A review by danijoy
The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux

dark funny mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

I am still contemplating my final evaluation for this gothic French classic. I thought I wasn’t going to like the book a few chapters in. But - once I embraced the operatic melodrama of it all, I found myself thoroughly enjoying it. One critique I wanted to make relates to the third person future retrospective on past events narration that Leroux goes with. It’s hard to show versus tell when characters are sharing about past events (it also removes tension when I know specific characters survive in the end). However, something about Leroux’s strategy/writing style makes me okay with this ultimate narration choice? It’s perplexing. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I still say the musical is superior!