Reviews

I love the musical The Phantom of the Opera and have always wanted to read the book. The book and the musical are very different from each other, but there are some similarities. I am very much team Raoul in the book, and the book makes it hard for anyone to root for Erik.

I do like the musical a lot more than I like the book for several reasons. I love the theatricality and the music in the musical. You get to see a lot more of Christine, the Phantom, and several of the characters that I love in the musical. The plot line/drama of the musical is more entertaining to me. Raoul and Christine's relationship is better in the musical.

Things I liked about the book: I loved getting to see the origins of my favorite musical of all time, you get to see much more of Raoul in the book, and it was entertaining.

Things I didn't like about the book: it didn't live up to the expectations I had because the musical is amazing.

Overall, entertaining read that is surprisingly easy to read for when it was written. I recommend for anyone who loves the musical and is interested in seeing what the book is like.

sarabearian's review against another edition

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In this dark and twisted tale of love and anguish, young singer Christine Daae suddenly transforms from bland chorus-girl to triumphant opera star. Her success is mysterious, but even more so is her inexplicable innability to even acknowledge her relationship with childhood sweetheart, Raoul. Not one to be brushed off so easily, Raoul seeks answers to Christine's vacillating declarations of love and warnings of doom. The answer he finds is horrifying and pitiful, resting in the shadow behind the door, the voice in the walls -- the Phantom. Vivid and fast-paced, this novel will please fans of the musical and the casual reader alike.

--Karen H.