Reviews tagging 'Torture'

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

39 reviews

the_clueless_tourist's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement and Kidnapping

Moderate: Death, Torture, and Murder

Minor: Death of parent

freddikb's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional medium-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

1.0

 

My only real knowledge of this story has been from the movie version with Gerard Butler and Emmy Rossum (2004). I fell in love with the costumes and the tragic love story of the phantom, Erik. I was so excited to read this. My final thoughts, after the last page has been read, are not what I expected them to be….

Going into this story I had, I’ll admit, already my own thoughts based on the 2004 movie. I eventually learned that the movie and the book have differing takes on the story, on the way the relationships are portrayed. Or perhaps my eyes have become clearer to red flags?

My initial thought about the book was- this story portrays a toxic relationship between an emotionally abused man and a very naive/immature girl. Yes, that is what I said. I know there will be haters. “The Phantom of the Opera” is such a popular ‘love story’ for the ages and I am pulling out all the red flags. A man who was unloved by his family and emotionally traumatized by everyone, and never received the support and help he needed to work through that, the result- Erik became fixated on a girl, stalked her, became jealous of her friends, kidnapped her and held her in confinement. He threatens her friends, and all of these actions in the name of “love”. And Christine, she plays both guys, using their emotions and playing them. No. Just, no. So, so many red flags in this story. It was such a disappointment, but also helped me see that the movie is also not the best for me to watch.

Girls, if a guy says he loves you but then threatens, stalks, kidnaps, it is not love. I repeat- that is not love.

*What I have expressed are entirely my own thoughts. I was not compensated in any monetary way.* 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Death, Gore, Violence, Death of parent, and Murder

Minor: Death, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Manipulation

theyretakingthehobbits's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Misogyny, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Kidnapping, and Murder

ijustreallyliketrees's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, and Murder

Moderate: Death, Suicide, and Torture

Minor: Body horror, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent

hjb_128's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Stalking, and Murder

Moderate: Body horror, Suicide, Torture, and Suicide attempt

kemrick19's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Confinement, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Kidnapping, and Suicide attempt

thesvnthsense's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious slow-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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship and Kidnapping

Moderate: Torture, Suicide attempt, and Murder

elislittlelibrary's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

It took me quite a while to finish this book. The writing isn't hard to understand, but I felt like the pacing and storytelling was quite different from what we are used to today, so I think that was just unusual, hence the time it took me to read. 
While I'm glad I read this, I honestly expected a little more from it, though I can't put my finger on exactly what I was missing. If you'd like to read a classic, I can recommend this though, I quite enjoyed it!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping

Moderate: Torture, Toxic relationship, and Murder

siglerbooknook's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

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

4.0

When I tell you I obsessed over this book in high school it is not in any way an exaggeration.
So of course, it was required reading now that I'm an adult to see if it was truly as good as I remembered.
My finding was rather complex. The over all plot was much more boring than I remembered, very slow, fully of miscommunication, and no real information until the very end. However, I caught many many details I didn't remember from earlier reads, including huge differences between the book and movies it inspired.
Over all I still enjoyed the story and this is one I'm glad to have in my collection to read again in future.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Self harm, Torture, Stalking, Suicide attempt, and Murder

Minor: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Classism

countdraculahimself's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Kidnapping, Murder, and Abandonment

Moderate: Torture and Toxic relationship