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Summary: the beginning of an era
Review: I think I was about ten when I first read Gaston Leroux's Phanotm of the Opera and loved it. It was that book that got me hooked on the story and mystery of Erik. I've never seen Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom but I've had to replace the cast recording five times so far because I listen to it so much. Another perspective on Erik that is very real and much more personable then Leroux's in my opinion. I was in middles school when the TV miniseries came out with Charles Dance as Erik and thought it was pretty good in it's overall telling of the story. Then got a copy of Susan Kay's Phantom and have read that book in 48 hours every three to six months. I can't but it down once I start it. And all these different renditions of Erik's story would not have been made possible if it hadn't been for the original Gaston Leroux novel which opened the door for a lot of us and left the unanswered questions that were the basis of Susan Kay's version of the book. Thank you Gaston Leroux for Erik.
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Summary: Chilling ending & Phantom makes up for a lack of intensity
Review: For some reason, I did not feel the powerful effect of the Phantom as other reviewers did and that would be one of the very few negatives. I'm not sure if it was me or the book, but the ending was a great one and I wish more of the book featured that same kind of adrenaline rush. One great device Leroux used was switching the perspectives - one chapter is told through the eyes of Rauol and then the next is through the eyes of the Persian while overall we are being told the story as a case study. Maybe I was influenced by the fact that there were movies and musicals made out of this because though it did not tell the story as well or as in great detail, they set the mood so well. You're enchanted and haunted by this mysterious character. I think that was lacking from the book - seeing Raoul crying and whining so much about something just made me roll my eyes because I could not feel that emotion. Same thing with Christine and the two stage-managers acting like bumbling fools and astonished at everything. "Opera Ghost"? Oh no. Definitely enjoyable book - but more of a detective/Sherlock Holmes story with much more detail.
Rating: 
Summary: Superb
Review: Unlike most people, I read this book long before I ever saw the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, and it is one of my favourites to this day. I was first introduced to the story through a slightly abridged for children's version of the novel at the age of 12. I still have that book, but I decided that the time had come to read the original novel. The major difference between this (unabridged) version of the text and most edited versions is that the Phantom has a much darker side than is ordinarily shown, either in books or in the show. Leroux wrote him as a love-struck genius, with a much more sinister side. Yes, Erik loves Christine Daae with a passion, but he is still willing to hurt her to achieve his own ends. The original version of the novel also shows Erik as a cold-blooded murderer, as well as a musical genius. The manner in which he dupes Christine into believing he is the Angel of Music, his terrible treatment of Raoul and Philippe de Chagny and his complete refusal to adhere to normal socially acceptable mores all combine to make Erik far more dark-natured than most people realise. The most delightful aspect of this novel is the fact that it goes into far more detail about Erik's past than any other version of the story I've come across. It also tells us exactly who the Persian is and how he came to know Erik. This is a delightful book and should be read by all, especially fans of the musical who profess to know the story but have never read the book. However, I would implore people not to read Susan Kay's "Phantom" as it is simply a piece of fan fiction along the same lines of Laura Kalpakian's "Cosette" and any further detail about Erik's life that she goes into is purely speculation on her part.
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Summary: They made a musical out of this?!!
Review: I saw the Phantom of the Opera about 3 years ago. It was my first and only musical, and I was thoroughly unimpressed. I came upon this book in the classics section of a bookstore, and lacking any reading material at the moment, I bought it on a whim. While the first fifty pages gave a false sense of an artsy motif, the rest of the book proved to be the quintessential horror book. How Andrew Lloyd Webber could make a musical out of a character so wicked, so amazingly brilliant and sinister is beyond me. It?s like a remake of Dracula where he goes on stage and starts break-dancing. It just doesn?t work. Despite the somewhat antiquated language (early 20th century, lots of passive sentences), the portrayal of the Opera Ghost is fantastic. The phantom is gradually exposed as to what he really is as the book progresses, ending in a dramatic rescue sequence. This book is like a combination of the Pit and the Pendulum and Dracula. Haunting, entertaining, and fast paced, it?s a shame that this book is more famous for its stage production than for its horror and imagination. If you?re looking for a complement to the musical, pass on this book. If you?re looking for a great horror and suspense novel, then I definitely recommend this book.
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Summary: The Trap Door Lover,the punjab lasso,the red death...
Review: The Phantom of the Opera is my favorite piece of literature.Gaston Leroux had a good mind when he wrote it.It's popular world wide,and it inspired many films,like The Phantom of the Opera(1925,which I also favor),and it inspired Andrew Loyd Webber's musical.I couldn't believe Erik was dying at the end of the novel.Gaston Leroux has gone down in history with his great novel,which is more than 1 genre.It's a combination of Suspense,horror,romance,and drama.For anyone who coiled in terror at Lon Chaney's make-up,or screamed when they saw what Claude Raines' Phantom did,this is a must read.It's a great masterpiece.And if you like the Phantom,I also recommend Frankenstein by Mary Shelley,and Dracula by Bram Stoker.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing, there's nothing like it.
Review: This is simply an amazing story. It's got everything; mystery, romance, action/adventure and most of all horror! Gaston's style of writing is just simply original. I now know why it's such a beloved classic. The Phantom of the Opera is a must read for any book lover.
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Summary: One of My Favorite Books - Phantom Fan
Review: This is one of the best books I have ever read. It is astounding and horrible to think that this book has ever been out of print. Gaston Leroux is brilliant in descriptions and views into the character's minds. He gives an emotional and human view of the unloved erick/phantom as well as showing his clever maliciousness. This is the original book on which all plays, movies, re-writes, etc. are/were based. A wonderful book that tells a story of love, horror and mystery. If you like any of the plays, movies, etc. READ THIS BOOK! Also strongly recommended is Susan Kay's "Phantom", George Perry's The Complete Phantom of the Opera, The Andrew Loyd Webber musical cast recording and the Lon Chaney movie of 1925.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Book
Review: I love the book, The Phantom of the Opera. I haven't finished it but I am far through it. I am 11 and I like the book. You may think,oh 360 pages,I'm not going to read it. But that isn't the issue with this book. This book is good for all ages. Once you pick it up, you can't stop reading. That's how it works with me.
Rating:
Summary: A Must Read!
Review: From reading the opening chapter I was confused by the number of character names alone, that's all it seemed to be, a bunch of names and I was having trouble following the story. As I went deeper into the book, the plot started to form and the main story was focusing on certain people so it was a lot easier to follow. The language the book used was very surprising as it seemed very modern with hints of sarcasm and humour appearing regularly. What really kept me interested though was the amount of mysteries that opened up; every chapter seemed to raise a new question that made me want to read the next.
Rating:
Summary: GREAT!
Review: This book is really good. The plot and charcters thicken as it goes on. The way the author pictures Eric's love for Christine is amazing. It is a book everyone should own. The main people are very well pictured and very interesting. Though it doen't go well with the musical it is still an amazing read.
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