the book) was forgotten by the sands of time we wouldn't have lost much. But hey, now I'm going to go listen to that musical.
I also want to say is that the first third was vaguely interesting, the second third was incredibly boring, and the last third was so absurd that it became amusing. The ending was also very anticlimactic in my opinion as well. I didn't need anything too big to happen but I also would've liked something better.
The themes weren't that good. The narrator tried to tell me that I should pity Erik and that he wasn't actually that bad but I'm like "hmm. I think the murderous incel is pretty bad, even if the world was injust to me. Surprisingly enough, people can be oppressed without becoming incels."
I'm harping on this book a lot but I do want to say I did enjoy it a lot when it wasn't being boring, but only because it was so stupid... is that a compliment? It was meant to be. It's just when it's trying to be funny it's dumb and when it's trying to be serious it's funny. Hm. Not as much of a compliment as I wanted it to be.
Credit where credit was due, the Persian wasn't that bad of a brown character in this older novel, even if the backstory involving Persia was kind of racist and the fact he is known solely as "The Persian" is kind of lame. My bar for racial diversity in older books are low, especially non-racist ones, but it managed not to completely hit the floor. In fact, I think the Persian was the only likable (and sane) character in the whole book. I'm not Persian but I am brown, and let me tell you I don't know any Opera Phantoms but I do know what it's like to be the only sane person in a room filled with crazy/stupid white people.
Raoul is the worst character though, you cannot change my mind. Erik was a worse person but Raoul was more annoying, especially since he was meant to be the main lead.
I think Lindsay Ellis said it best when she said this was a little nothing of a book. Yeah, if this book (not any of the movies/musicals, just the book) was forgotten by the sands of time we wouldn't have lost much. But hey, now I'm going to go listen to that musical.
I have mixed feelings about this work in particular, but I am beyond obsessed with the musical adaptation and film score.
I wish there was more characterization and psychology of the characters; if Christine and Erik had an inner monologue, I think I would connect with the story in a richer way.
I wish there was more characterization and psychology of the characters; if Christine and Erik had an inner monologue, I think I would connect with the story in a richer way.
The love -> hate -> love relationship every two sentences goes crazy
damn. so close to five stars but the pacing and excessive description (typical of these books i know, it’s just not my preference) made some parts a bit difficult to get through. i loved a lot of things about this book. leroux has a way of describing beautiful music that perfectly captures what it’s like to hear it. the vibrancy of his writing and his figurative language in moments of high tension and emotion is what stood out most to me. and how full of life his main characters are. they’re all so distinct and very memorable. gotta give it more time in my brain!!
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes