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: A Masterpiece That Is Still Popular A Century Later
Summary: 5 Stars
From the very beginning of the book, Leroux masterly pulls the reader into the plot. Through the dialogue of minor characters, the petite ballerinas, the reader learns of the terrible, ugly Opera Ghost who has been making unexpected appearances in the hall of the Paris Opera for the past couple of months.
When Leroux introduces the major characters, Christine and Raoul, he further enhances the persona of the controversial Opera Ghost. While through the eyes of the petite ballerinas the Opera Ghost was nothing short of a menace, through the eyes of Christine and Raoul we learn the real story of the ghost-a disfigured but talented man, who is never really accepted by society.
Through his meetings with Christine, the Opera Ghost shows himself to have quite humane emotions, like compassion, sincerity, and love. Ultimately, the Opera Ghost also earns the reader's sympathy. He lacks the good looks, so he uses the only thing he has-his beautiful voice-to infatuate Christine. Nevertheless, when the Opera Ghost doubts Christine and her love for him, he again turns threatening.
Through various intervening passages, the Ghost gains a symbolic meaning. His role of the outcast of the exclusive Parisian society of the 1870s, sharply counteracts the role of his rival Raoul, who is the ideal Prince Charming from the high ranks of society.
Overall, the book is well written. Leroux's style of writing is very interesting. To depict the Opera Ghost in a variety of ways, he often switches narratives between the inhabitants of the Opera. After reading all of those vivid descriptions, it is hard to doubt Leroux's pledge that the Ghost really existed. However, the reader is the ultimate judge.
Book Review: Unusual and moving...
Summary: 5 Stars
I just recently got the Wordsworth unabridged edition, so I don't know how different it is... but oh, it was fantastic! I am a huge fan of the soundtrack of Phantom of the Opera, circa Andrew Lloyd Webber, and I have also read and enjoyed Phantom by Susan Kay. I think these added great depth to the experience of reading the original version here, and I definately recommend them. Kay's Phantom provides background and character to Erik (the Phantom), while the musical provides not only good background music while reading, but also puts a voice, face, and pronounciation to the characters (as it is translated from french). But on to Leroux's version. I thought this was the most ingenious way of writing Phantom of the Opera, and even now I'm not sure how much is real and how much he elaborated! Leroux wrote this book in the style of an investigation, with details and police reports and interviews, and included the Persian's narrative parts that took over for the climax, adding personality and humanity to the novel.
I found this an exciting read, and an interesting and different viewpoint to read a story from, as it is thrid person (like an observer, no thoughts heard) so this added to the importance of the actions of the characters. I felt this novel was a good length (rather short) and definately incrediable. I had a little trouble following all the descriptions of passages and corridors of the Paris Opera House, but I must go and visit it now to figure it out ;) There was much detail and it seemed like there was much accuracy too... so if this was pure fiction, it was written so well I could not tell.
I love this novel, and it definately belongs with the classics.
Book Review: Love unto madness
Summary: 5 Stars
I read the book without ever having seen any of the plays or movies based on the book, so I cannot compare this to the modern retellings of it. I must say that if some of the previous reviewers are correct and the movies are much better than the book, they must be very spectacular indeed. I am inclined to think that they are simply biased toward the version they first saw, just people who have read a book which a movie is based off of like the book better simply because it is the version they first loved.
As to claims that this is poorly written and that Leroux simply provides the framework for future authors to build upon, I assume that the people who say this will say that books like the Iliad are the same way. They are simply upset that Leroux does not write in the manner that they are used to. Part of the appeal of the book is that it is written almost as a penny dreadful. I think that it simply adds to the story. If it is not realistic enough for you, then perhaps you had better stick to contemporary novels, for if you think like a previous reviewer that it is odd that the main characters can have a conversation while searching the tunnels for the phantom, then I cannot imagine what you will think of Frodo and Sam talking on the way up Mount Doom.
I found this to be a very enjoyable book, full of love, death, horror, and courage. The Phantom loves Christine yet cannot have her, and is driven to madness. The mad Phantom becomes the book's antagonist, yet all the while Leroux is trying to lead the reader to pity him rather than hate him. Definitely an intruiging book.
Overall grade: A
Book Review: The One and Only
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm always a bit wary about reading classics. Because they are classics, they've inherently had movies, productions, and television specials produced using that story over and over and over again, that anything that could possibly be done with that story has...and then some! (Just the fact that Andrew Loyd Webber's musical version is used as the books logo now proves my case.)But I refused to let that stop me when it came to PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. The Phantom has always been my favorite of the "classic monsters" because, in point of fact, he is no such thing. Unlike the Wolf-man, Dracula, or Frankinstein's monster, the Phantom is all too human. A human who is unhappy with his body and the way society has treated. What geek can't relate to that?
I enjoyed this book. It's difficult to get past the lack of sensationalism these older books always have in their writing style. It's written as if it were a research paper, but that was the author's intent, to make the story seem like it could have actually happened. Once you get past that however (something which took me all of a chapter to do), the book becomes quite enthralling, and is a very quick read.
What may surprise some people (not me because someone already told me to expect this), is that the amount of actual time spent covering the "real" Phantom is minimal. But I suppose that's the point. You can't have a mysterious character if the reader knows everything about him.
All in all, an excellent read for any true Phantom of the Opera fan. In fact, how could you call yourself a fan if you've never read the book, eh?
Book Review: The original Phantom
Summary: 5 Stars
Before the Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical, there was Gaston Leroux's original novel "The Phantom of the Opera". I have never seen the production stage, and I knew only a few things of the story, so when I reached the middle of the narrative I was surprised because it is totally different from what I expected. And it was a great surprise.
More than a love story, "The Phantom of the Opera" is a gothic tale of obsession --leading to madness. The Paris Opera House and its hidden rooms, and underground are perfect place to develop a horror story. Leroux noticed this potential. His descriptions of the place are creepy and in the end we start wondering if it is not a true story indeed.
Leroux was very smart, writing a novel like he was only reporting something --and not creating a work of fiction. Therefore there are police reports, newspapers' scraps, witness interviews. More than a narrator, the person who is telling the story is only gathering useful information for the reader.
His characters are real human beings --even the `ghost', than throughout the narrative we realize that he is the one with most human characteristics. Sometimes, Christine is a little stereotypical, mostly when she says she wants to be `the mistress of her faith' or something like it. And so is Raoul --but that doesn't diminish the qualities of this engaging novel.
All in all, this is a French classic that I highly recommend --however one must be patient because the narrative is a little confusing and slow sometimes, but never boring.