Classics for Beginners discussion

Good Evening Bookreaders,
If You are reading this,
You have been cordially selected to join the OFFICIAL Phantom of The Opera Buddy Read!


Welcome!

Im in :-)

Glad to have you on board!

The 360 pages seem to be going fast.

I can't wait to get started! I'm glad to have someone to read it with.

I began reading it when I received your message yesterday and finished it this afternoon. Looking forward to your comments.

Emily, Nancy,

Glad for you to join in!

I may join in on this, but not until end of Sept/Oct, as I refuse to read A Clockwork Orange. *Shudders* Not gonna happen.

Heather L,
Welcome!


I am seeing many different metaphors and things going on in the Phantom story.
The question of what happens next, got me reading until late at night in spite of having seen the movie.

I have never seen the movie, does the movie follow the book? For some reason I can't see making a musical from the book.

Joseph (Millennium Man) wrote: "Heather L,
Welcome!


I am seeing many different metaphors and things going on in the Phantom story.
The question of what happens next, got me reading until late at night in spite of having see..."

Which version did you see?

I'm starting this tonight. I fell in love with the movie as a child, the remake, and the live version. I'm very much looking forward to the read!

Maybe it's because I've seen the movie so many times, but so far this is one of the easiest classics I've ever read.

What Phantom of the Opera movie did I see?
I don't remember. I had to have seen a black and white one a long, long time ago and bits of other versions between then and now.

I went into the book thinking I already knew the story. Books are almost always different and most often better.



Modern times - love begins and ends at the hip.

(My parents would be embarrassed I just get confused.)



Looking forward to reading more tonight...

Janny wrote: "I'm starting this tonight. I fell in love with the movie as a child, the remake, and the live version. I'm very much looking forward to the read!"

Hi Janny,

Welcome!

I just noticed I barged right in without an invite.

Janny, everyone is welcome no invite necessary

Thanks for checking out the thread!

The more the merrier...

Arlene wrote: "I have never seen the movie, does the movie follow the book? For some reason I can't see making a musical from the book."

Now on page 111 I can see how they could make a musical from the book.

Finished today.

End of the book has facts about the opera house.

I can't imagine the vastness of this place, Had something like over 500 changing rooms 2500 + doors.

I am curious about the author. See if I can find a biography...

Joseph (Millennium Man) wrote: "Finished today.

End of the book has facts about the opera house.

I can't imagine the vastness of this place, Had something like over 500 changing rooms 2500 + doors.

I am curious about the ..."

Though it's been some years, I have been to the Palais Garnier, and it truly is amazing. The architecture and art work on the interior is impressive, and the auditorium immense. As poor students, I think we were seated in the uppermost level, what we here in the states would vulgarly call the "nose bleed seats." I don't advise the front row of the upper sections for those who suffer fear of heights or high ledges.

I also enjoyed reading the facts about the opera house and pulled up pictures of the staircase and that magnificent ceiling. Not the same as being there but they did bring back memories.

The last few pages of the book were quite touching. Don't want to say more in case others haven't finished reading it.

The 2004 movie version is at the top of my Netflix queue. Looking forward to seeing it.

Joseph, thanks for setting up the buddy-read.

spoiler: (view spoiler)[.. I did not see this ending coming. I thought I knew what the ending was.
Not what I expected.

A little love and a changed Monster.


Would be interesting to compare and contrast this story to "The Picture of Dorian Gray."

. (hide spoiler)]

I am looking forward to this book. It was one of my daughter's favorites and has been sitting on my shelf far too long.

Nancy wrote: "I also enjoyed reading the facts about the opera house and pulled up pictures of the staircase and that magnificent ceiling. Not the same as being there but they did bring back memories.

The last ..."

Looking at the photos online the place looks bigger from the inside. Breathtaking. They don't make buildings like that anymore.

Glad you are enjoying the book.

Welcome Darlene,

Glad you have joined us.

Look what I've found!

https://www.goodreads.com/list/tag/pu...

Joy wrote: "I don't understand what the link to lists has to do with the discussion? Is it supposed to link to a specific list?

I listened to the audio version read by Alexander Adams. I liked it better than..."

Hi Joy,
Thanks for joining,

(Link has nothing to do with the discussion. I was excited to find a list of public domain books and thought I'd share.)

I did see Phantom on a couple of the lists, so it does sort of relate to the discussion. I bookmarked the link to explore more later.

Finished today, I too did not expect that ending.

I found the monster in Phantom to be similar to the monster in Frankenstein I won't say anymore since people are probably still reading the book

spoiler: (view spoiler)[..

I was expecting that the Phantom was originally handsome and was disfigured by some trauma.

Wasn't Raul to rescue Catherine and escape while the Phantom is left playing the organ as the theater burned and collapsed around him?

Likely the story was rewritten by Hollywood.

Frankenstein's Monster was a bit more complicated.

The Phantom was more of a down to earth guy. In the end he attained a kind of peace.





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I disagree(view spoiler)[I disagree about Frankenstein being more complicated both of the monsters were unloved by their creators Frankenstein his Creator The Phantom his mother both of them really could not be seen in public because of their ugliness I and both of them had issues because of their ugliness and being unloved that made them turn to the dark side (hide spoiler)]

spoiler: (view spoiler)[..

Think I'm more partial to the Phantom, He did get to show a better side of himself in the end.


. (hide spoiler)]

I totally agree with that.

Joseph, I felt the same way when I finished the book.

Phantom VS Frankenstein's Monster...

spoiler: (view spoiler)[..
The Monster spent his time punishing his creator.

The Phantom spent his time trying to get the girl, along with building a dwelling in the theater and composing music, being the Opera Ghost. We found out he had a history he was employed as a builder built the sultans palace..,

Frankenstein's Monster did not do much else besides stalk his creator.

(Don't you think the Phantom would be a better choice as an in-law?)






. (hide spoiler)]

Never thought of it in those terms. Pretty funny and an easy choice.

Joseph (Millennium Man) wrote: "Phantom VS Frankenstein's Monster...

spoiler: ..
The Monster spent his time punishing his creator.

The Phantom spent his time trying to get the girl, along with building a dwelling in the theate..."

that is a very interesting question Phantom or Frankenstein as an in law, but don't forget Frankenstein did learn English and learn the ways of people so he wasn't quite spending all of his time stalking his creator

More interesting would be to compare/contrast the Phantom with Dorian Gray.

I havent read Dorian Gray yet.

I finished Dorian Gray recently. It would be interesting to compare the two books. Gives me something to think about as I read Phantom. I found the New York production on Netflix and intend to watch it. I would rather watch a theatrical version and / or the original version of a movie characterization of a classic book. Les Miserable comes to mind as I write this post. Modern takes on classic novels leaves me cold. What do others think about this?

Arlene wrote: "I havent read Dorian Gray yet."

(Dorian has problems revolving around being too good looking.)

I never thought of the parallels between the phantom and Frankenstein's monster before. I might be crazy, but I seem to have a soft spot for monsters. I remember when I read Frankenstein in high school feeling so sorry for the monster. I could be completely wrong, since it's been quite a few years, but wasn't Frankenstein's monster stalking his creator in part because Frankenstein didn't give him a wife?

The phantom has always been my favorite character in The Phantom of the Opera (the fact that he's played by Gerard Butler doesn't hurt). I always wanted him to get the girl in the movie partly because I feel sorry for him and partly because Raoul is such a pansy. I liked Raoul much more in the book and the phantom didn't seem like as sympathetic a character in the book as he is in the movie.

Joseph (Millennium Man) wrote: "Arlene wrote: "I havent read Dorian Gray yet."

(Dorian has problems revolving around being too good looking.)"

I too, have that problem :P
(Edit: still reading)

Joseph (Millennium Man) wrote: "More interesting would be to compare/contrast the Phantom with Dorian Gray."

I just finished Dorian Grey, I certainly think Lord Henry was a monster as well as Dorian. What are your thoughts on Dorian v Phantom?

The Phantom as well as Frankenstein's Monster had reasons to be bitter and angry. Dorian was just selfish.

One wanted simply what was a 'given' for most people; friendship, love, understanding... the other wanted more than that.

Emily wrote: "I never thought of the parallels between the phantom and Frankenstein's monster before. I might be crazy, but I seem to have a soft spot for monsters. I remember when I read Frankenstein in high s..."

Not being given a wife was one of his issues the other was the doctor created him and then left him (ran in horror). I never understood the running part, the doctor made him he knew what he looked like.

Joseph (Millennium Man) wrote: "The Phantom as well as Frankenstein's Monster had reasons to be bitter and angry. Dorian was just selfish.

One wanted simply what was a 'given' for most people; friendship, love, understanding... ..."

I agree that Dorian was selfish and also blamed the artist for his own death if he hadn't said those horrible things to me I wouldn't have killed him excetra

I finished Phantom tonight. I'm also watching ,on Netflix, the live stage performance at Royal Albert Hall in London. What an amazing read. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It raises a lot of questions as to nurture vs nature.

Darlene wrote: "I finished Phantom tonight. I'm also watching ,on Netflix, the live stage performance at Royal Albert Hall in London. What an amazing read. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It raises a lot of questions as ..."

I agree, that was my point about Frankenstein's monster, if his creator had not rejected him would he have been a monster?