Phantom by Susan Kay
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Book Reviews of Phantom
Book Review: Totally engrossing...couldn't put it down...
Summary: 5 Stars
After reading Leroux's book Phantom of the Opera and seeing various renditions on film of it (my favorite movie by far is the 2004 ALW version)I wanted, no desperately NEEDED, to know more about Erik and how he became the man he was. So to my utter joy and delight I discovered that someone had indeed written a book detailing Erik's early years right up to his meeting with Christine and even after they seperated.
From the very first page until the last, I was totally engrossed in this heart wrenching novel. I couldn't put Phantom down! If it weren't for the fact that I had to go to work, eat, or feed my cats, I would have stayed enshrined in my home reading until I'd turned the last page.
She has stayed faithful to the original characters, while adding a few of her own. She also captured the time in which Erik grew up extremely well. The prejudice toward anyone who looked different and the treatment of those very same people. How most with Erik's disfigurement were viewed with loathing, fear and contempt and considered monsters even if they had a good heart and never harmed a soul.
Without giving to much away, she tells the story from different viewpoints using the first person vernacular: from his Mother, to Giovanni's (a master mason), to his, to the Persian, to his and Christine's and finally to Rauol's.
There were quite a few times during my journey through Erik's life that I found tears streaming down my cheeks, finding them difficult to stem. Feeling so badly for him, wanting him to be happy, but knowing full well how it would end for him...IF she kept true to the Leroux's version. She does, but much to my delight she adds her own twist on this tragic tale. Reading those last few pages I found my cheeks drenched with tears and even as I write this I find my eyes misting over with how the book ended.
Phantom is a MUST read for every POTO phan. A point of interest, and I add this for all feline lovers, Kay adds a delightful character in the form of a Siamese cat, who in my opinion has quite a bit of personality.
So read the original version then read Phantom. You won't be disappointed!
Book Review: Stunning! How can I do it justice??
Summary: 5 Stars
I am a die-hard Phantom of the Opera fan. I read Leroux's book in high school. I know every word to Webber's musical score. I've seen the musical live twice. I even watched that awful movie with Gerry Butler. That being said, I was extremely skeptical when I picked up this book. The story was already written and loved worldwide. Why would someone else alter it?? My best friend had to suggest it several times before I finally gave it a chance. And now I am so glad I did. This is hands down one of the best books I have ever read. I have never been more emotional reading a book before. I lost track of how many times my heart broke for Erik throughout the 500+ pages of this novel. I found myself wishing he was a real person so I could run to him and comfort him. Susan Kay is an extraordinary wordsmith -- she writes beautiful or horrifying descriptions of every character, place, and event that occurs throughout the story. Her masterful command of language kept me engaged to the point where I had to force myself to put the book down, if only to take a break from the emotional roller coaster. I also admire how she weaved her story seamlessly with Leroux's original novel. Everything is there: his many areas of genius, his relationships with people such as the Persian and the opera house managers, his time in the gypsy circus, etc. The only thing I didn't like was the ending, because it diverged so far from the original. However, the rest of the novel was so incredible that I am willing to overlook that and give it 5 stars. I can't do this book justice with a review... no one can... check it out and read it for yourself! You won't be disappointed!Book Review: None of us can choose where we will love.
Summary: 5 Stars
A friend of mine lent me her mother's original paperback copy of Phantom and needless to say I was overjoyed when Llumina decided to reprint.
About half of Phantom's story covers the aspects of Erik's life that Leroux only hints at in a paragraph at the end of the original novel. While Leroux does paint him as a sympathetic character, our compassion for him stems mainly from pity. Kay fleshes out Erik's personality and motivation in such a way that creates a much deeper emotional investment than simply feeling sorry for him.
The rest of the story basically parallels the events of Phantom of the Opera with some minor changes, but none so big that I felt the integrity or any major points of the original were compromised. This portion takes Christine from a traditional Gothic heroine to a girl with emotional and psychological problems in the middle of a serious predicament. Kay makes it believable that Christine is honestly torn between two men who love her: safe, familiar, handsome Raoul, and mysterious, captivating, tempestuous, and sometimes dangerous Erik who commands her soul but is (at least, I believe) slowly driving her mad.
I actually read this before I read Phantom of the Opera and I had no problem following the story. For fans of Leroux's original, there is no better companion.
Book Review: The Best Adaptation of Phantom in any format.
Summary: 5 Stars
Susan Kay's "Phantom" is regarded by many "Phans" as one of the best Phantom-spin off books. I would go as far and say it is far superior to any version of the story, including the musical, the films, and even the original Gaston Leroux novel. Kay's "Phantom" takes place from the start till the end of Erik's life. It does what most versions fail to do: give Erik a sufficient back story. This is also one of the few versions to feature the Persian, a character that appeared in the novel and in the 1925 Chaney film(my 2nd favorite film of all time). The Leroux version did not have enough time to go through the backstory of these two characters completely. What Kay does is supply us with one of the greatest friendships of all of literature. It also covers how much of a Renaissance man Erik really was. Many versions only exlpore the musical genius/horro part of Erik. Kay's Erik is a deeper character and probably the best interpretation to date. Its hard not to like this version the best, the characters are just so much deeper and enjoyable than in previous versions. "Phantom" is a read that will stay with you, an experience you will want to savor again and again. As I am writing this review I am reading it for the fifth time. I will probably have read it a hundred times by the time my life is finished.Book Review: I was so shocked that one-star reviews of this book even EXISTED...
Summary: 5 Stars
I implore you, ignore them.
If you are an Erik enthusiast, you owe it to yourself to read this book. The writing is fantastic, the characterization--particularly Erik--is PHENOMENAL, and it's the kind of book that I personally read over and over again. You really get to know Erik more thoroughly than in any other piece of Phantom literature I have picked up in this story.
The only thing that ever bothers me about it is almost inevitable; I felt Erik deserved more than he got out of life in general. At the end, he may have been satisfied, but I wasn't satisfied for him. But I love the character more than any other fictional character ever dreamed up, so...
Still, anyone who liked any version of Phantom of the Opera should DEFINITELY read Susan Kay's version of Phantom. I think "haunting" is the best word to describe the book. Every single time I sit down and read a chunk of the book, I am so thoroughly captivated and drawn into the characters and the stories that for hours afterward I can still feel the aftereffects--like a Phantom hangover of some sort.
Honestly, if I could only own one book in the entire world for the rest of my life, this is the one I would pick.
It's that good.