The Phantom of the Opera: The Original Novel by Gaston Leroux
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Book Reviews of The Phantom of the Opera: The Original Novel
Book Review: The Phantom Kicks ...
Summary: 5 Stars
"The Phantom of the Opera"By Gaston Leroux
Do not be fool by the title of the novel, because it is not only about a scary little phantom that runs around the Paris Grand Opera House, scaring Englishmen and Englishwomen, but a story of love, fate, and the scrutiny of life. Gaston Leroux has successfully led the readers into fantasy where love is torn between two lovers who have known each other since childhood and a phantom that has the unlimited powers to break these two lovers apart. He too needs and seeks affection, but his wretched appearance bestow his fate which detains him of his own solitude. Humans fear him and consider him as a "Phantom" and not as a human being, which he is. In the end, there is a sense of sympathy that is understandable for which this phantom had endured.
"The Phantom of the Opera" is a fascinating book. Gaston Leroux doesn't allow the reader to have a clear understanding of the phantom in the Opera, but gives the reader a chance to be an investigator, like Sherlock Holmes, to predict the character of the opera ghost. In the very first chapter, Leroux illustrate how the name of the ghost has already struck fear into people's minds. "...For several months, there had been nothing discussed at the Opera but this ghost in dress clothes who stalked about the building, from the top to bottom, like a shadow...to whom nobody dared speak..."(pg.8). Leroux build the phantom as an assassin, strolling around in the midst of darkness and no one ever dare see or wants to see. It is up for the reader to predict or conclude whether or not the ghost is a villain or a hero.
Not only does the novel have a mystery for the reader to solve, it also incorporates a love story. Christine Dae, a singer who the ghost desires, has affection for her childhood friend, Raoul de chagny, but couldn't endorse any compassion for Raoul, because she was under the ghost's spell. The ghost solemnly seeks Christine for she is his "Angel of Music" and for her to love Raoul would jeopardize his life. The love torn relationship would arise in a conflict that the three, Christine, Raoul, and O.G, are confronted by their feelings and only one would bear Christine's love.
I recommend this book to all ages, because it is a well rounded book that keeps a reader on his toe. Each chapter seems to indulge the reader in predicting the outcome of the story and makes the reader not wanting to stop, but to read on and see what might happen to Christine, Raoul, and the Opera ghost. I was amazed and flabbergasted how the ending had turned out. The ending has a message that is bold in its statement and allows the reader to reflect on life. I give this novel a five.
Book Review: Ghost or Angel?
Summary: 5 Stars
If you are planning to read any novel this coming year, I absolutely reccomend "Phantom of the Opera." It is not just a great love story, it is also a great mystery/thriller, and a gothic romance in the truest sense.
In point of literary value - It has not much. And if I were to judge it by that alone it would hardly be worth reading. I noticed some faults and gaps in the plot(minor though they may be)But this can probably be attributed to the translation. Though I must admit there is not much Character development. We are introduced to some for apparently no reason, some others havn't a name and even some of the principle characters, Raoul de Chagny, M. Richard, M. Moncharmin, are lifeless and their emotions mechanical. Even Christine can fit into that category, Leroux hardly gave her a pesonality. In point of Characterization, and development only three stand to the fore, Madame Giry, the simple-minded box keeper(whom I suspect knew more than anyone supposed), The Persian, who knows Erik's history, and is the only character, besides Christine, to step out of the bounds of prejudice and show poor Erik a little compassion. And then there is Erik, himself, who is the only one who really achieves any level of dimension. He, though thought of as a terrifying monster, actually displays the most humanity, and is in fact much more human than he himself believes. He loves, he hates, he feels jeolousy, sorrow, and every other suffering that mankind is capable of.
And yet there is still something missing. For most of the novel, Erik's actions are completely unexplained, and there is no conversation, no interaction, between him and christine except what Raoul overhears, or what Christine tells him herself. And then there is always the questin of why? why is he who he is? why does he live below the Paris Opera house, yes he is deformed, he is described as looking like a living corpse, yet that information alone i s hardly enough. Leroux attempts to explain some of this away in an unsatisfactory epilouge, which still leaves the reader somewhat in the dark.
Nevertheless, in point of art, in point of imagination and a great original story, in point of displaying the human heart in it's most pathetic form, Leroux is a master. He has that remarkable ability of creating an emotion, a scene and playing upon that to make the story alive, to captivate the reader, and above all he inspires compassion for his hero in a remarkable way.
If you've seen the ALW play, or seen one of the many film versions, and enjoyed it, by all means read this wonderfully, heartbreakingly beautiful story. You won't regret it!
Book Review: The Phantom of the Opera
Summary: 5 Stars
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.
Book Review: Amazing and spellbinding
Summary: 5 Stars
Everyone at one point in their lives has heard of the story of The Phantom of the Opera whether it is the oringal novel version or Andrew Lyod Webber's musical. However this is where it all began with the publication of Leroux's original novel.
I must admit that at first glance the book seems very dry and written more or less from a reporter or journalist's perspective. More or less it reminded me of Bram Stoker's novel Dracula in the fact that many of the areas of the book are written though the point of others. But once you get past seemingly the dry exterior you find an immeasurable cornucopia of amazing characters, events and one of the best literary love's and gothic work of fiction. IT personally took me a good 20 pages before I became completely absorbed in Leroux's rich world of amazing detail.
The story mainly revolves around the Vicomte Raoul de Chagny who has fallen in love with the beautiful Christine Daae who is being haunted by a mysterious "ghost" in her dressing room. The plot moves as anyone would suspect when Christine begins to return the feelings of the Vicomte but then he soon comes to realize that Christine's ghost is real and has a thing or three to say about their relationship.
I found this novel amazing, I read it in one day from the moment I picked it up and nearly had it confiscated when I was reading it in class when I should have been taking notes. There is just so much raw emotion, mystery and love in this amazing story. I could not help but be swept up in it like a tidal wave. The book gives the character of the Phantom, or Erik, so much more depth and emotions than what the ALW version even began to scratch the surface of. No matter who you are, whether or not you support Erik or not, you cannot help but be moved at his attempts to woe Christine and how shallow, yet dangerously innocent she is.
Erik has earned, on my shelf, the award of being one of the best literary characters. His love for Christine is just simply so pure that your sympathy for him is great. This book actually had me moved to tears. Luckily I was in the shelter of my room with the door safely closed so I could cry in peace at the ending. Under normal circumstances, many people see myself as the stone cold person who never cries in movies or books, but this book is the only one that has ever brought tears to my eyes.
I have read it over and over, never once have I ever regreated my purchess in any way, shape, manor or fashion. I highly recomend this to every soul on earth.
Book Review: One of the Earliest One of the best!
Summary: 5 Stars
Originally written in 1910, Leroux's novel became one of the precursors of the modern-day detective novel with a mixture of adventure, romance and some terrifying sequences. It's also a swift and engaging read, making it easy for adolescents who don't like to read to get into.The novel deals with the employees and the patrons of the Paris Opera House and their interactions with the legendary Opera Ghost, a spiteful spirit who haunts the catacombs beneath the theatre. The heroine of the story, a young chorus member named Christine Daae, becomes the focus of the Phantom's obsession, and he seduces her under the guise of the Angel of Music. As the story progresses, The Phantom, who is actually a deranged young man named Eric, increases the viciousness and frequency of his acts, and Christine finds herself in the grip of a disfigured madman. The final scenes of the novel show Christine's love, the brave Raoul, descending to the bowels of the catacomb with the help of the mysterious Persian, to save his kidnapped love.
The themes of the novel are universal: love, obsession, madness, desire, sacrifice. It is at both times a tale of evil insanity in the form of Eric and his heinous actions, and innocent romance as can be seen in the childlike actions of Christine and Raoul. There are elements of the detective novel, of the pulps of the thirties and forties and even a maze of traps that for some reason reminds me of the "Goonies." The attitude towards the Phantom is also one of interest, Leroux originally painted his monster as a man stretched to insanity by the scorn of those he once loved, while in Webber's musical, the Phantom takes on a more darkly mystical apparition. This gives a more human and pitiable aspect to the Opera Ghost that was somewhat lacking in the musical interpretation.
Overall the novel is an exciting and engaging read. The writing may be simplistic but that doesn't detract from the effectiveness of the tale at all. Even years after first reading it, I still enjoy rereading it when the mood visits me, and I'm always left satisfied afterwards. But try it for yourself. Pick up a copy! Another book I need to recommend -- completely unrelated to Paris or any Opera Ghost, but very much on my mind since I purchased a "used" copy off Amazon is "The Losers' Club: Complete Restored Edition," an engaging, highly entertaining, funny little novel I can't stop thinking about.