Classics Without All the Class discussion

Please keep your comments to these chapters. There will be spoilers so readers beware.

I love this reading group! I would never have thought to read The Phantom of the Opera if the suggestion had not been made to me. I read it this weekend and could not put it down. There is so much meat to this story that was not in any adaptation I have seen. Suspense, romance, humor, mystery, and tragedy. I started reading the classics this year and to date, this is my all time favorite. BTW I had to read the chapter about the bank notes twice. It was confusing. But the epilogue makes that much more clear. I also found the history of Erik O.G. fascinating.

I agree with you, Beth, about it being quite gripping. I also had not expected a mystery. I did find the ending somewhat disappointing (right outcome, wrong way, I guess I'd sum it up?).

Did anyone else find the torture chamber confusing? I guess it was really effective because I think I was as confused as Raoul and the Persian were - I reread it and eventually googled, because I couldn't figure out how they'd gotten to this jungle (not realizing it was a description from a fevered man).

Eric ranks up there with the kind of James Bond villain types I think - very intricate plans, dastardly tortures, playing odd games to get to the eventual murder. Pretty interesting and not what I expect from a 100 year old novel. :-)

Beth wrote: "I love this reading group! I would never have thought to read The Phantom of the Opera if the suggestion had not been made to me. I read it this weekend and could not put it down. There is so mu..."

I am so glad you're enjoying yourself! It's great to be exposed to books we normally wouldn't read. Last month's Solaris was one I never would have picked up and while I still am not convinced I am a fan of sci-fi, it was interesting to talk about a book that was a new concept for me.

I really enjoyed this one. I've been putting off reading it for several years, so this was a good motivation to finally pick it up.

I liked all the extra bits they cut out of the movie version I saw (2004?, based on the musical). I'd always been confused by a few scenes - references to Little Lottie, the horse, the graveyard, and some of the chaotic running around towards the end - and it was great to finally understand what they were all about.

Beyond that, the Phantom was a lot more three-dimensional than I was expecting. He reminded me a lot of Frankenstein's monster -- both of their heinous actions stemmed from a desire to know love and from ostracization from society, mostly due to a monstrous appearance. And they both have the appearance of a monster but the demeanor of a gentleman (at least, until they go on their rampages).

I am finding some of the classics challenging in one way or another. This one was not, pure enjoyment. I think it is nice to alternate between reading a good straightforward story....like this one...and novels that take more effort on the reader's part. Lareaux is not a master of prose but he sure can tell an engaging exciting story! I just found an older illustrated copy on eBay that I am looking forward to adding to my library.

I got a bit bored this evening, and decided to see what the mirror room from chapter 24 might look like.

Here's what a tiny one with a small doll looks like: http://www.flickriver.com/photos/krap...
If you imagine some of those vertical lines between mirrors being hid by a realistic iron tree trunk, I could see where it'd be like a forest in appearance. Obviously it'd need to be big enough to walk a few paces in for the illusion to be effective.

And here's what one looks like looking in a small window from the outside (like from the Phantom's home into the "forest"): http://en.99ys.com/news/20121009/deta...

And here's a short video of a few people walking around in one that has some strange lighting. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BetFYL...

Loved this book. I did feel sorry for the Phantom in the end, even after all he did. The torture chamber was an interesting twist and had my heart racing for the Persian and Raoul. Would love to visit the Opera House in Paris.

I definitely agree that this is a brilliant book group - I would never have picked up this book otherwise. Although I found the book an easy read, I must say that I was disappointed towards the end. I felt the style was quite outdated (unlike the moonstone which I read recently) and although it did have some pace, I felt the style was a bit 'cheesy'. I thought that the tension was built really well with the search for Christine and the torture chamber, but it then seemed to come to an abrupt stop, with things tied up a bit too neatly and the information about Erik was a little too easily obtained for my liking (i like things little by little!)!

I didn't ever feel sorry for Eric, so I didn't get that dimension that some of the others have felt and therefore did not feel the emotion of the last scenes. I did absolutely love the descriptions of the opera house though - the sheer size of it, and even having a stable to look after the horses in the performances was mind blowing.

All in all, an easy, enjoyable read, but it wouldn't be high up on my list of favourite classics.

Enjoyed the book very much. I like the way the story flowed, and the rescue was fascinating.

I finished this book and I liked it very much. The search for Christine by Raoul and the Persian is like a descent into the hell, populed by very strange people, for at last reach 'him' and put the word 'end' at the story.
It's a tragic story the life of Eric: a monster, a demon or a poor man.
Also this time the group has chosen a very good book.

I really enjoyed this book especially the ending. I felt that Erik gives Christine her freedom in the end because he loves her so much. He knows she is willing to spend her life with him and that is enough for him.
I did not sympathize with Erik much (given his past history) but it does bring up the question of nature vs. nurture. I was left wondering if Erik could have used his talents differently had his environment been different- what a lovely mother he had! I enjoyed this book very much and would not have chosen this book to read on my own if not for this book group- Thank you!

I am glad I read this. I know the music but have not seen anything - movie, musical or opera so I didn't really know the story. I was captivated enough to keep reading - but after I finished I read a commentary at the end of my Kindle version by Jerrold E. Hogle - very long, detailed and partly above my head about the gothic period, the fascination with Freud's theories at the time and much more. I see there is much more to analyzing this book than it first appears. I need to learn more about that and may read the several other books that are mentioned in the same vein.
I used to basically read a book - enjoy it or not for what it is. Then I started taking classes at the University - Modern Fiction - (as a senior citizen they are free to audit) - and it's wonderful. I get much more out of my reading now - we study time periods, author backgrounds etc which DO inform many novels. I am exposed to things I would not read - last fall we read Maus I and II which are in graphic form...a genre I knew nothing about. So. What to read next!

Loved this book! If anyone would like a "companion" book, so to speak, years ago there was one called simply "Phantom" that told the story for Erik's birth, his early days, basically up to the time of the story told in the Leroux book. You learn more about the time he spent in Persia, and more about the evolution of the torture chamber, how he met the Persian, and all kinds of stuff that makes this book even better. It may be out of print, but check Amazon-might still be able to get it from them.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phantom_...

I'm a little nervous to say that I'm going to be the voice of dissent! :) The only reason I read this book was because of this group, and for that I am glad. However, I really don't think it measures up to being considered a classic. I can only think that people who enjoy the stage production keep this book "alive".

Don't be nervous. We don't all have to agree. I'm just curious as to why you don't think it qualifies. I am new to classics and am no expert. I don't see Lareaux as a gifted writer but he certainly told a great story and backed it up with real places and facts that made fiction feel more real. To me that is what makes this book unique and perhaps earns a place in the spectrum of classic literature.

I'm not an expert either! I have read A LOT in my life, and I just did not find the quality of the writing on par with my expectations. I also think that it has not held up well stylistically, to the test of time. With the other classics we've tackled in this group I found they either held up or because they were so well written I could forgive any "dated-ness" there seemed to be.

I see what you are saying. I guess I go more by overall enjoyment. I have read some classics commended for style but were a big YAWN as far as the story/characters go.

I only sympathize with Erik to the point of wishing there was more help in that day and age (and still in our own) for those who are certifiably mad, as he clearly is. He is completely mentally unstable, a sadistic, narcissistic madman. You only feel sorry for him because the world has treated him poorly due to his physical appearance, but his choices and the ways he uses people are all his own. Completely unforgivable. I found him utterly creepy and only felt sorry for him that he brought himself to that point.

As for the overall book, I absolutely enjoyed it! The descriptions of the labyrinth below the Opera and the lake and even the torture chamber were fascinating, making the Opera feel like a living, breathing thing. Makes me want to watch the movie again!