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beagley 's review for:
The Phantom of the Opera
by Gaston Leroux
Here are the main reasons you might enjoy a book: A book can be well written (word choice and sentence structure), it can have moving, 3-dimensional characters that you care about, or it can have a plot that is engaging and interesting. There are lots of reasons to read a book, but those are the big three.
For me, the Phantom of the Opera has none of these traits. The language and structure is needlessly convoluted, it doesn't invite me to like or take an interest in any of the characters, and the plot is boring and predictable.
I kept reading, kept searching for the reason behind this book's popularity- I can't find it. A friend who recommended it said it was best appreciated "as a comedy"--and I can almost see that--there are some odd, madcap, almost slapstick moments, exaggerated reactions, the letters from the ghost and so forth. I can also appreciate the writing if I imagine I was reading one of the weaker Sherlock Holmes stories, for example-- a similar sort of feel at times. But that's about it.
The book, and the story itself as retold in the musical, are often described as "romantic". Nope. Not remotely.
I'm sorry world, but I'm a PotO hater.
For me, the Phantom of the Opera has none of these traits. The language and structure is needlessly convoluted, it doesn't invite me to like or take an interest in any of the characters, and the plot is boring and predictable.
I kept reading, kept searching for the reason behind this book's popularity- I can't find it. A friend who recommended it said it was best appreciated "as a comedy"--and I can almost see that--there are some odd, madcap, almost slapstick moments, exaggerated reactions, the letters from the ghost and so forth. I can also appreciate the writing if I imagine I was reading one of the weaker Sherlock Holmes stories, for example-- a similar sort of feel at times. But that's about it.
The book, and the story itself as retold in the musical, are often described as "romantic". Nope. Not remotely.
I'm sorry world, but I'm a PotO hater.