r/musicals • u/Chrishtufek13 • 6h ago
Should I Read Les Mis + Phantom?
I really like to read, and because I like musicals, people often give me the books that musicals are based off of. My question is, since I know them so well is it actually worth reading. I had the problem with Rebecca, that despite being able to realise that the book itself was interesting, due to the fact that I knew the musical, I knew the plot hence wasn't too enthralled. However, I think that might be because it was a mystery novel. Wanted to ask advice, if these books will be enjoyable reads or if I should dedicate my time to other books as they (specifically) Les mis is quite long.
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u/MoreScarletSongs 3h ago
The original book of Phantom of the Opera is different enough to be an interesting read. It's written more like a detective novel, less like a gothic romance, and there are several characters in the book which are not in the show. You get more background information on the characters (like the first meeting of Christine and Raoul) and the finale is even more dramatic than in the musical. I quite enjoyed reading it.
I think there are two different translations in English. One of them is not very faithful and misses some parts from the original French text (I heard). Maybe try to find out which one's the unabridged version and try to find that one.
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u/EnvironmentalDog1196 2h ago
Yes, the first- and most popular- English translation is awfully abriged and censored (I say censored, since erasing one single line from a dialogue, like they did in some scenes, doesn't make sense from a perspective of just making the text shorter- someone clearly simply didn't like them). It was by a guy called DeMattos, but if the book doesn't state the translator, it's that one too, because it's already in the public domain.
The most faithful version, from what I know, is by David Coward.
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u/MoreScarletSongs 1h ago
Thank you for confirming and adding the important details 🙏
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u/EnvironmentalDog1196 1h ago
No problem. I was pretty furious myself when I found out (I read the abriged version first). Because what do you mean that someone just decided to choose and pick what lines they liked?? That's not what being a translator means 😅
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u/poetic-bee 1h ago
I think the suggestive lines were the ones cut. It’s not a sexy book by any means but there is one line that references fear of sexual abuse that was cut, and another where Christine kinda acknowledges that maybe she’d feel differently about this dude if he weren’t ugly, and that had to go as well lol
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u/EnvironmentalDog1196 1h ago
Yes, I know. There are some more parts, like some descriptions of her time in the lair etc.
Cutting that one line where she suggests what her feelings towards the Phantom were, is actually almost funny. Because it's like the censorship just went full-on shipping mode, and decided that Leroux crossed the line, and they needed to make it seem like Christine was inly into Raoul, because otherwise it would be immoral xD They completely changed the vibe of that dialogue.
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u/_Violette7_ ich gehör nur mir 3h ago
I haven’t read Les Mis, but I absolutely adored the Phantom book. It’s a lot more detailed and layered than the musical, but that’s why I loved it so much.
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u/poetic-bee 1h ago
Phantom is definitely worth reading even if you know the musical very well because the book is simply very different. The characterization of the main characters is different, the plot is pretty different in parts, and the TONE is very different. It’s somewhere between detective and horror, it’s not very romantic, and it’s actually pretty funny. Erik (the Phantom) is hilarious as a character honestly. Just don’t read the de Mattos translation - there are whole chunks missing! I think David Coward’s is the best.
With Les Mis… if you’re adapting such a beast of a book into a musical, you’re bound to miss a lot of stuff. That being said, I think for what it is, Les Mis is actually a VERY faithful adaptation. I personally loved the book but it’s a commitment. Just try and see!
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u/kennical 58m ago
I loved Les Mis. If you're considering it a companion read to the musical, it's long, but goes deep into backstory and setting for each character and their life and motivations. The gift of two candlesticks holds so much more meaning knowing about the life of the Bishop. Eponine isn't just a street smart lovestruck damsel but a survivor of a life of despair. And so much more.
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u/Persnickitycannon 5h ago
Les mis the longest book I've ever read. I would not read it again. It is very over descriptive imo, I think Hugo was paid by the word.
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u/EnvironmentalDog1196 2h ago
😂 No, that's just his style. I've read a few of his books and it's always the case. He just goes on a ~50 page long rant about the sewers in Paris, or history of chair-making in France, and then gets back to the main story as if nothing happened.
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u/LadyOrTheTigger 5h ago
He was, the original novel was “serialized” which means it was published in many different parts before it was available as a single book. Some people might say 20 pages about the Paris sewers are 19 pages too many but it makes sense if you know he stops getting paid when the story is completed. I did read the whole thing one summer and I’m glad I did, (there are lots of interesting connections between characters that don’t come up in the musical) but if I ever wanted to revisit the story I’d either listen to the complete symphonic recording or read an abridged version.
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u/DarrellMaclaine 4h ago
If you're interested in Phantom source material check out the 1943 Universal movie - it's a great film anyway but it was arguably more influential on the musical than the novel itself.
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u/herlaqueen 2h ago
I love Hugo and Les Mis, but it's a long read. Maybe try Notre Dame de Paris first to see if you like his style?
The Phantom of the Opera book is not a long read and I found it very entertaining if a bit dated, it's quite different from the musical but still lovely (I am a book fan first, musical second whrn6it come to Poto).
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u/Western_Sort501 2h ago
Les Mis is a slog read the translation by christine donougher as a read along. The plot is good but there are many diversions that don't add much to the plot. Somehow book Marius is even worse than the version in the musical.
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u/EnvironmentalDog1196 2h ago
Read both- love both.
I read several books by Hugo, and though I like his style, like the others say, Les Miserables is a commitment. It has 1600 pages in my edition. You can probably easily find the skippable parts though- for example when he describes the history of chair-making in France for several dozens of pages.
Phantom is a good read and pretty short, but you need to get a good translation, since the oldest and most popular English version was heavily abriged/censored. Try to find the translation by David Coward instead.
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u/DramaMama611 34m ago
I'd do LM, but an abridged version. The unabridged is a SLOG.
Ive read the unabridged once (and barely), but the shortened one several times.
Never attempted Phantom.
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u/calkates 20m ago
i read the abridged version of les mis in school and thought it was beautiful but long. i actually enjoyed it more than the musical which i find very long, boring, and repetitive. the plot makes much more sense in the book. from what i remember the first act only covers a couple book chapters but act 2 condenses a huge amount of plot into a shorter timeframe.
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u/the-real-Jenny-Rose 3h ago
Les Mis is a commitment. Hugo desperately needed an editor or a better editor. Or he mixed up all his notes with his book and his publisher didn't realize that.
Phantom is good, probably better than the musical (though that's good too) and it's short. Leroux was a journalist so it gets to the point pretty quickly.
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u/PalePlumm 5h ago
Les Mis is long. It is a beast. I finished it, but I was committed because I’m a history nerd. You have to be really into the story and time period. Like the opening with the bishop was not a 6 minute ordeal like it is the opening of the show, his life backstory is the first 14 chapters of the book.
That being said, I still sobbed all the same when Epps dies. The emotions are still there, it just takes a lot longer to get to them.
I’ve never read Phantom.