Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #22851 in Books
• Published on: 1991-10
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 368 pages

Customer Reviews

Please, read this book.
Depending on who you listen to this is either a masterpiece, or a shaky story which has since been improved through adaptations to film and stage. My opinion is the former. I had no trouble at all reading this book, in fact I had real trouble putting it down. For a phantom phan this is essential reading as the basis for all subsequent versions of the tale, and a very good read in itself. Those who know more recent versions of the story should not expect this to be exactly the same; in fact all the characters come across very differently, creating a very different overall storyline regarding the characters.

The writer, Leroux, spent much of his writing career as a journalist, and 'The Phantom of the Opera' is written in a style which suggests a real investigation and interview of the characters by the author (hence the continually resurfacing hope of phans that the Phantom truly existed). This style works exceedingly well, in my opinion, as it leaves plenty of mysteries for the reader to consider, reflecting the nature of the story. Debates about certain points and occurrences continue to this day!

This book truly is a must read, and as copies can be found cheaply most anywhere, you have no excuse for not reading it!

Poor Unhappy Erik!
This is the most compelling book ever written, I assure you. This is a masterpiece and a classic in my eyes; and yours if you take the time to read this 'story.' I was left pondering after reading Harry Potter. What book could ever come close? 'The Phantom Of The Opera' ladies and gentlemen. Not close but better. However you came about looking up this novel here on Amazon, I suggest you buy it, and you buy it quick. Once you have it, you won't be able to put it down.

Reading through this story, one can start to think its a 'Ghost-story.' But the author, as it turns out, dedicated a part of his life to this 'Opera-Ghost,' wanting to be sure of his existence - or non-existence. He has sources, archives, spoken to the people of the time and he tells their story, and he tells it well! When I was reading this story, the possibility of this 'Phantom' of ever existing was totally ruled out in my book. What was this author thinking in seriously believing? How can one be in walls, have a bodiless voice, be here and there, be everywhere? Truth be told, the author has convinced me of his existence, that the Phantoms 'supernatural' behaviour wasn't so 'supernatural,' just a genius ahead of his time. And what a pitiful genius he was! This is one book that keeps you thinking long after you have read it.

If you know of Andrew Lloyd Webbers version, you will be impressed to learn that the book and the musical are very much different. Raoul in the musical seems brave and wise, in the book he strikes me as a pathetic love-sick puppy. A character which has no part in the musical has a dramatic effect on the real story; the Persian. Christine who seems to be a mad woman at the beginning turns into the pity stricken beauty towards the end as she is in the musical. Andre and Fermin are not so comical in the book as they are in the musical. The story is twisted and turned. So just because you have seen the musical, does not mean you know the story of the Phantom of the Opera!

This book is a very smooth, easy read, being written in the early nineteen-hundreds. Its possible to get mixed up with names, but the characters that you do get mixed up with are extremely unimportant to the plot, so it doesn't really matter. The narrative keeps you reading and you will curse whatever it is from every day life that pulls you away from it.

The character of the Phantom will stay with you forever, but also they're are two mysteries which I just can't figure out. According to the Persian there was someone in a cloak that brushed past himself and Raoul when down in the cellars. The author never comes to explain who this person is, as the Persian who told him about this, asked him not to. Also, there is a 'rat-catcher.' Fair enough. But it seems that his head is on fire and he has no body. The phantom's supernatural actions has been explained as physically possible...but this 'rat-catcher'?

Compelling stuff. I can't recommend this masterpiece enough.

Pick it up... you won't be able to put it down!
This must be the best book I've read in a while. Once I started it, I was cut off from this world. The plot is simple yet really entertaining. It doesn't state too many extra details and doesn't tell a few different stories at once like many other books. I am a person who often needs to reread some sentences again and again before I get them, but this one went almost completely smoothly. It must be considered a classic. Once I started reading it I was so enthralled that I felt like all the characters at one point in the book. It's kinda spooky, but not as much as many other books, just enough to make you continue reading. Please excuse the spelling, it is very late at night.