Reviews with content warning for Murder - The Phantom of the Opera

Having watched the musical multiple times before, I was surprised to find out that it was based on a novel! I enjoyed the mystery, intrigue, and hysteria, which seemed more pronounced in the novel than any adaptations I've watched. If you get a chance to listen to an audiobook version, I would highly recommend it - I found a narrator on YouTube and he amplified the obsessive and chaotic tone of the novel. I'm not usually into any form of creepy or horror (I'm sure this novel is minimal compared to most) but I did appreciate this one!

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the_clueless_tourist's review against another edition

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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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freddikb's review against another edition

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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.*

Content Warnings

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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