Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

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

51 reviews

httpscl0d4gh's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Confinement, Death, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, and Stalking

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

natderosa's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Emotional abuse, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Stalking, and Murder

Minor: Death of parent

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

moyarb's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious fast-paced

3.0

I only knew The Phantom of the Opera by name only, never having read the book or seen any adaptations including the musical. I loved the atmosphere and compared to other classics, this was one of the easier ones to read. Since this felt like it was through Raoul’s POV, I saw this as someone witnessing a close friend/loved one experiencing an abusive relationship. The epilogue felt like a last ditch effort to “humanize” Erik. It was hard to feel sympathetic when throughout the book he was emotionally abusive and literally kidnapped Christine. He’s an interesting villain, but I went in thinking he was a tragic character. I really hate the villain with a tragic backstory trope because nowadays y’all will adore a white man even when he’s a piece of shit.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse and Toxic relationship

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

jmkendall0218's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• 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

Moderate: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, and Stalking

bookwyrmknits's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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

2.75

I was more-or-less familiar with the plot before reading this book, since I've seen Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera. However, comparing the musical to the original book is like comparing the movie adaptations of Dracula to their source material. You can see the similarities, but the adaptations better suit a modern audience. I'm glad I read this original book, since it is a classic and I'd been curious how closely the musical stuck to the original text, but I don't think I'll need to read it again.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming and Kidnapping

Moderate: Confinement and Toxic relationship

Minor: Suicide, 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

banned_book's review against another edition

funny medium-paced

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Not sure if I found the clownish character interactions funny on their own, or whether Christopher Lee's phenomenal voice acting made the story quality seem much better than it is. Either way, I enjoyed the immensely stupid plot. Always love a good and pathetic fictional man. If he's the clear loser in a nonsensical love triangle, even better.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Gaslighting