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Most Helpful Favorable Review
19 out of 20 people found this review helpful.
Lovely, really lovely.
I love this book. I read it, like many before me, because I've loved the Andrew Lloyd Weber musical since childhood. I remember my mother reading the book and telling me interesting parts of it, and so I decided to read it myself a little over a year ago. It is such a b...Read More
I love this book. I read it, like many before me, because I've loved the Andrew Lloyd Weber musical since childhood. I remember my mother reading the book and telling me interesting parts of it, and so I decided to read it myself a little over a year ago. It is such a beautiful story, and Leroux wrote it in such an interesting way. This book is categorized as fiction, but because of the way Leroux writes it (and because I don't know my French history) I want to believe it's real. Leroux writes that he believes the Phantom (Eric) was real. Interspersed with the story, he interjects his own opinion, and occasionally includes real(?) interviews with the characters from history. As a straight work of fiction, this is an amazing, beautiful tale of love, perseverance, the limits of the human existence, horror, suspense, sorrow... This really has everything I want in a story. At the risk of sounding like a cliche, The Phantom of the Opera made me laugh, cry, gasp, sigh, and grip the book with white knuckles. And the little bits here and there that make you want to believe it was all real... well, they make you want to go to Paris to see the opera house.
And not surprisingly, the soundtrack to Weber's musical makes really good background music while reading this. Grab a tissue at the end.Show Less
And not surprisingly, the soundtrack to Weber's musical makes really good background music while reading this. Grab a tissue at the end.Show Less
posted by ProfessionalBookNerd on January 24, 2009
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1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Poor Erik for being stuck in such an awful book
I was very disappointed with this novel. I'm a huge fan of the stage and movie versions, but I hated the novel. The writing is confusing and just plain awful! I felt so sorry for Erik, and wished Raoul would just go away (I felt the same way after seeing the show.) The ...Read More
I was very disappointed with this novel. I'm a huge fan of the stage and movie versions, but I hated the novel. The writing is confusing and just plain awful! I felt so sorry for Erik, and wished Raoul would just go away (I felt the same way after seeing the show.) The story itself is wonderful, but the book is awful.Show Less
posted by Anonymous on November 1, 2006
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Lovely, really lovely.
I love this book. I read it, like many before me, because I've loved the Andrew Lloyd Weber musical since childhood. I remember my mother reading the book and telling me interesting parts of it, and so I decided to read it myself a little over a year ago. It is such a beautiful story, and Leroux wrote it in such an interesting way. This book is categorized as fiction, but because of the way Leroux writes it (and because I don't know my French history) I want to believe it's real. Leroux writes that he believes the Phantom (Eric) was real. Interspersed with the story, he interjects his own opinion, and occasionally includes real(?) interviews with the characters from history. As a straight work of fiction, this is an amazing, beautiful tale of love, perseverance, the limits of the human existence, horror, suspense, sorrow... This really has everything I want in a story. At the risk of sounding like a cliche, The Phantom of the Opera made me laugh, cry, gasp, sigh, and grip the book with white knuckles. And the little bits here and there that make you want to believe it was all real... well, they make you want to go to Paris to see the opera house.
And not surprisingly, the soundtrack to Weber's musical makes really good background music while reading this. Grab a tissue at the end.19 out of 20 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous
Posted November 11, 2009
Great Book
I thought Gaston Leroux proved himself an amazing author in this suspenseful novel. I enjoyed this book and could not put it down once i got into it. In fact, it only took me about two days. He did a great job combining suspense, mystery, and romance all into one book so both guys and girls can enjoy. There was never a slow moving part; it was always action pact in an edge of your seat type of anticipation. He did a good job using the literary element of symbolism as a base of the story. He did a good job portraying each character and giving them the perfect personalities for their roles. I was also impressed with how well thought through the story line was and how detailed he was of the characters and the opera house itself. Like i said i really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to any one who loves suspenseful and or romantic novels that are action packed and full of unexspected turns.
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous
Posted September 9, 2006
I Love Erik!
I'm So In love with Erik! He's a pure genious and should not be judged on looks! Erik is kind and gentle deep down, all he wants is love, but Christine can't see past his face, that face which sentenced him to a life time of sloitude. Basically, Christine Is pretty freaking crazy not to choose the phantom, in my opinion :P
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful.
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fantastic!
This gothic novel does a wonderful job with crossing genre lines. It mixes elements of romance, horror and mystery into a fantastic piece of fiction. We, the reader, travel from the very roof of the Paris Opera House down to the lair of the "Angel of Music" beneath that same house of music. The Phantom of the Opera contains an underground lake, a torture chamber and a graveyard. And yet this novel is fundamentally a love story. A heartbreaking one at that!
This novel by Gaston Leroux has been adapted to the stage and film many times. It is considered to be a French classic of literature. It is very deserving.5 out of 6 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous
Posted July 8, 2008
A reviewer
I've seen the musical and sang the music and still the Phantom seems to haunt me. Now that I've read Gaston Leroux's popular novel, I can say that he was an ingenious man to have created such a story of drama, terror, love, passion, envy, jealousy, romance, adventure, suspense, obsession and magic! The character of Erik is painted with sorrow, pain and a denied passion towards the world 'kind of like the Erik in the play'. If you are a person who loves the classic tale of Beauty and the Beast then you will love the Phantom of the Opera! Guaranteed!
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
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Best ever!
I read this book a few years ago and have been a huge Phantom fan ever since! It is by far my favorite story of all time...and I have read alot of books!
This story draws you in and makes you feel for the characters. For some, it even brings upon the moral dilemma of asking themselves...do I want the "bad guy" to win? It is truly a love story, but with a twist.3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous
Posted May 6, 2007
A reviewer
This is my all time favorite book. I urge anyone who hasn't already, to read it - even if you think you already know The Phantom of the Opera story, because there hasn't been any film or book out there that is the exact same version as this one. This book is written like no other I've ever read and it really leaves you asking the question, 'did Erik really exist?'.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous
Posted February 23, 2007
another great read
i really loved the phantom of the opera its a great book. the ends of the chapter leave you hanging by a threadand you cant putit down and i love erik
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous
Posted December 28, 2011
Four stars
I thought that the book had an interesting setting and mysteriousness about it which probably made me want to read it. About 3/4 of the way through it does get a little confusing and really weird at parts which may lead you to question the moral behind it all. It was definily captivating in parts but could get slow moving and confusing in parts.overall i liked it and would recommend.
2 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
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The Phantom of the Opera
The Phantom of the Opera is, quite plainly, a wonderful book.
Being a great fan of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, I decided at long last to read the original novel to get a better grasp of the characters and storyline. I finished it only a few days, and let me tell you: I was
not disappointed.
Gaston Leroux artfully mixes fact with fiction to create a tale that is original, exciting, at times funny, emotional, romantic, and heart-breaking.
The plot is simple: The Opera Ghost or Phantom, Erik, lives in the catacombs beneath the Paris Opera House, a recluse because of his deformity. He secretly tutors the Palais' new Soprano, the young Swedish girl Christine Daae. He falls in love with her, only to have
his affections thwarted by the entrance of Raoul, the Vicomte de Chagny, who had known Christine from her childhood.
Many authors I've read often go off on a tangent, creating whole chapters in which nothing happens which even remotely has to do with the story and leaves you wondering "What was I reading?". Leroux's writing style is fairly straightforward, and his simple descriptions leaves much for the reader to imagine for themselves, making it an easier and more personal read than some writers, such as Charles Dickens.
Though the plot and characters are written quite simply, excluding perhaps the Phantom himself, the book is compelling and entertaining, and not perhaps as dark as other French Gothic novels. I must admit there were several scenes in the book, particularly between Erik and Christine, that made me cry, and I'm not usually driven to tears when I read.
The Phantom of the Opera is a fantastic story that deserves to be read over and over again, and I would highly recommend it to all my friends.2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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great book
better than the movie, just a great classic piece to read. :)
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous
Posted February 26, 2012
I Also Recommend:
A Flawed Masterwork
The novel “The Phantom of the Opera’ written by Gaston Leroux is one of the most unique books I have ever read. It tells the story of the infamous Opera Ghost who lives beneath the Parisian Opera House. To most, he is just a legend but to others- unfortunate and doomed others-he is a real human being named Erik. However, he soon falls in love with the beautiful Christine Daae and seeks to aid her in her pursuit of glory and perfection. However, Christine’s lover Raoul soon catches on to what is happening and, because of his love for Christine, aims to do something about this meddlesome and dangerous Phantom.
One of the biggest themes of ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ is that of appearances and how they deceive. The Phantom is hideous and his entire reputation is based on the fact that he is hideous. No one truly knows who he is and judges him on his disfigured face. However, when wearing his mask or when he is not even seen, he is not judged. Christine, in fact believes that he is someone that she can relate to and, quite possibly, love. Likewise, the rich and attractive benefactors of the Opera House are respected by everyone and loved by many. However, on the inside, these people are just as hideous as the Phantom. They judge the Phantom and are ultimately the reason for his demise. Throughout the entire story, we, the audience, transform from judging based on the myths and descriptions of the Phantom to knowing who he is and why he is that way. Thus, in addition to receiving a gripping yarn, we also learn a valuable lesson.
Like I have said, this is a curious and unique book. It most certainly deserves a place in history with a truly fascinating story and main character. However, in my opinion, the book is not very well written. It seems to stumble along and relies and how intriguing the story. In the end, the writing style was not enough to greatly hinder my enjoyment of the book but it kept from being the truly great book that it could have been. Apart from the writing style, the book is really terrific. The story is fascinating and engaging from start to finish. The characters of the Phantom, Raoul and Christine Daae and their respective relationships are just so fascinating that they makes the entire book worth reading. One character, especially, stands out among the others. In my opinion, the mysterious “Persian” is even more interesting than Erik the Phantom. He is a mysterious man from Erik’s past who is quite sympathetic against Erik but has to work with Raoul against him. To reveal any more would be a crime.
While ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ may be a ‘great’ book, it is actually not all that good. It will never be used as a literary example of how books should be written. Gaston Leroux’s novel is just good, pulpy fun and sometimes that’s all you want in a book. For me, it was just enough.1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous
Posted January 25, 2012
Its great
Different from the movie but an amazing read. The characters are interesting and the phantom was really cynical. Great read
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Lovely, really lovely.
I love this book. I read it, like many before me, because I've loved the Andrew Lloyd Weber musical since childhood. I remember my mother reading the book and telling me interesting parts of it, and so I decided to read it myself a little over a year ago. It is such a beautiful story, and Leroux wrote it in such an interesting way. This book is categorized as fiction, but because of the way Leroux writes it (and because I don't know my French history) I want to believe it's real. Leroux writes that he believes the Phantom (Eric) was real. Interspersed with the story, he interjects his own opinion, and occasionally includes real(?) interviews with the characters from history. As a straight work of fiction, this is an amazing, beautiful tale of love, perseverance, the limits of the human existence, horror, suspense, sorrow... This really has everything I want in a story. At the risk of sounding like a cliche, The Phantom of the Opera made me laugh, cry, gasp, sigh, and grip the book with white knuckles. And the little bits here and there that make you want to believe it was all real... well, they make you want to go to Paris to see the opera house.
And not surprisingly, the soundtrack to Weber's musical makes really good background music while reading this. Grab a tissue at the end.1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged. -
Lovely, really lovely.
I love this book. I read it, like many before me, because I've loved the Andrew Lloyd Weber musical since childhood. I remember my mother reading the book and telling me interesting parts of it, and so I decided to read it myself a little over a year ago. It is such a beautiful story, and Leroux wrote it in such an interesting way. This book is categorized as fiction, but because of the way Leroux writes it (and because I don't know my French history) I want to believe it's real. Leroux writes that he believes the Phantom (Eric) was real. Interspersed with the story, he interjects his own opinion, and occasionally includes real(?) interviews with the characters from history. As a straight work of fiction, this is an amazing, beautiful tale of love, perseverance, the limits of the human existence, horror, suspense, sorrow... This really has everything I want in a story. At the risk of sounding like a cliche, The Phantom of the Opera made me laugh, cry, gasp, sigh, and grip the book with white knuckles. And the little bits here and there that make you want to believe it was all real... well, they make you want to go to Paris to see the opera house.
And not surprisingly, the soundtrack to Weber's musical makes really good background music while reading this. Grab a tissue at the end.1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Hallejuah! Hallejuah! Don Juan Triumphs ultimately lol
I LOVE this book to death! Everything about it is AMAZING! But....it does get a little confusing I'm not going to lie. But the plot, the character development...just....amazing. But, I like the opera/musical better. Sorry Gaston, but I do. But, I still love this book and it will forever be in my library!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous
Posted October 20, 2008
I Also Recommend:
Thrilling, Amazing, Moving
This was one of the most thrilling, amazing, and moving books ever written. I first saw the play and thought it was amazing. The costumes and the music were great. Right from the start, I was hooked. I then watched the movie. I thought that it was a big dissapointment. The Phantom had a strange voice and was not right. I then read the book. I LOVED IT! I seriously could not put it down. It was done in a week. It was the most moving stories ever. The book made you feel compassion towards all the characters. You could really get inside each character. Gaston Leroux did an ecelent job giving all sides of the situation. This is a very good book.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous
Posted September 25, 2008
Best Book and Movie EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It is spell binding! It's mesmerizing! A KEEPER! The best ever created! Work of a GENIUS!!!!!!!!!!!!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous
Posted July 30, 2008
Gripping the Heart
Suspicion forms the words on each page. Excitement forms the paragraphs. Weaved dramatically throughout the story are different viewpoints, complex characters, physical appearance, and the inner appearance. The true genius of the author is displayed in his ability to keep the reader from having a solid opinion of any of the characters until the reader has read every line from cover to cover. In one word, The Phantom of the Opera is Masterful.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous
Posted September 1, 2008
a superb play and an even better novel!
i read this novel in the 9th grade after seeing the play on broadway. after the play i was hooked so i went out and decided to buy the novel.it was great and haunts you as you travel through the book. it is one of the best novels that i have read in a long time.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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