the classics club discussion

Once we start reading The Phantom of the Opera, post your thoughts on it here!

Oxford World's Classics, transl. by D. Coward. 😊

It’s on my tbr, my school library has such a pretty edition of it

b&n and are we allowed to dnf it? in case we couldn't get into it?

i'm reading the 'haunted library' edition, which i believe is translated by Alexander Teixeira de Mattos. i've never heard of that edition before so it'll be interesting to see what it's like

liz wrote: "b&n and are we allowed to dnf it? in case we couldn't get into it?"

yes of course! there's no pressure to participate if you don't want to/aren't able to :)

thanks holls

my book hasn't arrived yet 😭
btw when are we starting?

rina.reads wrote: "Oxford World's Classics, transl. by D. Coward. 😊"

this man's name is coward..

I find this novel endearing and fun to read tbh. I like it, it's one of my favorites. I wanna read more of Gaston Leroux but I never think of it

Sarra wrote: "rina.reads wrote: "Oxford World's Classics, transl. by D. Coward. 😊"

this man's name is coward.."

yea xD

rina.reads wrote: "my book hasn't arrived yet 😭
btw when are we starting?"

my book also hasn't arrived 😭

and feel free to start whenever you like, there isn't a schedule or anything, just read at your own pace :)

Oh I just read this book last fall! I'll join for sure

But I don't have that exact edition. Is that okay?

Has anyone seen the West End/Broadway musical? It's not the most solid adaptation, but the music is AMAZING!

Cari wrote: "But I don't have that exact edition. Is that okay?"

so glad you're able to join! yes, that's fine, any edition is ok!

omg my copy has finally arrived!

yayyy!! i ordered mine today :)

my copy arrived!! and i took a really pretty pic with some dying roses if anyone wants to see it's @/grungemuseum on instagram :)

How's your reading going everyone?
Unfortunately I currently haven't got much time at my disposal so I'm only on page 84. However I'm aboslutely loving it so far! I loved the scene at the graveyard and Raoul and Christine's childhood story is so sweet actually. It's more comedic than I thought at first (I think this is going to change later tho), the phantom is kind of a troll so far.

I haven’t had much time either these past few weeks and I think I am around page 100 but I am not connecting with the story so far. I think it’s me though, I’ve been in a slump lately and very stressed from work. I have a short business trip coming up so I’m hoping I can get some reading done on the flight and start getting into it… let’s see…

I haven't been able to start yet, there was a shipping issue and so my book still hasn't arrived, hopefully it will be arriving tomorrow though😭

I really want to like it! So I think I will maybe start another book, something light and fluffy, and pick it up again over the weekend. I am not sure if it’s the translation or what but I want to give it another go when I’m in the right mood…

hi! i was so engrossed reading pjo that i forgot all about the phantom of the opera (crying)

PS. i'm not sorry :,)

Percy Jackson?

yessssss it's my first time reading it and i'm trying not to get too attached to the characters since i almost already know their fates (thanks internet) but it's engrossing still plus the fanarts, headcanons and the pinterest side of the fandom is absolutely gold, i can't believe my past self picked harry potter over this

I haven’t read these books and the internet did not spoil anything for me so at least I have that 😂

Will try to get to that series this year…

I've now finished the chapter Apollo's Lyre and really love it, in fact it's shaping up to be a new favourite of mine. Really excited to see where it's going.

@Holly: I hope your book arrives soon! Can't wait to hear your thoughts. <3

@Rana: In the beginning I also couldn't really connect to the story but after chapter 5 or so I've been completely won over! I hope you'll get out of your reading slump soon. :)

so, I've just finished the book! Anyone here that has read it too? xD

@rina, sadly not much progress in my end post page 120 I think. I need to finish this in the next couple of days! I started getting into it but then life decided it needs my full attention! 😤
Did you enjoy the book?

alrighty, rana! then I'll wait for you to have read it in order to avoid spoilers. ^^
Let's just say I enjoyed it but it could have been better, I gave it 4 stars! I'd even say it's become one of my favourite books (although ranking in the lower tier of favourites), because I found some parts of the novel just genuinely awesome and I wish they would've been more expanded on.
Edit: I watched the 2004 movie adaptation a couple of years ago (I think 7 years ago🤯) and ever since then wanted to read the novel, so I'm glad to have finally done so. The 2004 version is one of my all time favourite movies! I've never watched any other adaptation so if you can think of any good one that I'm missing out on please let me know. ^^

the only progress i made with this book is look at it as it sits nice and pretty on my bookshelf🧍‍♀️ sorry team, this month was not it for me😫

rina.reads wrote: "alrighty, rana! then I'll wait for you to have read it in order to avoid spoilers. ^^
Let's just say I enjoyed it but it could have been better, I gave it 4 stars! I'd even say it's become one of m..."

I should finish it by Tuesday for sure! I have never watched any adaptation of it honestly but i have booked tickets to go see it in the Dubai Opera House on Feb. 22 and I can’t wait! It will be my first opera ever and i think i chose well! I will check some other screen adaptations and let you know if i come across a good one!

rina.reads wrote: "alrighty, rana! then I'll wait for you to have read it in order to avoid spoilers. ^^
Let's just say I enjoyed it but it could have been better, I gave it 4 stars! I'd even say it's become one of m..."

It’s the same for me with A Tale of Two Cities, lol. I was supposed to buddy read it with two friends but they finished it and i am yet to start it…

@Rana: omg that sounds positively amazing! I wish you lots of fun!!
I can really recommend the 2004 version with Gerard Butler! As I said I don't know any other versions but honestly I don't know if for me any other can surpass it. 😂
btw there's another movie adaptation from the 90s with Charles Dance!

@Naomi: xD it's oki

Hi! I’m still kind of new here, but I read phantom of the opera already and would love to join the discussion!

Sure! How did you like it? :D

rina.reads wrote: "@Rana: omg that sounds positively amazing! I wish you lots of fun!!
I can really recommend the 2004 version with Gerard Butler! As I said I don't know any other versions but honestly I don't know i..."

I actually love the 90s movie! It is in some aspects more similar to the book than most other adaptations, especially when it comes to the portrayal of Erik.
Another version i love is the 25th anniversary version with Ramin Karimloo!

rina.reads wrote: "Sure! How did you like it? :D"

I loved it! I’ve seen the 2004 movie before too and I really liked the story. I really enjoyed reading the book, i liked its writing style, though it at times just felt different than i expected. Not sure how to describe it, it just was not as „creepy“ as I expected it to be, but i ended up actually enjoying that.

Sounds interesting! I've also actually read that compared to the 2004 version they used the Faust music in the film like in the book! Seems like I really have to watch it! :)
I also gotta check out the other version with Ramin Karimloo you mentioned!
And I agree, while I also enjoyed reading it I expected it to be more creepy, with more description of the Erik/Christine relationship, and less comic elements in the beginning. I also wished for some more atmospheric descriptions and some introspection.

So I finished The Phantom and I am not used how I feel… it was ok it definitely not a 5 star… probably not even 4. U
I will mull it over for a couple of days to arrive at an opinion.

I do know I don’t hate Erick though, lol. I was kinda rooting for him. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I mean is he really that bad? 😂

For some reason I think I will enjoy the opera more than the book though, not sure why… I guess we’ll see on Feb. 22…

Yes, have fun! And same! I rated it four stars because of that one phenomenal chapter on Erik and Christine, the rest was all in all a bit of a letdown and I didn't think it was creepy at all. I liked how in the end Erik demonstrated strength of character and let Raoul and Christine go and marry! The book def needed more Erik...

Agreed! Maybe we all went in with high expectations? I just feel, that for a classic, something is missing… I wonder if it reads much more like a classic if read in French…

Yes! The same thought also occurred to me.
It somehow lacked depth for a classic. Maybe we really went in with too high expectations. 😅