The Phantom of the Opera

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It's a hit!

The Phantom of the Opera.
You've heard of it before. You don't have to be a Broadway fan to know that it's an insanely popular musical. You don'... (show more)

The Phantom of the Opera.
You've heard of it before. You don't have to be a Broadway fan to know that it's an insanely popular musical. You don't have to be a silent movie buff to recognize the face of Lon Chaney in his most famous role.
Phantom of the Opera is a perfect example of a story that everyone knows of, but few people actually know. It's not hard to know that the Phantom wore a mask and hung around a theatre. It may be a little harder to know that his name was Erik, his deformity wasn't caused because someone threw acid on him, and he was... human.
Phantom of the Opera is an absolutely fantastic book. It's not the easiest thing in the world to get in to, but once you discover Erik, you will never be quite the same. His character is easily one of the most intriguing characters I have ever read about. He is a terrifying character, violent, irrational, selfish, and at times down right cruel. And yet Gaston Leroux managed to make him not only sympathetic, but... likable. You get the impression that, more than anything he is a child, scared and confused and in need of the love that he never received. His love for Christine is all-consuming and very true, but it is also selfish. He does everything selfishly. It's not as if anyone ever taught him differently. That is part of what makes this story so heart-breaking.
The book is a fantastic piece of literature that has stood the test of time. For a reason. The plot is intriguing, the setting atmospheric and eerie, and the characters--well, I've mentioned the characters before, haven't I?
Read it the way it was meant to be read-- unabridged. Abridgments leave of the Safety Pin chapters, which are pure genius.
And for those of you who are expecting Gerard Butler's Phantom... well, you're in for a surprise, I'll say that much. (show less)

 

 

by Leilani Victoria Hayes

No, it's a flop!

This book wasn't good. I love the play with an undying passion however the book was simply awful. The only character that I liked from the book was... (show more)

This book wasn't good. I love the play with an undying passion however the book was simply awful. The only character that I liked from the book was Erik and that was only because he was the only character who had someone human emotions and responces. Everything was so fake and who ever traslated the book did an okay job with the story by using language from the time it was written, but slang from current usage. It made the book very awkward at times. Don't read this. I liked Andrew Lloyd Webber's version much better because the story made more sence. There is not much from the play that I would have changed but the book could have most definutly been written in a different fashion. Gaston Learoux, I don't care how fun it is to say your name, I did not like your book the Phantom of the Opera. *shrugs* (show less)

 

 

by Hannah Mae Sheffield

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  The movies and musical are very misleading about the book. The "real" story is much more complicated and tied to actual events, places, and circumstances than I ever thought when I read this, albeit several years ago. I believe that author Gaston Leroux truly wants readers to interpret the story as fact, rather than a well developed legend (not unlike Dan Brown's novels). And further research into Paris' Palais Garnier will provide some of the basis for Leroux's story.

  I do find... (show more)

  The movies and musical are very misleading about the book. The "real" story is much more complicated and tied to actual events, places, and circumstances than I ever thought when I read this, albeit several years ago. I believe that author Gaston Leroux truly wants readers to interpret the story as fact, rather than a well developed legend (not unlike Dan Brown's novels). And further research into Paris' Palais Garnier will provide some of the basis for Leroux's story.

  I do find the book very engrossing and very entertaining. The cast is large, but differs very little from Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical and it does not prove difficult to track each character's specific traits and histories as more depth is provided in the book. Ultimately, like the musical, Erik, the real name of the Phantom, is portrayed as a tragic figure who is a victim of circumstance but a villain of his own making (he is much more vicious in the novel than the musical).

  Although the format of the novel can go flat at times, an entire chapter is plot exposition narrated by Christine, Leroux mixes humor and intrigue into this classic Gothic novel. I recommend it to anyone trying to expand his/her experience with classics. (show less)

   

   

  by Facebook User on Oct 07, 2009 at 03:10PM

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  I first learned the music of this play in high school, I loved the story it told, years later I saw the movie and when I learned more of the story I liked it even better, so I went out and bought the original text the very first story that inspired the play. I love murder mystery especially if it has nonfictional historical information, and any psychological deviancy some main characters poses. This book had everything. Who cares about Christine, I wanted to know more about y the phantom was ... (show more)

  I first learned the music of this play in high school, I loved the story it told, years later I saw the movie and when I learned more of the story I liked it even better, so I went out and bought the original text the very first story that inspired the play. I love murder mystery especially if it has nonfictional historical information, and any psychological deviancy some main characters poses. This book had everything. Who cares about Christine, I wanted to know more about y the phantom was twisted. And this book gives you that story not the Andrew Lloyd Webber romantic version. I do recommend to actually watch the movie of play FIRST and then read the book. This is because you’ll better understand why “Eric” sets traps and brings torment to the opera house and his crazy killing, where he learned and perfected his techniques. If you read the book first and then watch the movie/ play you’ll just be wondering why things were not added. (show less)

   

   

  by Sarah Ostergaard on Dec 20, 2009 at 02:31AM

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