The Phantom of the Opera: The Original Novel

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Summary: The Phantom of the Opera
Review: Fiddling one day with some shared music files, I came across a somewhat ghastly musical. But it invoked in me a desperate need to find out more about this story, which I remembered having loved as a small child.
The 1940's film version of The Phantom of the Opera was a defining part of my thoughts back then, and the story intrigued me. There is something wonderfully dangerous and captivating about an opera house with five cellars replendant with secret passageways and "ghosts." So I read the book, which took me all of one day.
It's rare to come across a book that spoils all others for a time, but this is one. Despite a confusing beginning with numerous undefined names and settings, the book takes off. The story takes a more emotional slant than any other adaptation. Since reading it I went to the recent film-musical, which lost the brilliance of inventions and only focused on his madness.
There is enough science and illusion to attract any sci-fi fans, enough stress on music to invite musical fans, and enough story and character and dreamland for everybody else.
I read Phantom two weks ago and have read it four times since, and the wonder has not yet worn off.
The book begins as the Paris Opera is hosting a gala in honor of a change in management. From the first scene, the Opera Ghost is foremost in the theater as a superstition of young girls and joke, although many of the partons and workers of the vast building tacitly accept the truth of his being.
As the story progresses, we come into the aquaintance of Christine Daae, a ballet and chorus girl who assumes the leading role as La Carlotta is unable to. After taking the audience by storm, it is revealed that she has been tutored by a mysterious voice in her dressing room, whom she beleives to be the "Angel of Music" her father promised to send her while on his death bed. In reality, the angel is the same mischevious Opera Ghost who demands an exorbitant monthly salary and haunts box five. And the "O.G." is Erik, the severely disfigured and un-socialized (I am still unclear over whether or not he even possessed a nose) architectural, musical genius who traveled all over the world building and inventing novelties to entertain royalty and peasantry.
Erik is in turn alluded to as one might to an irresponsible child, as a monster, as a madman, but mostly as a deeply emotional and misunderstood man.
The Phantom of the Opera is a mystery, a romance, and a beautiful sketch of events.
It is up to you which box to turn: the scorpion, or the grasshopper.

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Summary: help me
Review: I've seen the Musical and since I liked it so much, I decided to read the original book, and I was just blown away. This book includes mystery, action and Love. The climax of this book was so awsome that I ended up reading over 170 pages without stopping, and that doesn't happen that often with a guy like me! To those people who believe that Phantom is just a murderer that lives under the Paris Opera, YOU ARE TERRIBLY MISTAKEN!!! When you finish reading this book, you'll know what is truly within the monster. Also, in this book, "music" takes a very inportant role. Phantom is really talented musical genious, Christine is a singer, and also the tale of Angel of Music is very big. If you are performer, or have interest in music, You are going to enjoy this book even more than those who are "just" reading this book. This book is one of the best love/mystery book ever writen I think, and I think most of you will agree with me. This book is worth every one-hundreth of a penny!!!

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Summary: Phantom of the opera Andrew loyd webber
Review: This book adds a whole new light to the play and now the movie. Leroux makes the story funny, sad, enlightning and completely draws you in. Also, unlike many authors, Leroux never really takes a side as to whether Erik (The Phantom) is good or evil. It's mostly set on first hand accounts of the people who were there.

One thing that this book did for and to me was to see a whole different side to humanity and myself as a person and how I see other people.

This book will hold you like no other.