Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux, Fiction, Classics by Gaston Leroux

4 reviews

natderosa's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-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

2.5

Ugh. I wanted to love the novel, but every character is so flawed there's almost no redeeming qualities about any of them. I've known the musical/movie musical adaptations well before the book but this is not a comparison of the two (actually, the 1925 silent film is the most accurate adaptation of the novel). Raoul is the most whiny man-child I've ever read about in literature, and his lust (yes, it's lust) for Christine is as creepy as desperate as Erik. Christine's naïvety makes sense if it's assumed she's a sheltered teen/young-adult, mourning her father while being manipulated by Erik. The final climax felt so drawn out and anti-climatic. The story-telling from the perspective of a historian's account, although interesting, at times made it feel like I was reading just an essay and not a story. 
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wuthrinheights's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I've watched the musical years back, so I thought I would know how the story would go but the more I read, the more I realised how different they were. The book is much, much better than the play (although the music score was also brilliant).

I was pleasantly surprised to learn how fast paced the book was, and it was captivating from the start. It only took me more or less 6 hours to read it, and by the last 100 pages or so, I had the musical soundtracks to accompany me. 

It was spooky, intoxicating, yet somehow humorous at times. Occasionally I would find myself to snicker or giggle at what the character said or did. I did not have a favourite character exactly, but I enjoyed reading the storyline; it kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time.

Love was a huge theme of the book. In the end, people just want to be loved.
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uparrowhead's review against another edition

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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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fernaissante's review against another edition

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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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