Title: The Phantom of the Opera
Author: Gaston Leroux
My thoughts:
Before I commence with this review, there is something that must be done. We all know this can’t be avoided, don’t we…
DAAAAAAAAAAA! DA-DA-DA-DA-DUNNNNNNNNNN!
I feel better already. Now, on with the review!
The actual novel is my only experience with The Phantom of the Opera. Though (as you can obviously tell from above) I have heard a couple of the songs from the musical, I have not seen the musical in its entirety, nor have I seen any film adaptations. So this review is based purely on the book, and is not tainted by any prejudices from seeing the musical or a movie version.
Instead of my usual style of review (rambling on about different characters and such), I would rather focus on the message and heart behind The Phantom of the Opera. Regarding the characters, I will simply say the only character I am even slightly drawn to like is the Phantom himself. Christine annoys me, and Raoul… oh, don’t even get me started on that whining, simpering, sobbing little boy.
The Phantom of the Opera explores the deep, innate desire in every human to love and be loved. This desire is displayed in the three main characters: Christine, Raoul, and of course, the Phantom (for some reason, I prefer calling him that over “Erik”). After the death of her father, Christine longs to be loved, specifically by the “Angel of Music” her father promised he would send. Raoul wants nothing else than to love Christine and for her to love him. And the Phantom… the wonderful, tragic, horrible Phantom. After his parents abandoned him and the world rejected him, all he wants is to be like everyone else, to love and be loved for who he is.
The Phantom mentions several times that his only desire was to be like everyone else. He wanted to have a wife, to be distinguished, and to be accepted into society. But because of his disfigured face, he was scorned. He was repulsive and disgusting, and everyone made sure he knew it. I find it sad that that is exactly how it is today. If someone isn’t beautiful and perfect by the world’s standards, they aren’t considered important or noteworthy. They aren’t worth loving. If they don’t look beautiful, then they aren’t beautiful.
The Phantom was a musical genius. He had a heart of gold. But the world cursed him for his ugliness. And that beautiful heart melted away into bitter stone. He buried himself in the depths of the Opera house cellars and terrorized the theater-goers. By the end of his life, the Phantom was horrible, violent, and cruel. At first glance, we may be inclined to despise him for it.
But can we? After all, he only gave back to the world what the world had given him. Terror. Mockery. Tragedy.
To be honest, however, until the very last chapter, I am not at all endeared to the Phantom, not because of his face, but because of his cruelty, manipulation, and violence. But the last chapter explains his motives, his desires, his needs, and that’s when my opinion of him makes a complete turn-around. I pity him. I still don’t agree with all his methods, but I pity him dreadfully. My heart aches for him. If just one person in the world had loved him, he would have been an entirely different person.
“Poor, unhappy Erik! Shall we pity him? Shall we curse him? He asked only to be ‘some one,’ like everybody else. But he was too ugly! And he had to hide his genius, or use it to play tricks with, when, with an ordinary face, he would have been one of the most distinguished of mankind! He had a heart that could have held the empire of the world; and, in the end, he had to content himself with a cellar. Ah, yes, we must needs pity the Opera Ghost.” – The Epilogue
The Phantom of the Opera is one of those books everyone should read not for the story or the characters, but rather for the message it teaches. So is that why I enjoy The Phantom of the Opera? Yes. Because it reminds me to love unconditionally, regardless of how someone may look on the outside.
My rating: 7.0 out of 10
Would I read it again: Yes!
country girl
I saw a Christian version of this movie, in a play.. And it made it soo much better!
Ahhhhhhhhhhhh, my favoritest evah musical. (Don’t see the movie.PLEASE.
See the concert version. Please. If you’re going to see it, see it RIGHT. Preparing now for the five million movie-loving comments.) Anyway. I read the book about two years ago post-musical-obsession and LOVED it. So good, and a great back-story-filler for the musical lovers, but also fantastic on its own.
HOWEVAH! I happen to be a Raoul-of-the-musical lover, and prepare now for the Phantom/Christine vs. Raoul/Christine debates. Anyway. I think he really did love Christine, she loved him, AND it was the right choice. As pitiful as the Phantom was (and believe me, NOTHING can melt a heart of stone like Michael Crawford’s final lair scene…look up a bootleg on YouTube, it’s heartbreaking), I don’t think that a relationship with him would have been right or healthy for Christine. So there’s my two cents. I can really elaborate if anyone ever wants to hear.
Anyway. I can go on and on and on on this subject, but to cut it short…so, so much amazingness. And don’t watch the movie.
The end.
Oh, I really don’t think Christine and the Phantom should have married or anything. ‘Cause let’s face it, he was just kind of crazy, right? But he did deserve love, for sure.
Ummmm… I have to say that from what little I’ve heard of Michael Crawford… I’m not hugely impressed. But I’ll probably still look that up one day.
If I ever watch the concert, I will definitely watch the 25th anniversary because, uh, I really cannot stand Sarah Brightman’s voice. 
And I’d rather sit and watch Ramin Karimloo and Sierra Bourgess’s amazingness.
asldkfjs oh this kills me, but I actually didn’t read your review because I haven’t read the book yet and I want to. however, I fell in love with the movie adaptation of the musical, and as you may or may not know, saw the show on the west end with jess last summer! (seriously go check out the movie now.) but yeah I still need to read the book. that’s all I got. the end.
Goodness. I would LOVE for my first Phantom of the Opera musical experience to be LIVE… on the West End. Or Broadway. Either one would be okay by me.
I also haven’t seen the movie…yet….or read the book. Not sure what to think about the story…from what you said it sounds almost like Frankenstein; (Have you read that?) I didn’t like the book at all, for many reasons, but especially because the monster basically blamed his horrible crimes on everyone who had despised and rejected him. I don’t know if that’s what the Phantom is like…I hope not! What do you think?
I have read Frankenstein, and it’s just amazing. It’s on my Classics Club list to read again soon. I can see some similarities between the two stories, but they are very different in a lot of ways. Uh, I don’t recall the Phantom specifically blaming his wicked ways on anyone, but I could be wrong.
I’ve seen the Gerard Butler/Emmy Rossum movie and loved it – it’s always the one you see first that becomes your favourite, right? The music? Oh…it was incredible! You’ve sold me on the book. I must give it a read sometime!
I don’t think it’s ever wise for a girl to marry a guy on the foolish notion that she can improve him, but I would dearly like to know what would have become of the Phantom if Christine had married him. Would he have become more and more gentle and normal? Or have the years of bitterness and hate twisted him past the the point of no return?
SO. Your new sidebar picture is GAWHGEOUS.
I own a copy of this book, but for one reason or another I’ve never felt like it was the right time for me to read it. Your review makes me itch to pick it up (it’s still not the right time, but I can feel that moment creeping ever closer!). It sounds like a heartbreaking book, though, so I might save it for a quiet weekend. A quiet weekend with Pink Floyd, lots of chocolate and plenty of tissues.
Dear Petie,
Wouldn’t having your first Phantom time be a live West End show be DIVINE? But the 25th anniversary DVD with Ramin and Sierra is, most definitely, the next best thing. They are absolutely PHANtastic together, and though I am a proclaimed anti-Raoul person, Hadley Fraser makes the closest thing to a sweet Raoul that there is. Plus, most of the rest of the cast is simply phenomenal as well.
I really like this book, and thank you for such delightful review. =]