Gaston Leroux’s The Phantom of the Opera…

I read Gaston Leroux’s The Phantom of the Opera. I, being a slow reader, took over four hours to read the text even though the size was around 350 pages, slightly more. It was all right. I was not enthralled, but it was not terribly boring. I simply cannot find it amazingly memorable. Truthfully, it is somewhat a blur now that I have finished.

It had occurred to me once, after I had watched the 2004 movie that it oddly reminded me of the infamously mentioned story that I began when I was thirteen. After reading the book though, I feel self-assured they are barely alike in text. The topic of the latest movie version does make me consider the main characters deformity, though.

In the book, he is like a “living corpse”; in the musical on Broadway (I have not seen this version) and the latest movie half of the face is intact. From the small amount of research I have done, it seems to be toned down each passing decade. It would not surprise me if in the end he were merely a tormented artist with moments of insanity – no disfiguration that causes need to hide.

Seriously.

Looking at the movie, he did not look frightful at all. If anything were to be terrified of it would be his anger. Sure, sure… one could say that back in that century such a deformity would make a great commotion. These days though, it is “nothing”. For impact, I say stick with the original concept. He is not supposed to be some gorgeous, dark, brooding, mysterious, seductive man.

Wait… never mind. This is year 2005. People go for eye candy and complete distortion of original pieces. Disney is a great example for that.

… I think the entire book is lost to me now. My memory is not a wonderful one. I still believe I have the main points in mind… they just are not in order. Oh well.

My Obsessesion, The Phantom… by masked_phantom
Name
Age
Fav Colour
You love the Phantom because… He is a genius…
Your favourite scene from the movie… On the roof top of the opera populaire…
Favourite Phantom’s costume… He looks great in all of em!
Favourite Phantom’s song… He sounds good in all of them!!!
Favourite Phantom’s mask… He looks sexier without the mask on…
You wish the Phantom… Proposes to you…

What Character from The Phantom of the Opera Are You? by Rubador
Name
Age
Favorite Color
You Sing Wandering Child
You Are The Phantom

What song from Phantom of the Opera is fit for you? by ThePhantress

~ That is all…

Tom on the fourth cometh…

This week is something of a blur once more I suppose. I read a lot and I did my chores.

Where I left off it was Halloween. That night my father cooked spaghetti and for a while after I ate I merely sat in the kitchen by his request, so I would be in there with them. It made me realize how I little well I do in the company of others. I suppose I am just used to solitude. I rather just sat there and stared off really. I am sorry that I make such bad company.

Soon after my father and I were sitting in the living room, I was watching television since as noted socializing is not my strong suit. I left immediately when trick-or-treaters came to the door. They have always made me uncomfortable. Then again, the outside tends to make me uncomfortable.

By that, I mean, the constant noise, I suppose. For a while, my mother has been opening the windows to rely on the outside weather instead of the air conditioner. It unnerved me. The sound of cars passing by and other noises set me on edge. I suppose it is because the sound was louder than usual. I am used to things being muted and I suppose when outside I am more “prepared”.

At one point, I remember it was sprinkling. It might have been on Monday as well. All I know is that I became ecstatic by the weather with how windy it was. When it started to sprinkle, I went outside and enjoyed it. It is a penchant of mine, I suppose. I remembered how one summer it was raining and I went out in my usual clothing. I sat down in a sun chair and let the rain pour down on me. I believe the others found it peculiar.

Well, Tuesday came and my father had to take his leave. He departed around eight AM and I was the only one to see him off. I am not certain, but I think it was that day my mother and I went to find her a chair for her computer desk at Office Max. Either way, the task did happen.

Whilst she went to look at chairs, I browsed about the aisle that held many writing utensils. I had been undergoing a small drawing spree – too bad it stopped abruptly. I received some markers and pens whilst she bought her chairs. My mother, I have found, is great at milking bargains. I believe the chair was 120 and she got it for around 85. I doubt I will ever have such abilities. I lack in understanding such things. I would be the gullible sap who is cheated a lot.

As I waited on her, I stumbled on multi-purpose tools. I love those things. Four in one screwdrivers, pocketknives, and the like are fun. I mainly like collecting them more so than using. Then again, I rarely need to use things. It never hurts to have them around though. Heck, I have a small saw in a box a foot away from my feet. Fun times.

Anyway, the rest of the week was likely reading, typing, writing, drawing and cleaning. My mom left for my brother’s house to check on the cats Friday and was to be gone until Sunday night. Therefore, my brother and I fended for ourselves. I ran out of food and I considered my brother godsend for cooking a family sized frozen lasagna. Yes, I am that pathetic at cooking. The rest of the weekend I was eating peanuts, bread, or peanut butter – yes, I did not eat them together.

I read mainly and at one point, I typed up a small story. It did not come out as I hoped, but that is all right. I was out most of Sunday and I missed when my mother came home. When I awoke it was around eight or nine. She and my brother had eaten so I was wandering around trying to find something to eat. Heh. She went to bed and I stayed up. I have no idea when I went back to bed.

Today is a blur. I read, I cleaned… when my mom came home we went to get groceries. It was the usual expedition until we were checking out. The girl scanning things had arachnophobia. She saw a spider smaller than a pencil’s eraser head and freaked out, crying and the like. I did not notice until the groceries stopped coming my way. When I finally did I saw most of the other workers as well as people waiting were staring at the girl. I finally got a look at her and realized something happened. Yes, I do not notice things outside my head much.

It surprised me though. I never encountered a person who had a phobia so bad, much less witnessing the fear at its worst. I murmured to my mother that it was good her fear was simply over spiders. She would not be able to function well at all if the phobia were something like the fear of the color yellow.

We spoke a bit about my mother’s cat, named Mocha Delight or for short Moki, who is the most terrified creature I have ever come upon. We think he was traumatized before she even bought him. He is easily spooked. Skittish. I noted to myself that it is interesting that he and I never bonded. One would think we would. He hides away under the bed and comes out at night. I hide in my room and am most active at night.

Sigh.

Well, I suppose that is all that my feeble mind has to recollect. Well, that and the reminded of my brother owing me twenty dollars. He borrowed the money to go bowling with his fellow workers. He needs the socializing; which is funny coming from me, but he does. He is used to having at least some friends and even though he has been here for a year or something along those lines, he has no friends. Then again, no one in my family really is the type to make friends – at least close ones.

~ I am Colorblind…