Rating: 
Summary: GOOD BUT NOT THE BEST!!!
Review: This is a very good book and I recommend everyone to read if has have seen or is going to see the play, due to the fact that this is the origonal true story of The PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. I don't think it is the best because it takes the pionr of view of the manangers, Rouol, or the Persian, instead of the Phantom or Christine. There are parts that gives Christine's thoughts and of her time with Erik, and I loved every minute of it! This should be the first Phantom book you read but to get the actual feeling of the Phantom read some of the other Phantom books along with it
Rating:
Summary: The Phantom of the Opera is here...inside my mind!
Review: Imagine this: you are a lonely, ghostlike man. Your face is so grotesquely deformed
that you wear a mask to cover up the horror. You live under the Paris Opera House,
playing your organ and composing your opera, Don Juan Triumphant. One day, you are
up in the opera house, viewing a selection. Suddenly, one of the chorus girls catches
your eye. You gasp as you take in the most beautiful, innocent creature that has ever
lived. You make a vow to someday win her love, and become her "Angel of Music", using
your ventriloquist skills to make your voice seem to come from behind the walls of her
dressing room. You train her to become a glamourous singer, gaining fame for herself
with her angelic voice. Then one day you find that there is another man in her life;
Raoul, the Vicoumt de Chagny (spelling?). Overcome with anger, you find that there is only one thing to do: get rid of Raoul. What happens next? Well, I urge you to
read this wonderfully descriptive book to find the answer. You will love this haunting tale of love, deception, and illusion. You will not be let down.
Rating:
Summary: Emotionally gripping; A fascinating, complex narrative.
Review: This story of a disfigured genius driven to insanity
encompasses its readers in an atmosphere of grandeur and
terror, love and betrayal, and the immortal flavor of an era
that has past. This novel has convinced me that there really
was an Opera Ghost. It will draw you into the world of Erik, his cleverness, and his unrequited love for the beautiful Christine Daae. But there is so much more to this tragic tale, with every imaginable twist and turn, you will not be able to put this book down. The delightful cast of characters
will make you want to read it again and again. If you liked the musical, you will surely want to own a copy of the novel.
Rating:
Summary: The Phantom of the Opera is here...inside my mind!
Review: Imagine this: you are a lonely, ghostlike man. Your face is so grotesquely deformedthat you wear a mask to cover up the horror. You live under the Paris Opera House,playing your organ and composing your opera, Don Juan Triumphant. One day, you are up in the opera house, viewing a selection. Suddenly, one of the chorus girls catches your eye. You gasp as you take in the most beautiful, innocent creature that has ever lived. You make a vow to someday win her love, and become her "Angel of Music", using your ventriloquist skills to make your voice seem to come from behind the walls of her dressing room. You train her to become a glamourous singer, gaining fame for herself with her angelic voice. Then one day you find that there is another man in her life; Raoul, the Vicoumt de Chagny (spelling?). Overcome with anger, you find that there is only one thing to do: get rid of Raoul. What happens next? Well, I urge you to read this wonderfully descriptive book to find the answer. You will love this haunting tale of love, deception, and illusion. You will not be let down.
Rating: 
Summary: A thriller of a romance!
Review: The Phantom of the Opera incorporates mystery, romance, and horror to create a fascinating story that relates to heart and soul.Don't be fooled by the title of the novel, because it is not only about a scary little phantom that runs around the Paris Opera House, scaring staff, performers, and patrons alike, but a story of love, fate, and the scrutiny of life. The first chapters of the novel are a bit slow for a faced paced reader, but gradually pick up as the novel progresses. As everyone knows the story is set in late 19th century Paris and it's magnificent opera house as the stage, where numerous key scenes take place. Apparently, many performers and staff experience a series of bizarre incidents which become attributed to the "Opera Ghost" a dark, mysterious figure who threatens with violent means if his demands are not met. The story has three central characters-Christine Daae, the beautiful young opera singer, the Viscount de Chagny (Raoul), who has been in love with Christine since their childhood, and lastly, the Phantom (Erik), who is a horribly disfigured but musical genius, obsessed with winning the affection of Christine which he desires so much. Eric disguises himself as "the Angel of Music," which allows him to gain her trust when his vocal lessons bring out the passion in her voice and the envy of her peers. When his love is turned down and his face is unmasked, the dark side of Eric-a.k.a the Phantom-is revealed to her. This love torn relationship would arise a conflict when Christine, Raoul, and Eric are confronted by their feelings and the understanding that only one man can have her love. In the end, there is a sense of sympathy that is understandable for the pain which the Phantom has endured. I found Leroux's literary style sometimes confusing, since he alternates writing in the 3rd person (as the omniscient narrator) and the first person--with several different characters telling their own stories. However, a creative use of similes and descriptions instantly create a vision of the events throughout the story, and a touch of comedy here and there help distance all the drama, which can be overwhelming at times. The story is very believable and reputedly based on actual facts that Leroux researched himself. Overall, The Phantom of the Opera is a classic masterpiece and it is no wonder that it was made into a Broadway musical! "Beware if you venture into his realm beneath the opera house, for you enter a grim and dangerous domain; to step into the phantom's territory is to challenge his will and endanger your life and your sanity. To gaze into the lifeless eyes of death is an eternal horror which will ensnare you forever!"
Rating: 
Summary: Better than Watching Schumacker
Review: I've never seen a movie version of Phantom (not the classic, silent Lon Chaney version, and certainly not the new Joel "I should repent of my cinematic sins" Schumacker version). Nor have I seen any stage version of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical, or listened to music from that particular show. What I knew about the material is what everyone knows, what pop culture understands from the spoofs and the chattering fans in the back. I've never really been that interested either. What made me pick up the book then? I'm not really sure. Maybe it was the heavy amount of publicity it was getting after the new movie came out. Maybe it was my wife's love of the musical, and a faint remembrance of her sending me a homemade card with a lyric from it. Or maybe it was the only half-way interesting book in English the library had.
Either way, I'm glad I picked it up. In a peculiar way it is a continuation of my fascination with detective fiction. No, this is not Phillip Marlowe or Hercule Poirot chasing down some notorious killer. Gaston Leroux has created mystery involving a ghost and murderer without the help of private detectives or Scottland Yard. Much of the words included in the book are determined to unmask this phantom, through a series of clues and hints. It is here we find kinship with the likes of Agatha Christie.
I'll not explain much of the plot, for everyone knows it for the most part (and if you don't just who are you?) It is a story set in the Paris Opera, a gigantic, intricate building with layer upon layer of subterranean levels masked in noirish, dark shadows. It involves a ghost, or phantom if you will, that lives in the bowels of the opera and makes frequent, and peculiar requests (such as a monthly salary and nightly tickets to the Opera in one of the best seats)to the new management. The old management, it seems, was all too happy to give into the requests, but the new management is not so sure. Thus begins a series of punishments. There is also a love triangle involving the ghost, an accomplished singer of the opera, Christine Daae, and her childhood friend, Raoul.
Though, I am learning the French language, my skill level is nowhere near where I have tried to tackle reading a novel in that language. I read an English translation found at the library. What I am learning in my French courses, though, is that translation is often a very difficult thing to do. Though many words literally translate well, often subtler meanings behind the words do not come through in a translation. Also, often words have no exact translation so approximations must be made. The story may come out the same, but the poetry is left behind. Maybe someday I'll be able to read The Phantom of the Opera in its original language, but for now I must be satisfied with this translation.
The first half of the novel acts exclusively like a mystery. There are rumors floating around the Opera of a ghost that haunts the lower levels of the building. Random notes appear to the new managers, threatening horror if the ghosts demands are not met. There are ones who claim to have seen the ghost, other who claim to know him well, or as well as one can know a ghost. It is written from an outsiders perspective. Our point of view is that of an investigator, someone interesting in finding the truth of the ghost and events that happened during this time period. Leroux does a marvelous job making this piece of fiction look like history. After reading I even spent some time researching the events described to see if there was any truth to the story.
It is in the second half of the story that things change. We are introduced properly to the ghost and his madness. From this point the story shifts from a mystery to thriller. We know who the phantom is, but we are unsure of what he is going to do. Raoul and Christine are mad to leave the opera and be wed, but the ghost intercedes to create a great deal of suspense. As separate halves I found them both to be exhilarating, and a great read. But considered as a whole they leave a lot of questions. As with any good mystery, Phantom begins with a lot of questions. The narrative spends a great deal of time trying to determine what the ghost is, whether it is flesh and blood or a spirit. Whether the events happening are caused by the supernatural, or are just tricks and games. As mentioned, the ghost makes many requests for service, it acts in peculiar ways to add to the mystery. Yet, when the nature of the ghost is revealed, these things go unanswered. The great mystery is revealed, but much of what was mysterious is never explained. This is a small quibble because the story moves along with such gusto it leaves little time to be perplexed.
Overall, Phantom of the Opera is a fast, entertaining read. There is much to enjoy, and think over. It is well written, well plotted and well done piece of fiction. It is not a great piece of literature, but this should not keep any fan of the written word from picking up and enjoying this novel.
like this review? Go to www.midnitcafe.blogspot.com for more.
Rating:
Summary: Great Way To Get Kids Into Phantom
Review: First, this is an adaptation of the original story written by Leroux. It's a good way to get kids interested in the Phantom of the Opera. I read this first, before I read the original novel. And I have to tell you, I read the book in one day! Seriously, for some reason I remember that, and a friend of mine read it in only a few hours. It's a very good book and the pictures are nice, too, wonderful black-and-white ink pictures that go very nicely with the story.
If you want to get your child interested in Phantom of the Opera I would suggest that you have him or her read this.
It's a lot easier to understand than the original novel. And if he or she wants to read the original then, they can. It's a really great book.It explains a lot of stuff that wasn't there in the musical.
Rating:
Summary: Intriguing!
Review: I started reading The Phantom of the Opera last night and finished this afternoon. Having seen the recently-released film first, then having followed up by listening to a recording of Webber's famous musical adaptation, I was curious to read the text that had inspired the film and the music I enjoyed so much. The book was an absolute page-turner.
Erik's character is among the most simultaneously compelling and horrifying ones I've read. I love the way Leroux does not treat him as a mere boogie-man, but gives the readers multiple insights to a complex personality. I found myself amused at the Phantom's practical jokes and ingenuity (such as the banknote affair and Carlotta's unfortunate croaking performance), horrified at his vengeance, impressed by his mastery over the secrets of the opera house, and softened by his slavish love for Christine. Should I be repulsed by his evil deeds and dark past or moved to pity? Erik's character is truly one larger than life.
Raoul's character was really my only disappointment. I could not bring myself to like or empathize with him at all and liked Christine less for returning his love. He came across as a spoiled brat who had never been denied anything in his life and cannot comprehend why Christine doesn't throw herself at him whenever he snaps his fingers. He insults Christine cruelly in fits of jealousy and is scarcely less obsessive than the Phantom, but in a sniveling, childish manner. I also hated his refusal consider the Phantom's plight as described by Christine, never allowing pity to soften his desire to kill Erik out of pure jealousy (and he does, indeed, take a gunshot at him when given the chance). It is obvious that the Phantom could have killed Raoul in a heartbeat once within the opera house, but he displays amazing self-restraint when it comes to his rival, especially given his seemingly super-human capabilities.
I would recommend this book to anyone, "Phans" and those with no prior exposure to the story. Perhaps it is not top-notch literature, but a very entertaining book nonetheless. It is an intriguing read with incredible characters, a book difficult to put down and a story difficult to forget!
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