The Phantom of Paris

Rating:
Summary: Horrible! A dreadful piece of Phan Phiction!
Review: The Phantom of Paris

Ok, first off, I don't wish to be cruel when judging or reviewing this book but: this book is nothing but Phan Phic in a shiny cover. I've read better Phan Phic online! (and I normally find that only 30% of it to be "true to Erik").
This is a noble attempt by a teenager, but its definitely NOT worth $19.95 as you can, as mentioned before, get better Phantom stories online for free! How ever did she get this book published?
M. Vehlow gives us a very, very flat presentation of a Phantom "continuation tale"...it paints Erik as being COMPLETELY common, which, if any of you are even remotely familiar with him knows that he's anything but that! Where's the mystery? Where are his stately mannerisms? The eloquence? I mean, truly...can you imagine Erik in a pillow fight? A pillow fight! UGH! And, gentle reader, can you imagine Erik interacting with the Opera managers and giving lessons to "students" who come to the Opera to meet and learn from the great M Edlemann (Erik's "real name" in this tale)? Where the hell did our author get THAT name? Everything is so unexplained in this story....there is no real foundation! We're just to accept it all as fact...that everything is just hunky-dory and Erik has successfully acclimated to and assimilated to society...and he's totally accepted...right??? What is going on here?
Oh, and then there's Christine's little "break off" with Raoul, which at the beginning he accepts with little to no protest...as if it were nothing but a high school break up...and everybody just accepts the fact that this mysterious M. Edlemann just happens out of nowhere and Christine is his newest student...yadda, yadda, yadda...She's suddenly the best in the world and the managers can't live without her...She has an answer for EVERYTHING...and then there's little old Monique...Who the heck is she? She's supposedly Christine's best friend, etc, etc, etc... who's now taking lessons from Erik...and knows the de Chagny family.....
Oh, but the main kicker for me is the fact that Erik is in no way an introvert and traipses around with a mask on that make him look like "everyone else" while conversing with the managers and totally turning over a new leaf...(no more murders, or blackmailing the managers, exercising his magic, ventriloquism etc....). Wouldn't others realize that Erik had a mask on???? M. Vehlow makes Erik out to be an ordinary, run-of-the-mill "pretty boy" with a mask....I know that the original novel mentions that Erik had developed a mask that would make him look like everyone else, but...M. Vehlow goes too far with this.... I am well aware of the fact that Erik wanted to be accepted...and to live like everyone else, but this story doesn't even give us a look at who or what Erik was....He was remarkable! Incredible! Beyond mere words! He was not this plain, ordinary music teacher, earning his way by giving music lessons....in a mask that nobody seemed to notice is a mask...
I'm sorry, but M. Vehlow fails miserably at capturing the essence of Erik. My God, but she have taken my most cherished literary character and thrusts him in an environment that is totally unacceptable...she's striped him of his majesty, his masterful and beautiful soul! Oh, and the ending ? I'm trying to forget the ending entirely, as it has become a stain upon my memory! Oh, Vehlow...how could you?
If you are a true student of Erik and more than a mere "phantom phan" don't waste your time or money. This book is a dismal attempt at Phantom writing and is nothing but mere literary fodder! If I were M. Vehlow's English professor, I'd have given her a D+. Sorry....but our author has in NO way done Erik any justice here....it's just another twisted tale of Erik to flood our minds....another tale that is as twisted and distorted as Erik's own face....A dreadful book....

Rating:
Summary: A lifeless, unrealistic piece of literature
Review: To be perfectly honest, I didn't even want to rate this book a 1. I undoubtedly agree with a previous reviewer. This IS merely a piece of poorly written phan phiction with a shiny, appealing cover. Ugh, Miss Vehlow did absolutely no justice to our dear, beloved Erik! In this book, he is no longer dark, mysterious, seductive, and enticing... he is common and at times can be.. completely unemotional. His responses to things made me wince, and the way Miss Vehlow portrayed him made me cringe. Yes, Miss Vehlow has potential as a writer, but this story was lifeless; and I do not understand how some 'phans' can enjoy it when their favorite character is basically being ridiculed and torn apart. As the reader from Pennsylvania said, he IS indeed stripped of his majesty and wonderful, beatiful soul! Ugh, Erik in a pillow fight? Christine saying "yay!" because Erik knocked Raoul out? Raoul going absolutely crazy, but then, of course, he feels utterly guilty afterwards. I do admit, I am a huge phan, and I adore the E/C pairing, but not when it's written like this... I am not obsessed with Raoul (because I am too busy obsessing over Erik ;-)), but I do not despise the guy. What did he ever do? He only loved Christine, and he was rich and good-looking. He couldn't help loving Christine.

Oh, and what's even stranger is the fact that Erik is now giving music lessons! That's right: music lessons! Music lessons to children and other adults... while Erik still wears his mask. Oh, no, he doesn't disguise himself because everyone will, of course, not even notice the fact that he's wearing a mask... It doesn't even register with the managers that Erik and their vanished Opera Ghost both wore an identical mask! Wow! What a coincidence! Yes, I too am aware that Erik wished to live a normal life; and by all means, I wished the poor, beloved man did, but this is no way to do it! The basic, original story and characters are butchered.

Oh, and Monique. Ah, Monique - Christine's old 'best friend'. What happened to Meg? What happened to people that were mentioned in the original story? All I can do is sigh right now and sadly wish that I had never purchased this book. I have read much better phan phiction on www.fanfiction.net Go there and click on 'Books', then 'Phantom of the Opera'. No doubt you will find much better and original storylines.

I am a devoted phan, as many others are, and I am simply warning and begging fellow phans to save their money for something better. The original Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux is the best! If you've read that, try Phantom by Susan Kay! Journey of the Mask is pretty good, minus a few chapters where Erik is out of character. I hate to be so negative in this review, because I am a very cheery and optimistic person... but this brought tears to my eyes... and they were not good tears.

Rating:
Summary: Fascinating. Inspiring.
Review: What can I say? Gwen amazed me. While not really a phantom phan, and not exactly expecting to sympathize much with his plight, she made me truly feel for him. In especial during the last few chapters... no spoilers here, I promise. But in them, the complexity of the story came through beautifully. I was struck over and again by the contrasts and underlying meanings found there. Exceedingly commendable undertaking, made all the more admirable when considering the fact Gwen was 15 when the majority of the writing took place. Awesome job, Gwen! Love to hear more from you!
PS Write something about pirates, would you? Please.