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卮亘丨 丕倬乇丕蹖 倬丕乇蹖爻
芦卮亘丨蹖鈥屫必� 讴賴 丿乇 丕蹖賳鈥屭┴ж� 賳卮丕賳 丿丕丿賴 賲蹖鈥屫促堌� 卮丕賲賱 鬲賲丕賲 亘乇丿丕卮鬲鈥屬囏й� 诏賵賳丕诏賵賳 丕夭 丕蹖賳鈥屫簇帝屫� 丿乇 丿賵賯乇賳 丕禺蹖乇 丕爻鬲 賵 亘丿蹖賴蹖 丕爻鬲鈥屭┵� 賲丿蹖賵賳 丌賮乇蹖賳賳丿踿 賳禺爻鬲蹖賳 丌賳貙 賱賵乇賵貙 丕爻鬲. 丕賱亘鬲賾賴 丿诏乇诏賵賳蹖 賵 鬲睾蹖蹖乇卮讴賱 鬲丕丌賳噩丕 讴賴 亘丕 胤乇賾丕丨蹖 鬲禺蹖賾賱 賲賳 賴賲丕賴賳诏 亘丕卮丿貙 賳丕诏夭蹖乇 亘賵丿. 卮禺氐蹖鬲 丕賮爻丕賳賴鈥屫й� 丿丕乇丕蹖 噩匕賾丕亘蹖賾鬲蹖 賲爻丨賵乇讴賳賳丿賴 丕爻鬲鈥屭┵� 夭賲丕賳 賳賲蹖鈥屫促嗀ж池� 賵 賲賳 鬲乇丿蹖丿 賳丿丕乇賲鈥屭┵� 賮乇丕蹖賳丿 亘乇丿丕卮鬲鈥屬囏й� 賳賵 丕夭丌賳貙 丿乇 賯乇賳鈥屬囏й� 丌蹖賳丿賴 賳蹖夭 丕丿丕賲賴鈥屫堌з囏屫з佖�.禄 _爻賵夭丕賳 讴蹖
499 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1990
366 people are currently reading
15k people want to read
About the author
Susan Kay
2听books163听followersSusan Kay (b. 1953) is a writer.
She is most known for her book, Phantom, which expands upon the history of Erik, the character from Gaston Leroux's The Phantom of the Opera, in an episodic format of seven chapters from different characters' points of view.
Susan Kay did not travel to Iran to research the novel, although she did research in person at the Paris Opera House.
Her first novel was Legacy, about the life of Queen Elizabeth I and won a Georgette Heyer Historical Novel Prize and a Betty Trask Award in 1985.
She worked as a primary school teacher until leaving to bring up a family, and now lives with her husband and two children in Cheshire.
She is most known for her book, Phantom, which expands upon the history of Erik, the character from Gaston Leroux's The Phantom of the Opera, in an episodic format of seven chapters from different characters' points of view.
Susan Kay did not travel to Iran to research the novel, although she did research in person at the Paris Opera House.
Her first novel was Legacy, about the life of Queen Elizabeth I and won a Georgette Heyer Historical Novel Prize and a Betty Trask Award in 1985.
She worked as a primary school teacher until leaving to bring up a family, and now lives with her husband and two children in Cheshire.
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May 7, 2022
Fantom, de L'Opera = Phantom of the Opera, Susan Kay
Phantom is a 1990 novel by Susan Kay, based on the Gaston Leroux novel The Phantom of the Opera. It is a biography of the title character, Erik.
鬲丕乇蹖禺 賳禺爻鬲蹖賳 禺賵丕賳卮: 亘蹖爻鬲 賵 爻賵賲 賲丕賴 丕讴鬲亘乇 爻丕賱1999賲蹖賱丕丿蹖
鬲賵囟蹖丨: 芦卮亘丨 丕倬乇丕禄 丕孬乇: 芦诏丕爻鬲賵賳 賱賵乇賵禄 賲蹖亘丕卮丿 讴賴 亘丕 鬲乇噩賲賴 噩賳丕亘 丌賯丕蹖 賲乇鬲囟蹖 丌噩賵丿丕賳蹖貙 賳卮乇 讴鬲丕亘賴丕蹖 噩蹖亘蹖 丿乇 爻丕賱1343賴噩乇蹖 禺賵乇卮蹖丿蹖 丌賳 乇丕 賲賳鬲卮乇 卮丿賴貙 丕蹖賳 丕孬乇 賲賱賴賲 丕夭 丌賳 丕孬乇 丕爻鬲
毓賳賵丕賳: 卮亘丨 丕倬乇丕蹖 倬丕乇蹖爻貨 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴: 爻賵夭丕賳 讴蹖貨 賲鬲乇噩賲: 賲賱蹖丨賴 賲丨賲丿蹖貨 鬲賴乇丕賳貙 賳卮乇 趩卮賲賴貙 爻丕賱1377貨 丿乇499氐貨 卮丕亘讴9645571057貨 趩丕倬 丿賵賲 爻丕賱1378貨 趩丕倬 爻賵賲 爻丕賱1385貨 卮丕亘讴9789645571052貨 趩丕倬 倬賳噩賲 爻丕賱1390貨 趩丕倬 卮卮賲 爻丕賱1393貨 賲賵囟賵毓: 卮禺氐蹖鬲 丿丕爻鬲丕賳蹖 卮亘丨 丕倬乇丕貨 爻丿賴20賲
爻賵夭丕賳 讴蹖貙 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴 讴鬲丕亘 賲蹖诏賵蹖賳丿: (卮亘丨蹖 讴賴 丿乇 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 賳卮丕賳 丿丕丿賴 卮丿賴貙 卮丕賲賱 鬲賲丕賲 亘乇丿丕卮鬲鈥屬囏й� 诏賵賳丕诏賵賳 丕夭 卮禺氐蹖鬲 卮亘丨 丿乇 丿賵 爻丿賴 蹖 丕禺蹖乇 丕爻鬲貙 賵 亘丿蹖賴蹖 爻鬲 讴賴 賲丿蹖賵賳 丌賮乇蹖賳賳丿賴鈥� 蹖 賳禺爻鬲蹖賳 丌賳 芦诏丕爻鬲賵賳 賱賵乇賵禄 丕爻鬲貨 丕賱亘鬲賴 丿诏乇诏賵賳蹖 賵 鬲睾蹖蹖乇 卮讴賱 鬲丕 丌賳噩丕 讴賴 亘丕 胤乇丕丨蹖 鬲禺蹖賱 賲賳 賴賲丕賴賳诏 亘丕卮丿 賳丕诏夭蹖乇 亘賵丿貨 卮禺氐蹖鬲 丕賮爻丕賳賴 丕蹖 丿丕乇丕蹖 噩匕丕亘蹖鬲蹖 賲爻丨賵乇 讴賳賳丿賴 丕爻鬲貙 讴賴 夭賲丕賳 賳賲蹖卮賳丕爻丿貙 賵 賲賳 鬲乇丿蹖丿 賳丿丕乇賲 讴賴 賮乇丌蹖賳丿 亘乇丿丕卮鬲鈥屬囏й� 賳賵 丕夭 丌賳貙 丿乇 爻丿賴 鈥屬囏й� 丌蹖賳丿賴 賳蹖夭 丕丿丕賲賴 禺賵丕賴丿 蹖丕賮鬲) 倬丕蹖丕賳 賳賯賱
丿乇 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 倬蹖卮 丕夭 鬲賵賱丿 芦卮亘丨 (丕乇蹖讴)禄 丌睾丕夭貙 賵 丕夭 夭亘丕賳 趩賳丿 鬲賳 賵 禺賵丿 芦丕乇蹖讴禄貙 丿賵乇丕賳賴丕蹖 夭賳丿诏蹖鈥� 丕蹖卮丕賳 亘丕夭诏賵 賲蹖鈥屫促堎嗀� 賯爻賲鬲蹖 丕夭 丕蹖賳 乇賵丕蹖鬲 乇丕 卮禺氐蹖 芦丕蹖乇丕賳蹖禄貙 亘賴 賳丕賲 芦賳丕丿乇禄 丕賳噩丕賲 賲蹖鈥屫囏� 芦丕乇蹖讴禄 丿乇 亘禺卮蹖 丕夭 夭賳丿诏蹖 禺賵蹖卮 丿乇 芦丕蹖乇丕賳 (丿賵乇丕賳 賳丕氐乇丕賱丿蹖賳 卮丕賴 賵 丕賲蹖乇讴亘蹖乇)禄 夭賳丿诏蹖 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁嗀� 賵丕賵蹖賱丕貨 丕賱亘鬲賴 卮禺氐蹖鬲卮 丿賱趩爻亘 亘賵丿貨
鬲丕乇蹖禺 亘賴賳诏丕賲 乇爻丕賳蹖 05/04/1399賴噩乇蹖 禺賵乇卮蹖丿蹖貨 16/02/1401賴噩乇蹖 禺賵乇卮蹖丿蹖貨 丕. 卮乇亘蹖丕賳蹖
Phantom is a 1990 novel by Susan Kay, based on the Gaston Leroux novel The Phantom of the Opera. It is a biography of the title character, Erik.
鬲丕乇蹖禺 賳禺爻鬲蹖賳 禺賵丕賳卮: 亘蹖爻鬲 賵 爻賵賲 賲丕賴 丕讴鬲亘乇 爻丕賱1999賲蹖賱丕丿蹖
鬲賵囟蹖丨: 芦卮亘丨 丕倬乇丕禄 丕孬乇: 芦诏丕爻鬲賵賳 賱賵乇賵禄 賲蹖亘丕卮丿 讴賴 亘丕 鬲乇噩賲賴 噩賳丕亘 丌賯丕蹖 賲乇鬲囟蹖 丌噩賵丿丕賳蹖貙 賳卮乇 讴鬲丕亘賴丕蹖 噩蹖亘蹖 丿乇 爻丕賱1343賴噩乇蹖 禺賵乇卮蹖丿蹖 丌賳 乇丕 賲賳鬲卮乇 卮丿賴貙 丕蹖賳 丕孬乇 賲賱賴賲 丕夭 丌賳 丕孬乇 丕爻鬲
毓賳賵丕賳: 卮亘丨 丕倬乇丕蹖 倬丕乇蹖爻貨 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴: 爻賵夭丕賳 讴蹖貨 賲鬲乇噩賲: 賲賱蹖丨賴 賲丨賲丿蹖貨 鬲賴乇丕賳貙 賳卮乇 趩卮賲賴貙 爻丕賱1377貨 丿乇499氐貨 卮丕亘讴9645571057貨 趩丕倬 丿賵賲 爻丕賱1378貨 趩丕倬 爻賵賲 爻丕賱1385貨 卮丕亘讴9789645571052貨 趩丕倬 倬賳噩賲 爻丕賱1390貨 趩丕倬 卮卮賲 爻丕賱1393貨 賲賵囟賵毓: 卮禺氐蹖鬲 丿丕爻鬲丕賳蹖 卮亘丨 丕倬乇丕貨 爻丿賴20賲
爻賵夭丕賳 讴蹖貙 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴 讴鬲丕亘 賲蹖诏賵蹖賳丿: (卮亘丨蹖 讴賴 丿乇 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 賳卮丕賳 丿丕丿賴 卮丿賴貙 卮丕賲賱 鬲賲丕賲 亘乇丿丕卮鬲鈥屬囏й� 诏賵賳丕诏賵賳 丕夭 卮禺氐蹖鬲 卮亘丨 丿乇 丿賵 爻丿賴 蹖 丕禺蹖乇 丕爻鬲貙 賵 亘丿蹖賴蹖 爻鬲 讴賴 賲丿蹖賵賳 丌賮乇蹖賳賳丿賴鈥� 蹖 賳禺爻鬲蹖賳 丌賳 芦诏丕爻鬲賵賳 賱賵乇賵禄 丕爻鬲貨 丕賱亘鬲賴 丿诏乇诏賵賳蹖 賵 鬲睾蹖蹖乇 卮讴賱 鬲丕 丌賳噩丕 讴賴 亘丕 胤乇丕丨蹖 鬲禺蹖賱 賲賳 賴賲丕賴賳诏 亘丕卮丿 賳丕诏夭蹖乇 亘賵丿貨 卮禺氐蹖鬲 丕賮爻丕賳賴 丕蹖 丿丕乇丕蹖 噩匕丕亘蹖鬲蹖 賲爻丨賵乇 讴賳賳丿賴 丕爻鬲貙 讴賴 夭賲丕賳 賳賲蹖卮賳丕爻丿貙 賵 賲賳 鬲乇丿蹖丿 賳丿丕乇賲 讴賴 賮乇丌蹖賳丿 亘乇丿丕卮鬲鈥屬囏й� 賳賵 丕夭 丌賳貙 丿乇 爻丿賴 鈥屬囏й� 丌蹖賳丿賴 賳蹖夭 丕丿丕賲賴 禺賵丕賴丿 蹖丕賮鬲) 倬丕蹖丕賳 賳賯賱
丿乇 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 倬蹖卮 丕夭 鬲賵賱丿 芦卮亘丨 (丕乇蹖讴)禄 丌睾丕夭貙 賵 丕夭 夭亘丕賳 趩賳丿 鬲賳 賵 禺賵丿 芦丕乇蹖讴禄貙 丿賵乇丕賳賴丕蹖 夭賳丿诏蹖鈥� 丕蹖卮丕賳 亘丕夭诏賵 賲蹖鈥屫促堎嗀� 賯爻賲鬲蹖 丕夭 丕蹖賳 乇賵丕蹖鬲 乇丕 卮禺氐蹖 芦丕蹖乇丕賳蹖禄貙 亘賴 賳丕賲 芦賳丕丿乇禄 丕賳噩丕賲 賲蹖鈥屫囏� 芦丕乇蹖讴禄 丿乇 亘禺卮蹖 丕夭 夭賳丿诏蹖 禺賵蹖卮 丿乇 芦丕蹖乇丕賳 (丿賵乇丕賳 賳丕氐乇丕賱丿蹖賳 卮丕賴 賵 丕賲蹖乇讴亘蹖乇)禄 夭賳丿诏蹖 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁嗀� 賵丕賵蹖賱丕貨 丕賱亘鬲賴 卮禺氐蹖鬲卮 丿賱趩爻亘 亘賵丿貨
鬲丕乇蹖禺 亘賴賳诏丕賲 乇爻丕賳蹖 05/04/1399賴噩乇蹖 禺賵乇卮蹖丿蹖貨 16/02/1401賴噩乇蹖 禺賵乇卮蹖丿蹖貨 丕. 卮乇亘蹖丕賳蹖
January 12, 2021
Susan Kay's Phantom is the unbelievably tragic and dramatic story of novel character Erik from the Phantom of the Opera by (Gaston Leroux). Susan Kay has written a terrific novel. Content and Lyrics are very impressive. "The Phantom" is written exciting and entertaining and full of beautiful and wise sentences as well as rousing passages. The book is impressive from the first page.
Conclusion: It is an exciting, fascinating but also sad novel, which I can recommend anyone who is interested in the phantom of the opera.
"Dieses Gesicht, das mir alle Rechte eines Mannes genommen hat, befreit mich auch von allen Verpflichtungen gegen眉ber der menschlichen Spezies" ,sagte er ruhig. "Meine Mutter hat mich gehasst, mein Heimatdorf hat mich ausgesto脽en, ich wurde wie ein Tier in einem K盲fig ausgestellt, bis ein Messer mir den einzigen Weg zeigte, frei zu sein." Seite 207
Conclusion: It is an exciting, fascinating but also sad novel, which I can recommend anyone who is interested in the phantom of the opera.
"Dieses Gesicht, das mir alle Rechte eines Mannes genommen hat, befreit mich auch von allen Verpflichtungen gegen眉ber der menschlichen Spezies" ,sagte er ruhig. "Meine Mutter hat mich gehasst, mein Heimatdorf hat mich ausgesto脽en, ich wurde wie ein Tier in einem K盲fig ausgestellt, bis ein Messer mir den einzigen Weg zeigte, frei zu sein." Seite 207
June 3, 2010
If Kay had stopped where The Phantom of the Opera book and musical started, she would have had a decent book on her hands. Despite turning Erik, the Phantom, into a terrible Gary Stu, she did give him an interesting and detailed history. In fact, if you stop reading the book before Christine comes in, I'd imagine it's pretty enjoyable. However, I kept reading, and there's my problem.
(Possible SPOILERS)
Once Christine and Raoul entered the story, I moved from wariness, to shock, to disbelief, to tears.
First of all, the relationships are not at all true to the characters. In other versions, Christine turns to Raoul for help because of her fear of the Phantom. In this novel, Christine only runs to Raoul when she's angry at Erik because she's jealous of his cat or because he's scared her. Raoul becomes little more than a tool for a tempermental little girl to punish her would-be lover.
Raoul isn't much better. In the other stories, he's patient and kind to Christine. He sticks by her side like the loyal guy he is. In Phantom, when Christine won't let him have his way, he stalks off to sulk until his next encounter with her. Since Christine seems to have mysteriously lost her fear of the Phantom, and therefore doesn't need to turn to Raoul for protection, Raoul becomes nothing more than a prodding figure. He's continually trying to cut Christine's ties with Erik, and all the while it's not what Christine REALLY wants, but she goes along with Raoul because she's confused.
Then there's Christine and Erik. In other versions, the Phantom has the shadow of his disfigurement hanging over him and it distorts his soul. In those versions, it's Christine who shows him love and kindness and helps him find the good in himself. In Phantom, it's the other way around. Despite his tendency to murder people and kidnap people and act like a sociopath, Erik becomes the enlightened figure in Kay's novel. The more Christine is around him, the more educated she becomes, the more deeply she thinks about things. She starts to become ashamed of herself because she doesn't have the courage to touch him. She realizes that the Phantom has loved her as no man has loved a woman before. And yet, I'm not convinced. Because he lies to her? Kills in order to possess her? Yells at her for, say, asking him to kill a spider? Wants to possess her even if it is not what she wants/not what is best for her? Or perhaps it's because he is only content to let her go (and yet STILL doesn't) when he realizes that she likes him best.
It occurred to me that this was the sort of story I would expect to read in a fan fiction, where the story didn't turn out the way some fangirl wanted it to, so she twists and distorts the situations and the characters to fit her own means.
Don't get me wrong. I adore the Phantom. I think he's a phenomenal character. But this, to me, is not a great love story. It is the story that ignores the flaws of the Phantom, and therefore makes his redemption meaningless. In the other stories, when Christine shows him love, she helps him let go of the obsession that made him want to possess her at any cost. Instead, he becomes a noble figure as he realizes that she loves Raoul and he lets them both go, even though it pains him. It's a bittersweet ending, no doubt, but it has an integrity. In Phantom, I felt like that was lost. After all, he loses his moment where he shows his love for her for the first time by allowing her to leave with Raoul. In Phantom, we're robbed of that moment. Instead, the only side we ever see of the Phantom and his love for Christine is the selfish, "I want her because I love her and I'll do whatever I have to do to make her stay with me to make me happy," side of him. In the end of Phantom, I wanted to cry because I felt that all three of the characters were cheated in order to make a "happy ending." But the happy ending, when it is the wrong ending, is not the best ending.
(Possible SPOILERS)
Once Christine and Raoul entered the story, I moved from wariness, to shock, to disbelief, to tears.
First of all, the relationships are not at all true to the characters. In other versions, Christine turns to Raoul for help because of her fear of the Phantom. In this novel, Christine only runs to Raoul when she's angry at Erik because she's jealous of his cat or because he's scared her. Raoul becomes little more than a tool for a tempermental little girl to punish her would-be lover.
Raoul isn't much better. In the other stories, he's patient and kind to Christine. He sticks by her side like the loyal guy he is. In Phantom, when Christine won't let him have his way, he stalks off to sulk until his next encounter with her. Since Christine seems to have mysteriously lost her fear of the Phantom, and therefore doesn't need to turn to Raoul for protection, Raoul becomes nothing more than a prodding figure. He's continually trying to cut Christine's ties with Erik, and all the while it's not what Christine REALLY wants, but she goes along with Raoul because she's confused.
Then there's Christine and Erik. In other versions, the Phantom has the shadow of his disfigurement hanging over him and it distorts his soul. In those versions, it's Christine who shows him love and kindness and helps him find the good in himself. In Phantom, it's the other way around. Despite his tendency to murder people and kidnap people and act like a sociopath, Erik becomes the enlightened figure in Kay's novel. The more Christine is around him, the more educated she becomes, the more deeply she thinks about things. She starts to become ashamed of herself because she doesn't have the courage to touch him. She realizes that the Phantom has loved her as no man has loved a woman before. And yet, I'm not convinced. Because he lies to her? Kills in order to possess her? Yells at her for, say, asking him to kill a spider? Wants to possess her even if it is not what she wants/not what is best for her? Or perhaps it's because he is only content to let her go (and yet STILL doesn't) when he realizes that she likes him best.
It occurred to me that this was the sort of story I would expect to read in a fan fiction, where the story didn't turn out the way some fangirl wanted it to, so she twists and distorts the situations and the characters to fit her own means.
Don't get me wrong. I adore the Phantom. I think he's a phenomenal character. But this, to me, is not a great love story. It is the story that ignores the flaws of the Phantom, and therefore makes his redemption meaningless. In the other stories, when Christine shows him love, she helps him let go of the obsession that made him want to possess her at any cost. Instead, he becomes a noble figure as he realizes that she loves Raoul and he lets them both go, even though it pains him. It's a bittersweet ending, no doubt, but it has an integrity. In Phantom, I felt like that was lost. After all, he loses his moment where he shows his love for her for the first time by allowing her to leave with Raoul. In Phantom, we're robbed of that moment. Instead, the only side we ever see of the Phantom and his love for Christine is the selfish, "I want her because I love her and I'll do whatever I have to do to make her stay with me to make me happy," side of him. In the end of Phantom, I wanted to cry because I felt that all three of the characters were cheated in order to make a "happy ending." But the happy ending, when it is the wrong ending, is not the best ending.
June 5, 2024
Until recently, I forgot that I read this about a decade ago. Now I鈥檓 a huge Phantom of the Opera fan. And I鈥檓 not just talking about the play and all the movies and such. I really loved Gaston Leroux鈥檚 original novel. I thought it gave the already fascinating and intriguing character even more dynamics and a very rich backstory, as compared to other incarnations. I loved it so much that I even named a side character in my first Preternatural book Erik, as he was a tragic character just like Leroux鈥檚 antagonist, too. So I eventually got curious years after reading the original novel and began looking for fan fiction sequels, prequels, and, of course, even found a sickening amount of erotica, too. Susan Kay鈥檚 story came highly recommended and I dove right in. It鈥檚 not a short read, so it was a bit of a journey to get through. And I remember reading this very vivid and beautifully written origin story of Erik and loved how it lead nicely into the original book. However, I just kept thinking 鈥楪osh, this just keeps getting worse.鈥� And I鈥檓 not referring to a strong dislike of the story, but rather the content continually taking this sad, abused, unloved person, born with a terrible deformity, and just berating him too many times over. Almost like watching a Zack Snyder film, ie Man of Steel, where there鈥檚 these gigantic, epic climaxes that can last up to an forty-five minutes. You get the point and want to stay with it, but after awhile you get fatigued. Subtlety can be a wonderful thing. Now to bring Erik to the point of Leroux鈥檚 classic tale, I fully appreciate and understand how big of an undertaking it is. You need to grab this person and walk him through the worst circumstances imaginable at that time, in order to make the reader fully empathize with his struggles over a long period. And stay somewhat true to the original story, while taking some creative liberties. It鈥檚 a very hard balance to strike. But this became tiresome after awhile and it felt like the point was driven home too hard. Again, I鈥檓 not saying that I hated this story at all, but rather enjoyed it quite a bit. And I鈥檓 not even sure how I would have written it differently to resolve the critiques that I had here. It is just my personal opinion of how Susan Kay developed her unique version of Erik. But I ultimately thought that the abusive and terrible situations Erik was faced with could have been toned down a bit, and still had the same, if not a greater, impact on the reader.
October 26, 2007
Wow, I cannot say enough about this book. If you were captivated by any version of The Phantom of the Opera and loved the characters - especially Erik - you need to read this book. It was the first book to ever make me cry. Kay was so imaginative when she wrote the character of Erik and I thought she wrote him beautifully. I loved finally getting to explore his mind and the reasons why he was the way he was, and enjoyed reading of his supposed travels and finding out how he gained all of his knowledge.
I was so happy when it came back to print and it's still a book I read over and over.
I was so happy when it came back to print and it's still a book I read over and over.
February 9, 2011
Well, I finally read Susan Kay's "Phantom." Before I wrote my own book, I had read nothing but the original Leroux book as I did not want to be influenced by any other writer.
I must admit that this book is heartwrenching, sad, but beautifully crafted. I was continually amazed at the ability of the author to see into each character in the book and put it to paper.
Erik, of course, broke my heart. I was sick after the first chapter when I saw how his mother treated him. It was a miracle that he was able to become such a renowned musician, architect, painter and magician. I was constantly saddened as I read each stage of his terribly unhappy life, his desire to be loved, his wish for only a kiss from his mother, which she refused, his treatment in the gypsy caravan and in Persia. then his awakening to the human love with Christine and her gradual awakening to his heart, and the final gift she gave him and the result of that gift, her son, Charles. I must admit, I do not like pre-marital sex, but this was so beautifully written with no vulgarity, but only the desire of Christine to give Erik something that no other woman ever had or would. Her gradual opening to him where she was able to see him as a man rather than a freak, with all a man's feelings, desires and wants, was poignant and beautiful. And I believe while they were alome in her room, and she had his wedding ring, that they did make special vows to each other. I am reminded of reading many books about the Scottish Highlands which were served by way too few priests, and a man and woman could enter into a handfast marriage, which they could annul after one year if there was not child. I believe that is what Erik and Christine did. So I did not feel terrible about what she did. It was not an act of sex but an act of the deepest love.
I was also, as a Christian, touched by Erik's constant battle of trying to find God and to understand why he had been made the way he had.
I love the way the Phantom was portrayed by Gerard Butler. The idea of a half beautiful, half terribly disfigured face, somehow seemed almost harder to deal with than a totally horrific face like Leroux and Kay's Phantom. I could see how he could have constantly been reminded of what might have been.This is the one which stole my heart and made the Phantom part of my life.
However Kay's book is special in its specialness of the truth of Erik as portrayed by his creator, Leroux. I found it much harder to deal with that ALW's Phantom, although both had me in tears.
My rating of 4 stars was given rather than five, only because I was so sad when I finished the book. With only the final pages of redemption and forgiveness, the rest was hard to deal with. But it is a very special book.
February 13, 2010
My mind has touched the farthest horizons of mortal imagination and reaches ever outward to embrace infinity. There is no knowledge beyond my comprehension, no art or skill upon this entire planet that lies beyond the mastery of my hand. And yet, like Faust, I look in vain. I learn in vain...For as long as I live, no woman will ever look on me in love....
My kingdom lies in eternal darkness, many feet below the level of the Parisian streets outside, shrouded in the chill silence of the grave. Darkness and silense have been my companions since the day I chose to turn my back upon the world of men and create an empire that was solely mine.
From the moment of my birth my destiny was to be alone."
I don't know of one person who didn't think Christine Daae a fool for going off with the lackluster Raoul rather than stay with the Phantom. Disfigured he may be, but the Phantom has endured as a magnetic figure of endless fascination. In Phantom, Susan Kay explores the Phantom's life, from birth to death - Much happened before he ever set eyes on the winsome Christine.
We love our misunderstood outcasts and mysterious princes of darkness, which Erik is. Brilliant and artistic, he has been reviled since birth, even rejected by his own very beautiful mother. We follow Erik as he is captured by the evil Javert and exhibited as a freak. Finally escaping the gypsy carnival, he makes his way to Italy to become a master stonemason's apprentice and to his first love, which ends in tragedy. He next surfaces as the dark magician in Persian court. Everywhere he goes, cruelty and devastation follow until at last he retreats to Paris. He becomes the secret genius behind the building of the famous Opera Garnier, where he ultimately decides to hide from the world.
From there, the story roughly follows the well-known Phantom of the Opera storyline, a mix of both the Gaston Leroux novel and the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical. Kay manages not only to pay homage to both, but surpass them in this superb, beautifully written version. This novel is for all those who, if given the choice, would have picked the Phantom every time.
My kingdom lies in eternal darkness, many feet below the level of the Parisian streets outside, shrouded in the chill silence of the grave. Darkness and silense have been my companions since the day I chose to turn my back upon the world of men and create an empire that was solely mine.
From the moment of my birth my destiny was to be alone."
I don't know of one person who didn't think Christine Daae a fool for going off with the lackluster Raoul rather than stay with the Phantom. Disfigured he may be, but the Phantom has endured as a magnetic figure of endless fascination. In Phantom, Susan Kay explores the Phantom's life, from birth to death - Much happened before he ever set eyes on the winsome Christine.
We love our misunderstood outcasts and mysterious princes of darkness, which Erik is. Brilliant and artistic, he has been reviled since birth, even rejected by his own very beautiful mother. We follow Erik as he is captured by the evil Javert and exhibited as a freak. Finally escaping the gypsy carnival, he makes his way to Italy to become a master stonemason's apprentice and to his first love, which ends in tragedy. He next surfaces as the dark magician in Persian court. Everywhere he goes, cruelty and devastation follow until at last he retreats to Paris. He becomes the secret genius behind the building of the famous Opera Garnier, where he ultimately decides to hide from the world.
From there, the story roughly follows the well-known Phantom of the Opera storyline, a mix of both the Gaston Leroux novel and the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical. Kay manages not only to pay homage to both, but surpass them in this superb, beautifully written version. This novel is for all those who, if given the choice, would have picked the Phantom every time.
December 24, 2024
Doesn鈥檛 matter how many times I reread it: perfection.
August 5, 2011
I can see that I'm very much in the minority here. This book did nothing for me, and even though I wasn't expecting to enjoy it all that much I still feel pretty disappointed with it. Susan Kay's 'Phantom' is a spin-off of Gaston Leroux's 'The Phantom of the Opera' (although Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical was obviously an influence on it as well). It retells the life of Erik a.k.a. the Phantom from his birth right up to his death. I first heard about 'Phantom' a couple of years ago but I was extremely sceptical about it and it turns out I was right. In fairness I wouldn't say that this book is TERRIBLE. At least not all of it is. The first half of 'Phantom' is actually quite decent. OK, it is a bit contrived and sensationalistic in places but these are only minor flaws. I will give Kay some credit here. She does a good job of fleshing out the details of Erik's backstory that are only hinted at in Leroux's novel. I have to admit that I found the Rome and Persia sections of this book pretty interesting and I was impressed by the sheer amount of research that Kay must have done. In fact, if Kay had ended her novel right where Leroux's book and the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical start off then I think she would have had a decent prequel to POTO on her hands. Unfortunetly, Kay doesn't choose to end her novel at this point and I carried on reading it.
The second half of 'Phantom' is a total let-down - and to be perfectly frank I think most of it really sucks. First of all, we find out that Christine Daae bears an uncanny resemblance to Madeleine, Erik's mother. Now surely I can't be the only person who finds this a bit creepy and Freudian?! And besides, Madeleine hated Erik and vice versa so wouldn't Christine's physical resemblance to his mother be off-putting to him? Another thing that I found extremely irritating about this book are the bizarre alterations from Leroux's original story that occur. It's really strange because Kay has obviously made an effort, in the first half of this book at least, to keep Erik's physical appearance and backstory accurate to Leroux's descriptions - but when she actually comes to the story that we all know and love she makes weird changes. I'm sure that Kay probably wanted to put her own twist on things and to make the story her own but the way that she did this was just too fanfiction-y and off-canon for my tastes.
There are so many scenes in this book that supposedly take place in Leroux's novel but are in reality nothing like those scenes at all. For example: Leroux's novel has Carlotta croak like a toad on the same night that the chandelier falls, but in Kay's 'Phantom' the chandelier falls on a different night much later on. The unmasking scene here is nothing like the unmasking scene in Leroux's novel. By far the most cringeworthy scene in this book has to be the one where Christine hears Erik's music for Don Juan Triumphant. The music is described as being like a sob in Leroux's novel, as the ultimate expression of grief and rage. Christine is frightened and disturbed. Here though, the music is so incredibly sexy and arousing that Christine *ahem* ends up getting herself off to it. Okaaay then...The book then proceeds to delve even further into the realms of bad fanfiction. I get the strong impression that Kay didn't like how Leroux's novel ended and decided to twist and distort the characters and events of that novel to suit her own purposes like a lot of bad fanfiction writers do.
I love the Phantom in Leroux's novel and Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical. I think he's a fantastic character and very sympathetic. In Kay's novel, I felt barely any sympathy for him at all. Also, I can't say that I was ever a massive fan of Christine in Leroux's novel (because I never really found her all that interesting) but reading Kay's novel actually made me appreciate her a whole lot more. OK, Christine does come across as being a bit helpless in Leroux's novel but at least she had some backbone. She was in love with Raoul and was determined to save him. In Kay's novel, Christine is completely incapable of making decisions by herself and seems incredibly childish and bratty. I know that Christine is supposed to be naive and a very young and innocent girl from reading Leroux's novel - childlike as opposed to childish - but Kay seems to take this to mean that 'Christine is stupid and mentally challenged'. Er, no she isn't! Kay strips Christine of every ounce of intelligence and integrity that she has in Leroux's novel and what we have instead is an incredibly annoying character. She also has an aggravating habit of always saying exactly the wrong thing to Erik and she uses Raoul horribly. Basically, she only runs off to Raoul in this book whenever Erik has done something to upset her: whether it's because he shouted at her or because she's jealous of his cat. Raoul is just some tool for Christine to punish Erik with. I felt really sorry for Raoul in this book and he must surely deserve some sort of medal for the crap that he has to put up with! Christine ends up sleeping with Erik right before their wedding - hmm, what recent musical does this remind me of?! - and forces him to accept this. She then takes Erik's cat to live with them and has a son that turns out to be Erik's! Poor Raoul has to put up with the fact that his wife, his son and even his pet are all Erik's! How harsh is that?
To sum up: if you're an E/C shipper who hates Raoul, loves the Phantom unconditionally, and always thought that Christine should have chosen Erik and was in love with him all along then 'Phantom' is a must-read and you will love it. And if you're not, don't bother. Give me the Leroux novel and the ALW musical anyday!
The second half of 'Phantom' is a total let-down - and to be perfectly frank I think most of it really sucks. First of all, we find out that Christine Daae bears an uncanny resemblance to Madeleine, Erik's mother. Now surely I can't be the only person who finds this a bit creepy and Freudian?! And besides, Madeleine hated Erik and vice versa so wouldn't Christine's physical resemblance to his mother be off-putting to him? Another thing that I found extremely irritating about this book are the bizarre alterations from Leroux's original story that occur. It's really strange because Kay has obviously made an effort, in the first half of this book at least, to keep Erik's physical appearance and backstory accurate to Leroux's descriptions - but when she actually comes to the story that we all know and love she makes weird changes. I'm sure that Kay probably wanted to put her own twist on things and to make the story her own but the way that she did this was just too fanfiction-y and off-canon for my tastes.
There are so many scenes in this book that supposedly take place in Leroux's novel but are in reality nothing like those scenes at all. For example: Leroux's novel has Carlotta croak like a toad on the same night that the chandelier falls, but in Kay's 'Phantom' the chandelier falls on a different night much later on. The unmasking scene here is nothing like the unmasking scene in Leroux's novel. By far the most cringeworthy scene in this book has to be the one where Christine hears Erik's music for Don Juan Triumphant. The music is described as being like a sob in Leroux's novel, as the ultimate expression of grief and rage. Christine is frightened and disturbed. Here though, the music is so incredibly sexy and arousing that Christine *ahem* ends up getting herself off to it. Okaaay then...The book then proceeds to delve even further into the realms of bad fanfiction. I get the strong impression that Kay didn't like how Leroux's novel ended and decided to twist and distort the characters and events of that novel to suit her own purposes like a lot of bad fanfiction writers do.
I love the Phantom in Leroux's novel and Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical. I think he's a fantastic character and very sympathetic. In Kay's novel, I felt barely any sympathy for him at all. Also, I can't say that I was ever a massive fan of Christine in Leroux's novel (because I never really found her all that interesting) but reading Kay's novel actually made me appreciate her a whole lot more. OK, Christine does come across as being a bit helpless in Leroux's novel but at least she had some backbone. She was in love with Raoul and was determined to save him. In Kay's novel, Christine is completely incapable of making decisions by herself and seems incredibly childish and bratty. I know that Christine is supposed to be naive and a very young and innocent girl from reading Leroux's novel - childlike as opposed to childish - but Kay seems to take this to mean that 'Christine is stupid and mentally challenged'. Er, no she isn't! Kay strips Christine of every ounce of intelligence and integrity that she has in Leroux's novel and what we have instead is an incredibly annoying character. She also has an aggravating habit of always saying exactly the wrong thing to Erik and she uses Raoul horribly. Basically, she only runs off to Raoul in this book whenever Erik has done something to upset her: whether it's because he shouted at her or because she's jealous of his cat. Raoul is just some tool for Christine to punish Erik with. I felt really sorry for Raoul in this book and he must surely deserve some sort of medal for the crap that he has to put up with! Christine ends up sleeping with Erik right before their wedding - hmm, what recent musical does this remind me of?! - and forces him to accept this. She then takes Erik's cat to live with them and has a son that turns out to be Erik's! Poor Raoul has to put up with the fact that his wife, his son and even his pet are all Erik's! How harsh is that?
To sum up: if you're an E/C shipper who hates Raoul, loves the Phantom unconditionally, and always thought that Christine should have chosen Erik and was in love with him all along then 'Phantom' is a must-read and you will love it. And if you're not, don't bother. Give me the Leroux novel and the ALW musical anyday!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 2, 2023
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****
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丿丕爻鬲丕賳 丿乇賲賵乇丿 鬲賵賱丿 丕乇蹖讴賴. 讴賵丿讴蹖 讴賴 亘丕 賳賯氐蹖 賴賵賱賳丕讴 賵 賲鬲賮丕賵鬲 丕夭 鬲賲丕賲 賳賵夭丕丿賴丕蹖 丿賳蹖丕 亘丕 亘賴 毓乇氐賴鈥屰� 賴爻鬲蹖 賲蹖鈥屫柏ж辟� 賵 賳丨爻蹖鈥屫й� 乇賵 賴賲乇丕賴 亘丕 鬲賵賱丿卮貙 鬲賵蹖 匕賴賳 丕胤乇丕賮蹖丕賳卮 賲蹖鈥屫з嗀ж操囏� 讴賴 亘丕毓孬 賲蹖鈥屫促� 賴賲賴鈥屰� 丿賳蹖丕 胤乇丿卮 讴賳賳. 丨鬲蹖 賲丕丿乇卮貙 丨鬲蹖 賲丕丿乇蹖 讴賴 噩夭 丕賵賳 賴蹖趩讴爻 乇賵 鬲賵蹖 丿賳蹖丕 賳丿丕卮鬲. 賵 乇丕爻鬲卮貙 鬲毓亘蹖乇 丿蹖诏乇丕賳 丕夭 趩賴乇賴鈥屰� 丕乇蹖讴貙 趩蹖夭蹖 亘賵丿 卮亘蹖賴 亘賴 丕蹖賳: 芦 趩賴乇賴鈥屰� 丕賵 賲孬賱 賴賲賴 爻鬲. 丕賲丕 亘毓丿 丕夭 蹖讴 賴賮鬲賴 丿賮賳鈥屫簇� 夭蹖乇 禺丕讴 禄
丕賲丕 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 丕夭 亘胤賳 蹖讴 賳亘賵睾 夭丕丿賴 賲蹖鈥屫促堌�. 丕乇蹖讴貙 丕丿睾丕賲蹖 賵丨卮蹖丕賳賴 丕夭 賳亘賵睾 賵 噩賳賵賳賴. 賵 賳卮賵賳 賲蹖鈥屫� 賵賯鬲蹖 賴乇丿賵蹖 丕蹖賳鈥屬囏� 鬲賵蹖 賵噩賵丿 丌丿賲 亘賴 睾賱蹖丕賳 亘蹖賵賮鬲賳 賵 讴賳鬲乇賱鈥屫簇嗃� 賳亘丕卮賳貨 趩胤賵乇 賲蹖鈥屫堎嗁� 賲爻蹖乇 爻乇賳賵卮鬲 乇賵 亘賴 乇丕丨鬲蹖 毓賵囟 讴賳賳! 鬲亘丕賴蹖 賵 爻蹖丕賴蹖貙 讴賲鬲乇蹖賳 毓丕賯亘鬲 蹖讴 噩丕賳蹖賽 賳丕亘睾賴 禺賵丕賴丿 亘賵丿馃枻
禺胤 亘賴 禺胤 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘貙 丿丕乇賴 毓氐蹖丕賳賽 蹖賴 乇賵丨賽 亘賴 亘賳丿讴卮蹖丿賴鈥� 卮丿賴鈥屰� 賲胤乇賵丿 乇賵 賳卮賵賳 賲蹖鈥屫囏� 讴賴 賵賯鬲蹖 卮讴丕賮蹖 賲丕亘蹖賳"丌賳趩賴 賴爻鬲" 賵 "丌賳趩賴 賲蹖鈥屫堌з嗀� 亘丕卮丿" 賲蹖鈥屫ㄛ屬嗁囏� 爻乇 亘賴 爻乇讴卮蹖 賵 賳丕亘賵丿蹖 賲蹖鈥屫柏ж辟�. 賴賲賴鈥屭嗃屫� 乇賵 禺丕讴爻鬲乇 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁� 鬲丕 趩蹖夭賴丕蹖蹖 乇賵 鬲噩乇亘賴 讴賳賴 讴賴 胤亘蹖毓鬲卮 賲蹖鈥屫焚勜ㄛ屫� 丕賲丕 丕夭卮 丿乇蹖睾 卮丿賴 亘賵丿!
乇賵丨 丕乇蹖讴貙 亘丿賵賳 丕蹖賳鈥屭┵� 禺賵丿卮 賲鬲賵噩賴 亘丕卮賴貙 乇丕賵蹖 亘賴 丨賯賽 丕蹖賳 鬲乇丕跇丿蹖 丿乇丿賳丕讴 亘賵丿. 亘丕乇賴丕 亘丕 禺胤 亘賴 禺胤賽 丕蹖賳 乇賵丕蹖鬲賽 噩诏乇爻賵夭 賵 丌乇夭賵賴丕蹖 丿賵乇 賵 丿乇丕夭 丕乇蹖讴 鬲賵蹖 鬲賳賴丕蹖蹖鈥屬囏ж簇� 亘睾囟 诏賱賵賲 乇賵 賮卮乇丿 賵 禺賵丕爻鬲賲 讴鬲丕亘 乇賵 賲鬲賵賯賮 讴賳賲 丕賲丕 賳鬲賵賳爻鬲賲. 賯氐賴鈥屰� 丕賵賳貙 賯氐賴鈥屰� 蹖賴 毓氐蹖丕賳賴. 蹖賴 禺蹖夭卮貙 蹖賴 賯蹖丕賲 亘乇丕蹖 丕孬亘丕鬲 賴爻鬲蹖鈥屫ж� 鬲賵蹖 噩賴丕賳蹖 讴賴 賲蹖賱蹖 亘賴 丿蹖丿賳卮 賳丿丕卮鬲. 乇丕爻鬲卮 丕夭 蹖讴鈥屫й屰� 亘賴 亘毓丿貙 丕乇蹖讴 丿蹖诏賴 丿爻鬲 丕夭 鬲賱丕卮 亘乇丕蹖 丕孬亘丕鬲 "賲賵噩賵丿蹖鬲" 禺賵丿卮 讴卮蹖丿 賵 噩乇蹖丕賳 夭賳丿诏蹖 乇賵 丕賵賳胤賵乇 讴賴 匕丕鬲卮 賲蹖鈥屬矩迟嗀屫� 亘賴 丿爻鬲 诏乇賮鬲.
賴賲賵賳噩丕 亘賵丿 讴賴 丕乇蹖讴貙 亘蹖鈥屬囐堌� 丕夭 讴賵丿讴蹖 亘賴 亘夭乇诏爻丕賱蹖 倬乇鬲丕亘 卮丿 賵 賮丕氐賱賴鈥屰� 亘蹖賳 丕蹖賳 丿賵 亘乇賴賴貙 亘賴 丕賳丿丕夭賴鈥屰� 蹖讴 卮亘 鬲丕 氐亘丨 亘賵丿馃ズ
賲賳 亘乇丕蹖 鬲讴鈥屫� 倬賱丕鬲鈥屬囏й� 丕蹖賳 賯氐賴 丕丨鬲乇丕賲 禺丕氐蹖 賯丕卅賱賲 賵 毓賲蹖賯丕賸 禺賵丿賲 乇賵 鬲賵卮 賲蹖鈥屫ㄛ屬嗁�. 賲孬賱 蹖賴 丌蹖蹖賳賴鈥屰� 卮賮丕賮. 賲蹖鈥屬嗁堐屫迟� 亘乇丕蹖 賲丕丿賱蹖賳 亘丕 鬲賲丕賲 丕卮鬲亘丕賴丕鬲卮貙 亘乇丕蹖 亘賵爻賴鈥屫й� 讴賴 丿乇蹖睾 讴乇丿. 亘乇丕蹖 賳丕丿乇 賵 賯賱亘 賲賴乇亘丕賳蹖 讴賴 賲丕蹖賱鈥屬囏� 丿賵乇鬲乇貙 賲乇丕賯亘 丿賵爻鬲丕賳卮 亘賵丿. 亘乇丕蹖 讴乇蹖爻鬲蹖賳 賵 乇賵丨蹖 讴賴 亘禺丕胤乇 丕乇蹖讴 毓乇蹖丕賳 讴乇丿. 亘乇丕蹖 丕毓鬲賲丕丿卮 亘賴 賮乇卮鬲賴鈥屰� 賲賵爻蹖賯蹖. 亘乇丕蹖 乇丕卅賵賱貙 賵 卮丕乇賱 讴賴 賳亘賵睾卮 乇賵 丕夭 讴爻蹖 亘賴 丕乇孬 亘乇丿賴 亘賵丿 讴賴 賴乇诏夭 賯乇丕乇 賳亘賵丿 亘卮賳丕爻鬲卮!
賵 丿乇 丌禺乇... 賲蹖鈥屬嗁堐屫迟� 亘乇丕蹖 丕乇蹖讴 賵 毓卮賯 亘蹖鈥屫� 賵 丕賳丿丕夭賴鈥屫ж� 亘賴 毓賱賲 賵 賲賵爻蹖賯蹖貨 亘乇丕蹖 卮亘鈥屬囏й屰� 讴賴 賮賯胤 氐丿丕卮 賲蹖鈥屫堎嗀池� 亘賴 诏賵卮 亘賯蹖賴 亘乇爻賴 賵 賳賴 趩賴乇賴鈥屫ж簇� 亘乇丕蹖 丕乇蹖讴蹖 讴賴 賵賯鬲蹖 丌賵丕夭 賲蹖鈥屫堎嗀� 賲蹖鈥屫堎嗀池� 賴蹖趩讴爻 毓賲蹖賯丕賸 丕賵賳 乇賵 丿賵爻鬲 賳禺賵丕賴丿 丿丕卮鬲. 亘乇丕蹖 亘賵爻賴鈥屫й� 讴賴 賴乇诏夭 鬲噩乇亘賴鈥� 賳讴乇丿. 亘乇丕蹖 賱丨馗賴鈥屬囏й屰� 讴賴 鬲賵蹖 賯賮爻 亘賵丿. 亘乇丕蹖 丕卮讴鈥屬囏й屰� 讴賴 賳賲蹖鈥屫臂屫� 賵 亘乇丕蹖 丕賵賳 爻丕禺鬲賲賵賳 賲禺賵賮 丕倬乇丕蹖 倬丕乇蹖爻... 讴賴 亘賴 丿爻鬲 禺賵丿卮 爻丕禺鬲賴 卮丿 賵 亘賴 丿爻鬲 禺賵丿卮 賴賲 蹖賴 乇賵夭 賳丕亘賵丿 禺賵丕賴丿 卮丿!馃槩
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芦丿蹖诏乇 丕夭 丕蹖賳鈥屭┵� 丿蹖丿賴 卮賵賲 鬲乇爻蹖 賳丿丕卮鬲賲. 賴蹖趩讴爻 賳賲蹖鈥屫堌з嗀池� 賲乇丕 亘讴卮丿貙 賵 丌賳鈥屬傌� 夭賳丿賴 亘賲丕賳丿 讴賴 亘賴 丌賳 亘賳丕夭丿禄
丕鬲賮丕賯蹖貙 讴丕賲賱丕 丕鬲賮丕賯蹖 卮乇賵毓卮 讴乇丿賲. 丕夭 乇賵蹖 蹖賴 賮賳鈥屫⒇必� 丕夭 "卮亘丨 丕倬乇丕" 讴賴 賲蹖鈥屫堎嗀池� 趩卮賲鈥屬囏ж� 乇賵 亘亘蹖賳蹖貙 丕賲丕 氐賵乇鬲卮賵 賳賴!
蹖賴 趩賴乇賴鈥屰� 賲禺賮蹖賽 丕毓噩丕亘鈥屫з嗂屫� 讴賴 丿賱賲 賲蹖鈥屫堌ж池� 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 倬卮鬲 趩卮賲鈥屬囏ж� 乇賵 亘丿賵賳賲. 丿丕爻鬲丕賳蹖 讴賴 丕賳诏丕乇 丌賳鈥屭嗁嗀з� 讴賴 賮讴乇 賲蹖鈥屭┴必呚� 爻乇爻乇蹖 賵 爻胤丨蹖 賳亘賵丿. 賵 丕蹖賳貙 丌睾丕夭 蹖賴 鬲乇丕跇丿蹖賽 乇賵 亘賴 賮乇賵倬丕卮蹖 亘賵丿. 賮乇賵倬丕卮蹖賽 蹖讴 讴丕賱亘丿 亘丕 賴夭丕乇丕賳 乇賵丨...!
丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘貙 蹖賴 亘丕夭丌賮乇蹖賳蹖賽 讴賱蹖 丕夭 芦卮亘丨 丕倬乇丕禄 賳賵卮鬲賴鈥屰� 诏丕爻鬲賵賳 賱賵乇賵卅賴. 爻賵夭丕賳鈥屭┷� 丿爻鬲 乇賵蹖 趩蹖夭蹖 诏匕丕卮鬲賴貙 讴賴 賲蹖鈥屫堎嗀池� 賲蹖鈥屫堎嗁� 鬲賵蹖 禺賱賯 賵 亘丕夭丌賮乇蹖賳蹖賽 鬲乇丕跇丿蹖鈥屫ж簇� 賳亘賵睾卮 乇賵 亘賴 乇禺 亘讴卮賴!
丿丕爻鬲丕賳 毓賲蹖賯丕賸 丌丿賲 乇賵 亘賴 乇賵丨 禺賵丿卮 賲鬲氐賱 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁�. 丕蹖賳鈥屭┵� 丿乇 賳賴丕蹖鬲 賲丕 賴賲诏蹖 卮亘丨蹖 鬲賵蹖 讴丕賱亘丿賲賵賳 夭賳丿诏蹖 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁� 讴賴 亘賴 賴賲賵賳 鬲乇鬲蹖亘貙 賲蹖鈥屫堎嗁� 亘乇丕蹖 賲丕 鬲氐賲蹖賲丕鬲蹖 亘诏蹖乇賴 讴賴鈥� 亘賵蹖 禺蹖丕賳鬲 賵 丕賳夭賵丕 賵 禺卮賲 賲蹖鈥屫�. 卮亘丨蹖 讴賴 亘丕 丿乇丿 亘蹖诏丕賳賴 賳蹖爻鬲 賵 丕卮亘丕毓 卮丿賴 丕夭 鬲賲丕賲 賳蹖乇賳诏鈥屬囏й� 丿賳蹖丕...
丿丕爻鬲丕賳 丿乇賲賵乇丿 鬲賵賱丿 丕乇蹖讴賴. 讴賵丿讴蹖 讴賴 亘丕 賳賯氐蹖 賴賵賱賳丕讴 賵 賲鬲賮丕賵鬲 丕夭 鬲賲丕賲 賳賵夭丕丿賴丕蹖 丿賳蹖丕 亘丕 亘賴 毓乇氐賴鈥屰� 賴爻鬲蹖 賲蹖鈥屫柏ж辟� 賵 賳丨爻蹖鈥屫й� 乇賵 賴賲乇丕賴 亘丕 鬲賵賱丿卮貙 鬲賵蹖 匕賴賳 丕胤乇丕賮蹖丕賳卮 賲蹖鈥屫з嗀ж操囏� 讴賴 亘丕毓孬 賲蹖鈥屫促� 賴賲賴鈥屰� 丿賳蹖丕 胤乇丿卮 讴賳賳. 丨鬲蹖 賲丕丿乇卮貙 丨鬲蹖 賲丕丿乇蹖 讴賴 噩夭 丕賵賳 賴蹖趩讴爻 乇賵 鬲賵蹖 丿賳蹖丕 賳丿丕卮鬲. 賵 乇丕爻鬲卮貙 鬲毓亘蹖乇 丿蹖诏乇丕賳 丕夭 趩賴乇賴鈥屰� 丕乇蹖讴貙 趩蹖夭蹖 亘賵丿 卮亘蹖賴 亘賴 丕蹖賳: 芦 趩賴乇賴鈥屰� 丕賵 賲孬賱 賴賲賴 爻鬲. 丕賲丕 亘毓丿 丕夭 蹖讴 賴賮鬲賴 丿賮賳鈥屫簇� 夭蹖乇 禺丕讴 禄
丕賲丕 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 丕夭 亘胤賳 蹖讴 賳亘賵睾 夭丕丿賴 賲蹖鈥屫促堌�. 丕乇蹖讴貙 丕丿睾丕賲蹖 賵丨卮蹖丕賳賴 丕夭 賳亘賵睾 賵 噩賳賵賳賴. 賵 賳卮賵賳 賲蹖鈥屫� 賵賯鬲蹖 賴乇丿賵蹖 丕蹖賳鈥屬囏� 鬲賵蹖 賵噩賵丿 丌丿賲 亘賴 睾賱蹖丕賳 亘蹖賵賮鬲賳 賵 讴賳鬲乇賱鈥屫簇嗃� 賳亘丕卮賳貨 趩胤賵乇 賲蹖鈥屫堎嗁� 賲爻蹖乇 爻乇賳賵卮鬲 乇賵 亘賴 乇丕丨鬲蹖 毓賵囟 讴賳賳! 鬲亘丕賴蹖 賵 爻蹖丕賴蹖貙 讴賲鬲乇蹖賳 毓丕賯亘鬲 蹖讴 噩丕賳蹖賽 賳丕亘睾賴 禺賵丕賴丿 亘賵丿馃枻
禺胤 亘賴 禺胤 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘貙 丿丕乇賴 毓氐蹖丕賳賽 蹖賴 乇賵丨賽 亘賴 亘賳丿讴卮蹖丿賴鈥� 卮丿賴鈥屰� 賲胤乇賵丿 乇賵 賳卮賵賳 賲蹖鈥屫囏� 讴賴 賵賯鬲蹖 卮讴丕賮蹖 賲丕亘蹖賳"丌賳趩賴 賴爻鬲" 賵 "丌賳趩賴 賲蹖鈥屫堌з嗀� 亘丕卮丿" 賲蹖鈥屫ㄛ屬嗁囏� 爻乇 亘賴 爻乇讴卮蹖 賵 賳丕亘賵丿蹖 賲蹖鈥屫柏ж辟�. 賴賲賴鈥屭嗃屫� 乇賵 禺丕讴爻鬲乇 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁� 鬲丕 趩蹖夭賴丕蹖蹖 乇賵 鬲噩乇亘賴 讴賳賴 讴賴 胤亘蹖毓鬲卮 賲蹖鈥屫焚勜ㄛ屫� 丕賲丕 丕夭卮 丿乇蹖睾 卮丿賴 亘賵丿!
乇賵丨 丕乇蹖讴貙 亘丿賵賳 丕蹖賳鈥屭┵� 禺賵丿卮 賲鬲賵噩賴 亘丕卮賴貙 乇丕賵蹖 亘賴 丨賯賽 丕蹖賳 鬲乇丕跇丿蹖 丿乇丿賳丕讴 亘賵丿. 亘丕乇賴丕 亘丕 禺胤 亘賴 禺胤賽 丕蹖賳 乇賵丕蹖鬲賽 噩诏乇爻賵夭 賵 丌乇夭賵賴丕蹖 丿賵乇 賵 丿乇丕夭 丕乇蹖讴 鬲賵蹖 鬲賳賴丕蹖蹖鈥屬囏ж簇� 亘睾囟 诏賱賵賲 乇賵 賮卮乇丿 賵 禺賵丕爻鬲賲 讴鬲丕亘 乇賵 賲鬲賵賯賮 讴賳賲 丕賲丕 賳鬲賵賳爻鬲賲. 賯氐賴鈥屰� 丕賵賳貙 賯氐賴鈥屰� 蹖賴 毓氐蹖丕賳賴. 蹖賴 禺蹖夭卮貙 蹖賴 賯蹖丕賲 亘乇丕蹖 丕孬亘丕鬲 賴爻鬲蹖鈥屫ж� 鬲賵蹖 噩賴丕賳蹖 讴賴 賲蹖賱蹖 亘賴 丿蹖丿賳卮 賳丿丕卮鬲. 乇丕爻鬲卮 丕夭 蹖讴鈥屫й屰� 亘賴 亘毓丿貙 丕乇蹖讴 丿蹖诏賴 丿爻鬲 丕夭 鬲賱丕卮 亘乇丕蹖 丕孬亘丕鬲 "賲賵噩賵丿蹖鬲" 禺賵丿卮 讴卮蹖丿 賵 噩乇蹖丕賳 夭賳丿诏蹖 乇賵 丕賵賳胤賵乇 讴賴 匕丕鬲卮 賲蹖鈥屬矩迟嗀屫� 亘賴 丿爻鬲 诏乇賮鬲.
賴賲賵賳噩丕 亘賵丿 讴賴 丕乇蹖讴貙 亘蹖鈥屬囐堌� 丕夭 讴賵丿讴蹖 亘賴 亘夭乇诏爻丕賱蹖 倬乇鬲丕亘 卮丿 賵 賮丕氐賱賴鈥屰� 亘蹖賳 丕蹖賳 丿賵 亘乇賴賴貙 亘賴 丕賳丿丕夭賴鈥屰� 蹖讴 卮亘 鬲丕 氐亘丨 亘賵丿馃ズ
賲賳 亘乇丕蹖 鬲讴鈥屫� 倬賱丕鬲鈥屬囏й� 丕蹖賳 賯氐賴 丕丨鬲乇丕賲 禺丕氐蹖 賯丕卅賱賲 賵 毓賲蹖賯丕賸 禺賵丿賲 乇賵 鬲賵卮 賲蹖鈥屫ㄛ屬嗁�. 賲孬賱 蹖賴 丌蹖蹖賳賴鈥屰� 卮賮丕賮. 賲蹖鈥屬嗁堐屫迟� 亘乇丕蹖 賲丕丿賱蹖賳 亘丕 鬲賲丕賲 丕卮鬲亘丕賴丕鬲卮貙 亘乇丕蹖 亘賵爻賴鈥屫й� 讴賴 丿乇蹖睾 讴乇丿. 亘乇丕蹖 賳丕丿乇 賵 賯賱亘 賲賴乇亘丕賳蹖 讴賴 賲丕蹖賱鈥屬囏� 丿賵乇鬲乇貙 賲乇丕賯亘 丿賵爻鬲丕賳卮 亘賵丿. 亘乇丕蹖 讴乇蹖爻鬲蹖賳 賵 乇賵丨蹖 讴賴 亘禺丕胤乇 丕乇蹖讴 毓乇蹖丕賳 讴乇丿. 亘乇丕蹖 丕毓鬲賲丕丿卮 亘賴 賮乇卮鬲賴鈥屰� 賲賵爻蹖賯蹖. 亘乇丕蹖 乇丕卅賵賱貙 賵 卮丕乇賱 讴賴 賳亘賵睾卮 乇賵 丕夭 讴爻蹖 亘賴 丕乇孬 亘乇丿賴 亘賵丿 讴賴 賴乇诏夭 賯乇丕乇 賳亘賵丿 亘卮賳丕爻鬲卮!
賵 丿乇 丌禺乇... 賲蹖鈥屬嗁堐屫迟� 亘乇丕蹖 丕乇蹖讴 賵 毓卮賯 亘蹖鈥屫� 賵 丕賳丿丕夭賴鈥屫ж� 亘賴 毓賱賲 賵 賲賵爻蹖賯蹖貨 亘乇丕蹖 卮亘鈥屬囏й屰� 讴賴 賮賯胤 氐丿丕卮 賲蹖鈥屫堎嗀池� 亘賴 诏賵卮 亘賯蹖賴 亘乇爻賴 賵 賳賴 趩賴乇賴鈥屫ж簇� 亘乇丕蹖 丕乇蹖讴蹖 讴賴 賵賯鬲蹖 丌賵丕夭 賲蹖鈥屫堎嗀� 賲蹖鈥屫堎嗀池� 賴蹖趩讴爻 毓賲蹖賯丕賸 丕賵賳 乇賵 丿賵爻鬲 賳禺賵丕賴丿 丿丕卮鬲. 亘乇丕蹖 亘賵爻賴鈥屫й� 讴賴 賴乇诏夭 鬲噩乇亘賴鈥� 賳讴乇丿. 亘乇丕蹖 賱丨馗賴鈥屬囏й屰� 讴賴 鬲賵蹖 賯賮爻 亘賵丿. 亘乇丕蹖 丕卮讴鈥屬囏й屰� 讴賴 賳賲蹖鈥屫臂屫� 賵 亘乇丕蹖 丕賵賳 爻丕禺鬲賲賵賳 賲禺賵賮 丕倬乇丕蹖 倬丕乇蹖爻... 讴賴 亘賴 丿爻鬲 禺賵丿卮 爻丕禺鬲賴 卮丿 賵 亘賴 丿爻鬲 禺賵丿卮 賴賲 蹖賴 乇賵夭 賳丕亘賵丿 禺賵丕賴丿 卮丿!馃槩
July 19, 2017
Phantom by Susan Kay has been a favorite of mine for a really long time. I first got hooked on Phantom of the Opera stuff in high school. I watched the movie with Gerard Butler, I read the original novel by Gaston Leroux and I found this book. Then, in college among moving stuff from dorm to home and back again, I lost my copy of it! It's probably still floating around somewhere but I bought a new copy and I'm so thrilled that I was able to read it again.
Phantom really delves into the mind of the Phantom, Erik. He isn't just a mindless psychopath living in the basement, praying on young women. He has motivation. He has his arrogance. He is brilliant and so broken in this. Every aspect of his adolescence is so twisted, from his mother refusing to give him any warmth to his imprisonment in the gypsy camp to losing the one man who he could call a father figure. You begin to understand how he became the way that he did.
God, this book hit me so hard in the heart the first time I read it. It's so dark. It's so hopeless in many ways. You see someone suffering for how they look, despite their amazing mind and you wonder what would have happened if he had had love as a child instead of fear and scorn.
鈥淚 am not forsaken! I'm no longer alone in the darkness! Before my eyes I see a thousand little devils lighting black candles along the path which leads toward the edge...the blindingly beautiful edge.鈥�
The secondary characters are remarkably well built as well. I hated his mother, Madeleine but you can understand her fear. In that time, Erik would have been seen as an abomination. There would be no place for him in society because of his image and you desperately hope that wouldn't be the case now. She was scared of this child that had so much intelligence but was hampered by her revulsion towards him. She was a young mother whose husband just died and she saw Erik as a curse. I can't imagine.
And then the Daroga. And the architect in Italy. Where he had once had hope and friendship, he managed to lose it all. I feel like throughout the book, up until he meets Christine, Erik strives to be a better person but his situation in life turns him into the sadistic person that he is.
鈥淢y mind has touched the farthest horizons of mortal imagination and reaches ever outward to embrace infinity. There is no knowledge beyond my comprehension, no art or skill upon this entire planet that lies beyond the mastery of my hand. And yet, like Faust, I look in vain, I learn in vain. . . . For as long as I live, no woman will ever look on me in love.鈥�
My biggest fault with this book is the last ten to fifteen percent. The last little bit where he finally meets Christine and succumbs to the madness that he has been fighting for so long.
鈥淪he wanted an Angel of Music . . . an angel who would make her believe in herself at last. I'd been the Angel of Doom for the khanum. There was no reason in the world why I could not be the Angel of Music for Christine. I couldn't hope to be a man to her, I couldn't ever be a real, breathing, living man waking at her side and reaching out for her . . . But I could be her angel"
I hated Christine. She follows blindly and doesn't question anything. Lamb to the slaughter. And I'm not saying that she was supposed to be more worldly since she was only 20 and had hardly experienced any of the world but I wanted her to have more doubt than she did. Erik loved the idea of her more than anything else and she knew it. She couldn't make decisions on her own except on the occasions of threats against her or others. She ruined Erik's character for me since he had been so resolute and strong for most of the book but finally crumbles under an obsession.
But I guess that's the point of it all. He is supposed to lose it. Erik finally relinquishes control of his mind and basically damns himself. It's all so sad and terrible and that's why I love this book.
If you haven't read this book, you need to. It is such a beautiful supplement to the story that most are familiar with and it only enhances the musical and the original book. Seriously, go get it. Now. Do it. It's wonderful.
Review also posted at
February 14, 2018
Re-read For Valentines Day :)
And won't change my rating...still 5 stars!
In the Original novel by Gaston Leroux, few details are given regarding Erik's past, although there is no shortage of hints & implications throughout the book.
Susan Kays novel Phantom, fills in those missing parts starting with Erik's birth & the fact his mother was horrified by his appearance.
The story unfolds with how she copes or I should say dosen't cope with this "monster child."
Right away you feel such powerful emotion for Erik, and although you want to despise Madeline for her treatment of her son, you can also understand her plight.
At times you feel she does love & want to protect him but the extreme measures she takes will scar Erik for the rest of his life.
When in a fit of anger his mother reveals her hatred of him & he in turn for her just about breaks your heart.
It was a scene that he would carry to his grave.
At this point Erik runs away..and too late, Madeline realises her love for her son.
For the rest of the story before it leads up the meeting with Christine, is such a powerful, emotional journey that you take with Erik.
You feel his pain..you visit his "dark side" as well as the very tormented & wanted to be loved side.
This book drew me in from the very first page..and had me crying at the end and wishing it wouldn't end.
The only thing I recommend you have with this book is a box of Kleenex.
This one goes on my keeper shelf! Not to miss for fans of Phantom Of The Opera!
And won't change my rating...still 5 stars!
In the Original novel by Gaston Leroux, few details are given regarding Erik's past, although there is no shortage of hints & implications throughout the book.
Susan Kays novel Phantom, fills in those missing parts starting with Erik's birth & the fact his mother was horrified by his appearance.
The story unfolds with how she copes or I should say dosen't cope with this "monster child."
Right away you feel such powerful emotion for Erik, and although you want to despise Madeline for her treatment of her son, you can also understand her plight.
At times you feel she does love & want to protect him but the extreme measures she takes will scar Erik for the rest of his life.
When in a fit of anger his mother reveals her hatred of him & he in turn for her just about breaks your heart.
It was a scene that he would carry to his grave.
At this point Erik runs away..and too late, Madeline realises her love for her son.
For the rest of the story before it leads up the meeting with Christine, is such a powerful, emotional journey that you take with Erik.
You feel his pain..you visit his "dark side" as well as the very tormented & wanted to be loved side.
This book drew me in from the very first page..and had me crying at the end and wishing it wouldn't end.
The only thing I recommend you have with this book is a box of Kleenex.
This one goes on my keeper shelf! Not to miss for fans of Phantom Of The Opera!
Currently reading
July 12, 2016Buddy-read with the amazing Hufflepuff Kitten commencing (finally! Thank you for your patience, my dear 鈾� ) June 22nd!
December 7, 2021
Update 2021 - I needed sonething beautiful to bust up my reading and this is just the thint!!!
This is one of the books I've re-read many times and loved it!
It is a book I re-read when I need a heart-wrenching story that makes you cry!
This is one of the books I've re-read many times and loved it!
It is a book I re-read when I need a heart-wrenching story that makes you cry!
September 23, 2007
First I have to say, I never really was interested in the Phantom of the Opera. I'm still not inclined to see this musical anytime soon.
But the book is different. The author uses beautiful language that describes the emotions of the characters so well that you really emphasize with them. Especially the main character Erik, who was born with a mutilated face and has to wear a mask constantly to hide it.
The book is divided in several parts with different point of views. The first part is written from the point of View of Erik's mother and describes his birth and her disgust when she first sees her son.
It was a sad read which I usually can't stand, but it also builds a lot of suspense so you always want to read on.
It was really interesting to understand how Eriks character changes throughout the years: he is rejected from society time and time again and therefore learns to hate the human race which he distances himself from.
The love story from the original story is only dealt with at the very end of the book. It was also intersting but only a very small part of the book.
But the book is different. The author uses beautiful language that describes the emotions of the characters so well that you really emphasize with them. Especially the main character Erik, who was born with a mutilated face and has to wear a mask constantly to hide it.
The book is divided in several parts with different point of views. The first part is written from the point of View of Erik's mother and describes his birth and her disgust when she first sees her son.
It was a sad read which I usually can't stand, but it also builds a lot of suspense so you always want to read on.
It was really interesting to understand how Eriks character changes throughout the years: he is rejected from society time and time again and therefore learns to hate the human race which he distances himself from.
The love story from the original story is only dealt with at the very end of the book. It was also intersting but only a very small part of the book.
March 30, 2009
I first read this book when I was 14, so it's hard to know how I would have felt about it if I'd read it now, because it is so deeply ingrained in how I approach the Phantom mythology and the character of Erik.
That said, I loved this book so much at 14 I remember reading the book during my freshman year classes, and then reading the whole thing over and over and over. Even now, I can pick up this book, flip to any random page, and just love wherever I'm at. There are only 2 other books I can do that with.
This is the reason why I love how goodread's star system work. The stars don't indicate "good book, ok book, bad book" but "I loved the book, I liked the book, etc." I would never tell you this book should be up for a Pulitzer prize, it's not Dostoevsky or Vonnegut, but it is absolutely one of my favorite and most enjoyed books of all time.
And just BTW -- why are so many reviewers calling him Eric? How could you have read a 500+ page book about this character and still get his name wrong? It's Erik. ERIK. With a K.
That said, I loved this book so much at 14 I remember reading the book during my freshman year classes, and then reading the whole thing over and over and over. Even now, I can pick up this book, flip to any random page, and just love wherever I'm at. There are only 2 other books I can do that with.
This is the reason why I love how goodread's star system work. The stars don't indicate "good book, ok book, bad book" but "I loved the book, I liked the book, etc." I would never tell you this book should be up for a Pulitzer prize, it's not Dostoevsky or Vonnegut, but it is absolutely one of my favorite and most enjoyed books of all time.
And just BTW -- why are so many reviewers calling him Eric? How could you have read a 500+ page book about this character and still get his name wrong? It's Erik. ERIK. With a K.
August 14, 2022
噩丕賲毓 鬲乇蹖賳 讴賱賲賴 亘乇丕蹖 鬲賵氐蹖賮 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 賮賯胤 丕蹖賳 丕爻鬲:
亘丕卮讴賵赖!
亘丕卮讴賵赖!
September 21, 2021
亘丕夭丌賮乇蹖賳蹖 丕丿亘蹖 賴賲蹖卮賴 讴丕乇 爻禺鬲蹖 亘賵丿賴 賵 爻禺鬲 鬲乇 丕夭 丕賵賳 丕蹖賳賴 讴賴 卮禺氐蹖鬲賽 蹖讴 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 賲賵賮賯 賵 卮賳丕禺鬲賴 卮丿賴 乇賵 丿乇 跇丕賳乇 丿蹖诏賴 亘乇丿丕乇蹖 賵 丿賵亘丕乇賴 丿乇 蹖讴 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 丿蹖诏賴 亘賴卮 噩賵賳 亘丿蹖 .
卮亘丨 丕倬乇丕蹖 倬丕乇蹖爻 诏丕賴丕 趩賳丕賳 賳诏丕賴 賴丕蹖 丿賯蹖賯 鬲丕乇蹖禺蹖 貙 賮賱爻賮蹖 ( 賮賱爻賮賴 丕禺賱丕賯 賲賳馗賵乇賲 ) 貙乇賵丕賳 卮賳丕爻蹖 賵 噩丕賲毓賴 卮賳丕爻蹖 丿丕乇賴 讴賴 賳賲蹖 鬲賵賳蹖 氐乇賮丕 蹖讴 乇賲丕賳 噩匕丕亘 賲孬賱 亘賯蹖賴 乇賲丕賳 賴丕蹖 丿丕爻鬲丕賳蹖 丿蹖诏賴 亘丿賵賳蹖卮 .
讴丕乇丕讴鬲乇 賴丕 丿乇 胤賵賱 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 乇卮丿 賲蹖 讴賳賳 賵 卮賲丕 賲蹖 鬲賵賳蹖丿 丕蹖賳 爻蹖乇 亘賱賵睾 乇賵 趩賴 丿乇 卮禺氐蹖鬲 丕氐賱蹖 蹖毓賳蹖 丕乇蹖讴 賵 趩賴 丿乇 亘賯蹖賴 卮禺氐蹖鬲 賴丕蹖 賮乇毓蹖 鬲乇 賲孬賱 賳丕丿乇 賵 乇丕卅賵賱 亘亘蹖賳蹖丿 !
丿乇 丿賵 賯爻賲鬲 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴 丕夭 賳馗乇 毓丕胤賮蹖 亘賴 卮賲丕 卮賵讴 賵丕乇丿 賲蹖 讴賳賴 貙 丕賵賱蹖 丿乇 丕賳鬲賴丕蹖 亘禺卮 倬丕乇蹖爻 賵 丿賵賲蹖 丿乇 丕賳鬲賴丕蹖 讴鬲丕亘 ! 丿乇 丕賵賱蹖 賲丕 亘丕 蹖讴 毓卮賯 丕夭 丿爻鬲 乇賮鬲賴 爻乇 賵 讴丕乇 丿丕乇蹖賲 賵 丿乇 丿賵賲蹖 毓卮賯 亘賴 鬲毓賴丿 賵 賯賵賱 賵 賯乇丕乇 !
亘賴 賳馗乇 賲賳 丕蹖賳 丿賵 賳賲賵賳賴 讴丕賲賱 鬲乇蹖賳 賵 倬禺鬲賴 鬲乇蹖賳 丿乇丕賲 賴丕蹖蹖 亘賵丿賳 讴賴 賲賳 丿乇 蹖讴 乇賲丕賳 禺賵賳丿賲卮 賵 趩賳丕賳 賳賮爻 诏蹖乇 亘賵丿賳 讴賴 賲噩亘賵乇 卮丿賲 趩賳丿 乇賵夭蹖 丕夭 丕丿丕賲賴 禺賵賳丿賳 讴鬲丕亘 丿爻鬲 亘讴卮賲 ! 丨鬲蹖 丕诏賴 丿賵爻鬲 丿丕乇蹖丿 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴 卮蹖丿 亘賴 賳馗乇賲 賲鬲賳 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 噩賳亘賴 丕賲賵夭卮蹖 賴賲 賲蹖 鬲賵賳賴 丿丕卮鬲賴 亘丕卮賴 ...
丿乇 賮氐賱 賴丕蹖 倬丕蹖丕賳蹖 卮禺氐蹖鬲 丕氐賱蹖 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 ( 丕乇蹖讴 ) 丿乇 丨丕賱蹖 讴賴 丿賴賴 賴丕 亘賵丿 丕毓鬲賯丕丿丕鬲 賲匕賴亘蹖 禺賵丿卮 乇賵 丕夭 丿爻鬲 丿丕丿賴 亘賵丿 ! 丿乇 卮乇丕蹖胤蹖 卮乇賵毓 亘賴 乇丕夭 賵 賳蹖丕夭 亘丕 禺丿丕 賲蹖 讴賳賴 賵 丨丕囟乇 亘賴 禺丕胤乇 丨賱 賲卮讴賱卮 亘賴 鬲賲丕賲 毓賴丿 賴丕蹖 诏匕卮鬲賴 亘丕夭诏乇丿賴 . 丕蹖賳 倬賱丕鬲 亘乇丕蹖 賲賳 賳賴 鬲賳賴丕 丕夭 賳馗乇 丿丕爻鬲丕賳蹖 诏蹖乇丕蹖蹖 亘丕賱丕蹖蹖 丿丕卮鬲 亘賱讴賴 賳卮賵賳 丿賴賳丿賴 丕蹖賳 丕氐賱 亘賵丿 讴賴 丕賳爻丕賳 丿乇 丕毓賲丕賯 賵噩賵丿 禺賵丿卮 賴賲蹖卮賴 賲蹖 禺賵丕丿 亘賴 賯丿乇鬲蹖 丕毓鬲賯丕丿 丿丕卮鬲賴 亘丕卮賴 讴賴 亘鬲賵賳賴 讴丕乇 賴丕蹖蹖 讴賴 禺賵丿卮 鬲賵丕賳 丕賳噩丕賲卮 乇賵 賳丿丕乇賴 亘乇丕卮 賲購蹖爻乇 讴賳賴 ! 賵 賴賲蹖賳 丿賱蹖賱蹖 讴賴 丕乇蹖讴 賴賲 蹖讴 丕賳爻丕賳 賳賴 蹖讴 賴蹖賵賱丕 !!!
亘賴 賳馗乇賲 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 丨丿丕賯賱 亘乇丕蹖 賲賳 鬲賵 乇丿賴 讴鬲丕亘賴丕蹖蹖 賲孬賱 禺賱丕亍 賲賵賯鬲 賵 亘乇丕丿乇丕賳 讴丕乇丕賲丕夭賵賮 賵 丌亘賱賵賲賵賮 賯乇丕乇 賲蹖 诏蹖乇賴 . 讴鬲丕亘 賴丕 讴賴 讴丕乇丕讴鬲乇 賴丕 鬲賵卮賵賳 乇卮丿 倬蹖丿丕 賲蹖 讴賳賳 貙 鬲睾蹖蹖乇 賲蹖 讴賳賳 ... 讴鬲丕亘 賴丕蹖蹖 讴賴 賲蹖卮賴 亘丕賴丕卮賵賳 夭賳丿诏蹖 讴乇丿 賵 禺蹖賱蹖 爻丕丿賴 亘丕 丿乇 丿爻鬲 诏乇賮鬲賳 卮賵賳 丕夭 丿賳蹖丕蹖 禺賵丿鬲 亘賴 丿賳蹖丕蹖 讴鬲丕亘 爻賮乇 讴乇丿 .
卮丿蹖丿丕 倬蹖卮賳賴丕丿 賲蹖 讴賳賲 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 乇賵 亘禺賵賳蹖丿 . 賯胤毓丕 蹖讴蹖 丕夭 亘賴鬲乇蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 賴丕蹖 鬲乇噩賲賴 卮丿賴 丿乇 亘丕夭丕乇 丕蹖乇丕賳 !
卮亘丨 丕倬乇丕蹖 倬丕乇蹖爻 诏丕賴丕 趩賳丕賳 賳诏丕賴 賴丕蹖 丿賯蹖賯 鬲丕乇蹖禺蹖 貙 賮賱爻賮蹖 ( 賮賱爻賮賴 丕禺賱丕賯 賲賳馗賵乇賲 ) 貙乇賵丕賳 卮賳丕爻蹖 賵 噩丕賲毓賴 卮賳丕爻蹖 丿丕乇賴 讴賴 賳賲蹖 鬲賵賳蹖 氐乇賮丕 蹖讴 乇賲丕賳 噩匕丕亘 賲孬賱 亘賯蹖賴 乇賲丕賳 賴丕蹖 丿丕爻鬲丕賳蹖 丿蹖诏賴 亘丿賵賳蹖卮 .
讴丕乇丕讴鬲乇 賴丕 丿乇 胤賵賱 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 乇卮丿 賲蹖 讴賳賳 賵 卮賲丕 賲蹖 鬲賵賳蹖丿 丕蹖賳 爻蹖乇 亘賱賵睾 乇賵 趩賴 丿乇 卮禺氐蹖鬲 丕氐賱蹖 蹖毓賳蹖 丕乇蹖讴 賵 趩賴 丿乇 亘賯蹖賴 卮禺氐蹖鬲 賴丕蹖 賮乇毓蹖 鬲乇 賲孬賱 賳丕丿乇 賵 乇丕卅賵賱 亘亘蹖賳蹖丿 !
丿乇 丿賵 賯爻賲鬲 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴 丕夭 賳馗乇 毓丕胤賮蹖 亘賴 卮賲丕 卮賵讴 賵丕乇丿 賲蹖 讴賳賴 貙 丕賵賱蹖 丿乇 丕賳鬲賴丕蹖 亘禺卮 倬丕乇蹖爻 賵 丿賵賲蹖 丿乇 丕賳鬲賴丕蹖 讴鬲丕亘 ! 丿乇 丕賵賱蹖 賲丕 亘丕 蹖讴 毓卮賯 丕夭 丿爻鬲 乇賮鬲賴 爻乇 賵 讴丕乇 丿丕乇蹖賲 賵 丿乇 丿賵賲蹖 毓卮賯 亘賴 鬲毓賴丿 賵 賯賵賱 賵 賯乇丕乇 !
亘賴 賳馗乇 賲賳 丕蹖賳 丿賵 賳賲賵賳賴 讴丕賲賱 鬲乇蹖賳 賵 倬禺鬲賴 鬲乇蹖賳 丿乇丕賲 賴丕蹖蹖 亘賵丿賳 讴賴 賲賳 丿乇 蹖讴 乇賲丕賳 禺賵賳丿賲卮 賵 趩賳丕賳 賳賮爻 诏蹖乇 亘賵丿賳 讴賴 賲噩亘賵乇 卮丿賲 趩賳丿 乇賵夭蹖 丕夭 丕丿丕賲賴 禺賵賳丿賳 讴鬲丕亘 丿爻鬲 亘讴卮賲 ! 丨鬲蹖 丕诏賴 丿賵爻鬲 丿丕乇蹖丿 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴 卮蹖丿 亘賴 賳馗乇賲 賲鬲賳 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 噩賳亘賴 丕賲賵夭卮蹖 賴賲 賲蹖 鬲賵賳賴 丿丕卮鬲賴 亘丕卮賴 ...
丿乇 賮氐賱 賴丕蹖 倬丕蹖丕賳蹖 卮禺氐蹖鬲 丕氐賱蹖 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 ( 丕乇蹖讴 ) 丿乇 丨丕賱蹖 讴賴 丿賴賴 賴丕 亘賵丿 丕毓鬲賯丕丿丕鬲 賲匕賴亘蹖 禺賵丿卮 乇賵 丕夭 丿爻鬲 丿丕丿賴 亘賵丿 ! 丿乇 卮乇丕蹖胤蹖 卮乇賵毓 亘賴 乇丕夭 賵 賳蹖丕夭 亘丕 禺丿丕 賲蹖 讴賳賴 賵 丨丕囟乇 亘賴 禺丕胤乇 丨賱 賲卮讴賱卮 亘賴 鬲賲丕賲 毓賴丿 賴丕蹖 诏匕卮鬲賴 亘丕夭诏乇丿賴 . 丕蹖賳 倬賱丕鬲 亘乇丕蹖 賲賳 賳賴 鬲賳賴丕 丕夭 賳馗乇 丿丕爻鬲丕賳蹖 诏蹖乇丕蹖蹖 亘丕賱丕蹖蹖 丿丕卮鬲 亘賱讴賴 賳卮賵賳 丿賴賳丿賴 丕蹖賳 丕氐賱 亘賵丿 讴賴 丕賳爻丕賳 丿乇 丕毓賲丕賯 賵噩賵丿 禺賵丿卮 賴賲蹖卮賴 賲蹖 禺賵丕丿 亘賴 賯丿乇鬲蹖 丕毓鬲賯丕丿 丿丕卮鬲賴 亘丕卮賴 讴賴 亘鬲賵賳賴 讴丕乇 賴丕蹖蹖 讴賴 禺賵丿卮 鬲賵丕賳 丕賳噩丕賲卮 乇賵 賳丿丕乇賴 亘乇丕卮 賲購蹖爻乇 讴賳賴 ! 賵 賴賲蹖賳 丿賱蹖賱蹖 讴賴 丕乇蹖讴 賴賲 蹖讴 丕賳爻丕賳 賳賴 蹖讴 賴蹖賵賱丕 !!!
亘賴 賳馗乇賲 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 丨丿丕賯賱 亘乇丕蹖 賲賳 鬲賵 乇丿賴 讴鬲丕亘賴丕蹖蹖 賲孬賱 禺賱丕亍 賲賵賯鬲 賵 亘乇丕丿乇丕賳 讴丕乇丕賲丕夭賵賮 賵 丌亘賱賵賲賵賮 賯乇丕乇 賲蹖 诏蹖乇賴 . 讴鬲丕亘 賴丕 讴賴 讴丕乇丕讴鬲乇 賴丕 鬲賵卮賵賳 乇卮丿 倬蹖丿丕 賲蹖 讴賳賳 貙 鬲睾蹖蹖乇 賲蹖 讴賳賳 ... 讴鬲丕亘 賴丕蹖蹖 讴賴 賲蹖卮賴 亘丕賴丕卮賵賳 夭賳丿诏蹖 讴乇丿 賵 禺蹖賱蹖 爻丕丿賴 亘丕 丿乇 丿爻鬲 诏乇賮鬲賳 卮賵賳 丕夭 丿賳蹖丕蹖 禺賵丿鬲 亘賴 丿賳蹖丕蹖 讴鬲丕亘 爻賮乇 讴乇丿 .
卮丿蹖丿丕 倬蹖卮賳賴丕丿 賲蹖 讴賳賲 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 乇賵 亘禺賵賳蹖丿 . 賯胤毓丕 蹖讴蹖 丕夭 亘賴鬲乇蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 賴丕蹖 鬲乇噩賲賴 卮丿賴 丿乇 亘丕夭丕乇 丕蹖乇丕賳 !
August 30, 2018
丿丕爻鬲丕賳 賲賴賷噩 賵 賯卮賳诏賷 丿丕乇丿. 亘毓丿 丕夭 禺賵丕賳丿賳 賰鬲丕亘貙 丿賷丿賳 賮賷賱賲 賵 賴賲趩賳賷賳 賲賵爻賷賯賷 夭賷亘丕 賮賷賱賲 禺賷賱賷 賲賷 趩爻亘丿. 丕噩乇丕賷 賲禺鬲賱賮賷 丕夭丕賷賳 賰鬲丕亘 卮丿賴 丕爻鬲. 夭賳丿賷诏賷 丕乇賷賰 禺賷賱賷 毓噩賷亘 丕爻鬲 貙 賴賷賵賱丕賷賷 賰賴 賰丕乇賴丕賷 賵丨卮鬲賳丕賰賷 賰乇丿賴 丨鬲賷 賯鬲賱 丕賲賷乇 賰亘賷乇 賵賱賷 亘丕 禺賵丕賳丿賳 爻乇诏匕卮鬲 丕賵 丕夭 禺乇丿爻丕賱賷 鬲丕 賲乇诏 賳賲賷 鬲賵丕賳賷賲 亘诏賵賷賷賲 賰賴 賲賯氐乇 鬲賲丕賲 賰丕乇賴丕賷賷 賰賴 丕賳噩丕賲 丿丕丿賴 禺賵丿卮 丕爻鬲
July 8, 2015
I have no words for how amazing this book is. BEST adaptation of the Phantom of the Opera I've ever read. Just ... wow.
December 17, 2024
4.5 stars 猸愶笍猸愶笍猸愶笍猸愶笍馃専 not me actually liking this more than the original novel 馃槶馃槶
I don鈥檛 even know what all to say about this, especially because my reviews always lean more towards keyboard smashing in general to convey my jumbled emotions and thoughts about whatever I just read.
For now, I鈥檒l say that this definitely took the bones of the original novel, and the strengths of the musical (sans music), and really gave us a story that fills in the gaps I know I certainly wanted filled while reading the og novel and watching the musical.
I do have my issues with it (racism, sexual assault/attitudes surrounding women & women鈥檚 bodies and sexuality, weird incestuous implications at multiple parts of the story) but many of these can absolutely be chalked up to period accuracy and geography, and my overall experience wasn鈥檛 completely bogged down by those things.
I was right, Nadir and Erik鈥檚 friendship was my favorite dynamic in this entire story- they鈥檙e just fun to watch/read!
While I typically cannot stand books with more than three povs, the multiple povs in this book gave a lot more context to things I would wonder about the story- Erik鈥檚 parents, him and Nadir, his general life experience and what led to him in the Opera House, and then his relationship with Christine and the aftermath of that. I got the answers I needed, and I鈥檓 not disappointed in the least!
This won鈥檛 be for everyone, but it was for me!
I will be doing my annual 25th anniversary show rewatch and crying now that I can recognize a lot more angles to the story.
I don鈥檛 even know what all to say about this, especially because my reviews always lean more towards keyboard smashing in general to convey my jumbled emotions and thoughts about whatever I just read.
For now, I鈥檒l say that this definitely took the bones of the original novel, and the strengths of the musical (sans music), and really gave us a story that fills in the gaps I know I certainly wanted filled while reading the og novel and watching the musical.
I do have my issues with it (racism, sexual assault/attitudes surrounding women & women鈥檚 bodies and sexuality, weird incestuous implications at multiple parts of the story) but many of these can absolutely be chalked up to period accuracy and geography, and my overall experience wasn鈥檛 completely bogged down by those things.
I was right, Nadir and Erik鈥檚 friendship was my favorite dynamic in this entire story- they鈥檙e just fun to watch/read!
While I typically cannot stand books with more than three povs, the multiple povs in this book gave a lot more context to things I would wonder about the story- Erik鈥檚 parents, him and Nadir, his general life experience and what led to him in the Opera House, and then his relationship with Christine and the aftermath of that. I got the answers I needed, and I鈥檓 not disappointed in the least!
This won鈥檛 be for everyone, but it was for me!
I will be doing my annual 25th anniversary show rewatch and crying now that I can recognize a lot more angles to the story.
February 8, 2025
丕賳賯丿乇 丨乇賮 丿丕乇賲 乇丕噩亘卮 亘夭賳賲 讴賴 鬲乇噩蹖丨 賲蹖丿賲 爻讴賵鬲 讴賳賲 蹖丕 丨丿丕賯賱 亘丕 趩賳丿 禺胤 賳丕賯丕亘賱 丕賵賳賵 亘賴 丕鬲賲丕賲 亘乇爻賵賳賲!
賲賳 亘丕 禺賵賳丿賳 賳爻禺賴 丕氐賱蹖 卮亘丨 丕倬乇丕 禺蹖賱蹖 丌卮賮鬲賴 卮丿賴 亘賵丿賲貨 禺蹖賱蹖 趩蹖夭賴丕 亘乇丕賲 诏賳诏 賲賵賳丿賴 亘賵丿 賵 趩賵賳 噩賵丕亘蹖 亘乇丕卮賵賳 倬蹖丿丕 賳賲蹖讴乇丿賲 毓氐亘丕賳蹖 亘賵丿賲.
丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 蹖賴 亘丕夭賳賵蹖爻蹖 賮賵賯 丕賱毓丕丿賴 亘賵丿 讴賴 亘丕 卮賮丕賮蹖鬲卮 亘賴 賲毓賳丕蹖 賵丕賯毓蹖 丌乇賵賲賲 讴乇丿 賵 丕夭 鬲賴 丿賱 "丌禺蹖卮" 诏賮鬲賲.
丕蹖丿賴 丕氐賱蹖 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 禺蹖賱蹖 倬鬲丕賳爻蹖賱 亘丕賱丕蹖蹖 亘乇丕蹖 賳賵卮鬲賳 賵 亘丕夭賳賵蹖爻蹖 丿丕卮鬲 讴賴 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴 亘賴 亘賴鬲乇蹖賳 卮讴賱 丕夭卮 丕爻鬲賮丕丿賴 讴乇丿賴 亘賵丿 賵 亘丕 噩爻丕乇鬲 賯丕亘賱 鬲丨爻蹖賳卮 讴鬲丕亘蹖 乇賵 禺賱賯 讴乇丿賴 讴賴 丨鬲蹖 賲丨亘賵亘 鬲乇 丕夭 丕氐賱卮 賲蹖鬲賵賳賴 亘丕卮賴貨 丨丿丕賯賱 亘乇丕蹖 賲賳.
卮亘丨 丕倬乇丕蹖 倬丕乇蹖爻貙 倬乇 丕夭 丕丨爻丕爻丕鬲 毓賲蹖賯 亘賵丿 賵 賲賳 讴賱蹖 賴賲 亘丕亘鬲卮 丕卮讴 乇蹖禺鬲賲 讴賴 丕蹖賳 賲賵囟賵毓 丕乇夭卮 丕賵賳 乇賵 亘乇丕賲 亘蹖卮鬲乇 賲蹖讴賳賴.
丕夭 蹖噩丕蹖蹖 亘賴 亘毓丿 丨爻 讴乇丿賲 賲丨鬲賵丕蹖 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 趩蹖夭 噩丿蹖丿蹖 亘乇丕蹖 诏賮鬲賳 賳丿丕乇賴 賵 賴賲賴 趩蹖夭 賴賲賵賳胤賵乇蹖 讴賴 丕賳鬲馗丕乇 丿丕乇賲 倬蹖卮 賲蹖乇賴 賵 睾賲诏蹖賳 亘賵丿賲 丕夭 丕蹖賳 賲賵囟賵毓 丕賲丕 賵賯鬲蹖 亘賴 丕禺乇卮 乇爻蹖丿賲 禺賵卮丨丕賱 亘賵丿賲 讴賴 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 胤賵乇 丿蹖诏賴 丕蹖 倬蹖卮 乇賮鬲.
禺賱丕氐賴 讴賴 倬蹖卮賳賴丕丿卮 賲蹖讴賳賲"
賲賳 亘丕 禺賵賳丿賳 賳爻禺賴 丕氐賱蹖 卮亘丨 丕倬乇丕 禺蹖賱蹖 丌卮賮鬲賴 卮丿賴 亘賵丿賲貨 禺蹖賱蹖 趩蹖夭賴丕 亘乇丕賲 诏賳诏 賲賵賳丿賴 亘賵丿 賵 趩賵賳 噩賵丕亘蹖 亘乇丕卮賵賳 倬蹖丿丕 賳賲蹖讴乇丿賲 毓氐亘丕賳蹖 亘賵丿賲.
丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 蹖賴 亘丕夭賳賵蹖爻蹖 賮賵賯 丕賱毓丕丿賴 亘賵丿 讴賴 亘丕 卮賮丕賮蹖鬲卮 亘賴 賲毓賳丕蹖 賵丕賯毓蹖 丌乇賵賲賲 讴乇丿 賵 丕夭 鬲賴 丿賱 "丌禺蹖卮" 诏賮鬲賲.
丕蹖丿賴 丕氐賱蹖 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 禺蹖賱蹖 倬鬲丕賳爻蹖賱 亘丕賱丕蹖蹖 亘乇丕蹖 賳賵卮鬲賳 賵 亘丕夭賳賵蹖爻蹖 丿丕卮鬲 讴賴 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴 亘賴 亘賴鬲乇蹖賳 卮讴賱 丕夭卮 丕爻鬲賮丕丿賴 讴乇丿賴 亘賵丿 賵 亘丕 噩爻丕乇鬲 賯丕亘賱 鬲丨爻蹖賳卮 讴鬲丕亘蹖 乇賵 禺賱賯 讴乇丿賴 讴賴 丨鬲蹖 賲丨亘賵亘 鬲乇 丕夭 丕氐賱卮 賲蹖鬲賵賳賴 亘丕卮賴貨 丨丿丕賯賱 亘乇丕蹖 賲賳.
卮亘丨 丕倬乇丕蹖 倬丕乇蹖爻貙 倬乇 丕夭 丕丨爻丕爻丕鬲 毓賲蹖賯 亘賵丿 賵 賲賳 讴賱蹖 賴賲 亘丕亘鬲卮 丕卮讴 乇蹖禺鬲賲 讴賴 丕蹖賳 賲賵囟賵毓 丕乇夭卮 丕賵賳 乇賵 亘乇丕賲 亘蹖卮鬲乇 賲蹖讴賳賴.
丕夭 蹖噩丕蹖蹖 亘賴 亘毓丿 丨爻 讴乇丿賲 賲丨鬲賵丕蹖 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 趩蹖夭 噩丿蹖丿蹖 亘乇丕蹖 诏賮鬲賳 賳丿丕乇賴 賵 賴賲賴 趩蹖夭 賴賲賵賳胤賵乇蹖 讴賴 丕賳鬲馗丕乇 丿丕乇賲 倬蹖卮 賲蹖乇賴 賵 睾賲诏蹖賳 亘賵丿賲 丕夭 丕蹖賳 賲賵囟賵毓 丕賲丕 賵賯鬲蹖 亘賴 丕禺乇卮 乇爻蹖丿賲 禺賵卮丨丕賱 亘賵丿賲 讴賴 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 胤賵乇 丿蹖诏賴 丕蹖 倬蹖卮 乇賮鬲.
禺賱丕氐賴 讴賴 倬蹖卮賳賴丕丿卮 賲蹖讴賳賲"
December 14, 2019
I'm still going to give this book five stars, even if I found the last half of the book not as emotional or well written as the first half. I don't think anyone can top this retelling. It is beautifully written and truly captures the heart and soul of the Phantom, whom I've always been fascinated by but who has always remained only half formed in my mind, never fully developed. Susan brought him to life in this novel, and allowed the reader to follow him through his tragic life, from the time he was born, hideous and disfigured, to the end of his tale, when he meets Christine.
If not for the near instant devotion he gave to Christine, which didn't really make sense given the way Susan Kay portrayed his character, I would see no flaws in this book. But their relationship, and the Phantom's subsequent attachment to a girl who even Christine herself acknowledges as fickle and childish, made me enjoy the final chapters a bit less.
I wanted more depth in their relationship, like there was depth in the Phantom's relationships with his mother, and his teacher, and Nadir, his friend. I still bought their love story by the end, but I can't help but wondering if it was out of intense desire for this novel to be perfect to me. They definitely had a connection, but it was not grown slowly and beautifully. Instead it was immediate and almost made me resent Christine for not being an interesting enough character and being so easily able to win the Phantom's love.
Raoul was also annoying as hell in this adaption. Whenever I watch the Royal Albert Hall version of the play, I always have a certain fondness for Raoul. The way Hadley Frasier portrays him makes me actually believe he was a worthy rival for Christine's affections. When I watch the play, I can understand why near the end (when she finally finds out the Phantom is not her dad, which isn't a plot point in this book by the way, thank God) she is torn between them. In this book, I wanted Raoul to be killed off about as much as the Phantom did. He was such a sniveling, boy man, and since Christine was already plenty sniveling, she needed someone grown up, who could pull her up into the grown up world with him. And while the Phantom does remain a perpetual child in many respects(due to his trauma), he is a lot more grown up than either of them.
Regardless of my complaints, this really is a brilliant book. It's the story of man who above all else, wants to be loved, but can never admit it, and a faithless girl who finally does, after she gets the man she thought she wanted.
TW: Murder, torture, child abuse
If not for the near instant devotion he gave to Christine, which didn't really make sense given the way Susan Kay portrayed his character, I would see no flaws in this book. But their relationship, and the Phantom's subsequent attachment to a girl who even Christine herself acknowledges as fickle and childish, made me enjoy the final chapters a bit less.
I wanted more depth in their relationship, like there was depth in the Phantom's relationships with his mother, and his teacher, and Nadir, his friend. I still bought their love story by the end, but I can't help but wondering if it was out of intense desire for this novel to be perfect to me. They definitely had a connection, but it was not grown slowly and beautifully. Instead it was immediate and almost made me resent Christine for not being an interesting enough character and being so easily able to win the Phantom's love.
Raoul was also annoying as hell in this adaption. Whenever I watch the Royal Albert Hall version of the play, I always have a certain fondness for Raoul. The way Hadley Frasier portrays him makes me actually believe he was a worthy rival for Christine's affections. When I watch the play, I can understand why near the end (when she finally finds out the Phantom is not her dad, which isn't a plot point in this book by the way, thank God) she is torn between them. In this book, I wanted Raoul to be killed off about as much as the Phantom did. He was such a sniveling, boy man, and since Christine was already plenty sniveling, she needed someone grown up, who could pull her up into the grown up world with him. And while the Phantom does remain a perpetual child in many respects(due to his trauma), he is a lot more grown up than either of them.
Regardless of my complaints, this really is a brilliant book. It's the story of man who above all else, wants to be loved, but can never admit it, and a faithless girl who finally does, after she gets the man she thought she wanted.
TW: Murder, torture, child abuse
August 3, 2024
丕蹖賳 乇賴丕 讴賳 毓卮賯 賴丕蹖 氐賵乇鬲蹖
賳蹖爻鬲 亘乇 氐賵乇鬲 賳賴 亘乇 乇賵蹖 爻鬲蹖
丌賳趩賴 賲毓卮賵賯 丕爻鬲 氐賵乇鬲 賳蹖爻鬲 丌賳
禺賵丕賴 毓卮賯 丕蹖賳 噩賴丕賳 禺賵丕賴 丌賳 噩賴丕賳
丌賳趩賴 亘乇 氐賵乇鬲 鬲賵 毓丕卮賯 诏卮鬲賴 丕蹖
趩賵賳 亘乇賵賳 卮丿 噩丕賳 趩乇丕蹖卮 賴卮鬲賴 丕蹖責
氐賵乇鬲卮 亘乇 噩丕爻鬲 丕蹖賳 爻蹖乇蹖 夭 趩蹖爻鬲
毓丕卮賯丕. 賵丕 噩賵 讴賴 賲毓卮賵賯 鬲賵 讴蹖爻鬲
賲賵賱丕賳丕
賳蹖爻鬲 亘乇 氐賵乇鬲 賳賴 亘乇 乇賵蹖 爻鬲蹖
丌賳趩賴 賲毓卮賵賯 丕爻鬲 氐賵乇鬲 賳蹖爻鬲 丌賳
禺賵丕賴 毓卮賯 丕蹖賳 噩賴丕賳 禺賵丕賴 丌賳 噩賴丕賳
丌賳趩賴 亘乇 氐賵乇鬲 鬲賵 毓丕卮賯 诏卮鬲賴 丕蹖
趩賵賳 亘乇賵賳 卮丿 噩丕賳 趩乇丕蹖卮 賴卮鬲賴 丕蹖責
氐賵乇鬲卮 亘乇 噩丕爻鬲 丕蹖賳 爻蹖乇蹖 夭 趩蹖爻鬲
毓丕卮賯丕. 賵丕 噩賵 讴賴 賲毓卮賵賯 鬲賵 讴蹖爻鬲
賲賵賱丕賳丕
February 9, 2017
Rating: 4.5 stars
I recently read , and while I liked it, I didn't love it. The character of Erik fascinated me, but I resented it when Christine and Raoul interrupted his story; they seemed almost superfluous, they bored me, they got in the way. So when Susan Kay's Phantom was recommended, I jumped at the chance to discover more about the enigmatic Erik.
Phantom begins with his birth; horribly disfigured, he's instantly rejected by his mother, a rejection which will impact upon his life forever. Persuaded by a priest to take him home and care for him but to never show him in public, the first thing she does is fashion a mask for her newborn son. But the mask cannot disguise her revulsion and the care she gives him is the basic minimum, unable and unwilling to show him any love or affection.
Hers is the first rejection of many, and as Erik grows from boy to man he suffers every humiliation and betrayal, retreating into the angry solitary life he creates for himself, living by his own set of rules and hardening his mind against humanity. Precociously gifted and perpetually feared, he travels the world with his mesmerising talents and murderous tendencies, but beneath the cruel exterior lies a man with a heart and soul, desperate for love and acceptance however suppressed those feeling might be; this heart and soul are glimpsed by a very select few who lives are touched by his loyal and gentle compassion. Up until this point, I adored everything about this novel. It's haunting and heartbreaking, and oh how my heart bled for this tender, terrifying man.
Unfortunately, the book came undone for me in the last quarter where it joins forces with The Phantom of the Opera in a virtual retelling of Christine and Raoul's part. With my preconceived dislike of them I accept that I'm to blame here, but I lost interest and began skim-reading; a frustrating end to an otherwise utterly riveting read.
2 stars from when Christine takes centre stage which brings my overall rating down, but the full 5 stars for Erik's spellbinding backstory; his tragically tormented tale will stay with me for a long time.
I recently read , and while I liked it, I didn't love it. The character of Erik fascinated me, but I resented it when Christine and Raoul interrupted his story; they seemed almost superfluous, they bored me, they got in the way. So when Susan Kay's Phantom was recommended, I jumped at the chance to discover more about the enigmatic Erik.
Phantom begins with his birth; horribly disfigured, he's instantly rejected by his mother, a rejection which will impact upon his life forever. Persuaded by a priest to take him home and care for him but to never show him in public, the first thing she does is fashion a mask for her newborn son. But the mask cannot disguise her revulsion and the care she gives him is the basic minimum, unable and unwilling to show him any love or affection.
Hers is the first rejection of many, and as Erik grows from boy to man he suffers every humiliation and betrayal, retreating into the angry solitary life he creates for himself, living by his own set of rules and hardening his mind against humanity. Precociously gifted and perpetually feared, he travels the world with his mesmerising talents and murderous tendencies, but beneath the cruel exterior lies a man with a heart and soul, desperate for love and acceptance however suppressed those feeling might be; this heart and soul are glimpsed by a very select few who lives are touched by his loyal and gentle compassion. Up until this point, I adored everything about this novel. It's haunting and heartbreaking, and oh how my heart bled for this tender, terrifying man.
Unfortunately, the book came undone for me in the last quarter where it joins forces with The Phantom of the Opera in a virtual retelling of Christine and Raoul's part. With my preconceived dislike of them I accept that I'm to blame here, but I lost interest and began skim-reading; a frustrating end to an otherwise utterly riveting read.
2 stars from when Christine takes centre stage which brings my overall rating down, but the full 5 stars for Erik's spellbinding backstory; his tragically tormented tale will stay with me for a long time.
March 10, 2013
Oh boy. I could talk about this book for longer than it takes to read it, but I think I can sum up my feelings on it in one sentence.
It is my absolute favorite novel that I have ever read.
I have read quite a few novels. It's hard to decisively say which is my favorite. That is, it would be hard, had I not read this book.
I've been in a sort of love affair with the story of the Phantom of the Opera for a year or so now. It started with a webcomic. That's another story. Right now we're talking about an absolutely brilliant book.
I've read this book cover to cover twice. The first time, while it affected me, I really hadn't thought about the character enough to realize how in-depth the story goes. The second time I read it, I could only read a couple of pages at a time before having to put it down because of how damn powerful it is.
Susan Kay really knows how to use characters and the dynamics between them. Every relationship is believable, from that of Madeleine to Marie to Erik and Nadir. They all have their distinct characterizations.
Kay has created what is one of the best books that very few people seem to know about. I would recommend it to literally anyone.
It is my absolute favorite novel that I have ever read.
I have read quite a few novels. It's hard to decisively say which is my favorite. That is, it would be hard, had I not read this book.
I've been in a sort of love affair with the story of the Phantom of the Opera for a year or so now. It started with a webcomic. That's another story. Right now we're talking about an absolutely brilliant book.
I've read this book cover to cover twice. The first time, while it affected me, I really hadn't thought about the character enough to realize how in-depth the story goes. The second time I read it, I could only read a couple of pages at a time before having to put it down because of how damn powerful it is.
Susan Kay really knows how to use characters and the dynamics between them. Every relationship is believable, from that of Madeleine to Marie to Erik and Nadir. They all have their distinct characterizations.
Kay has created what is one of the best books that very few people seem to know about. I would recommend it to literally anyone.
September 27, 2021
This is one of the books that I would re-read once a year (sometimes more) since I discovered it almost 15 years ago at my school library. A must read for phantom of the opera lovers.
One of the most expensive book I've owned. It was really hard to track it down and I had to go to one of the big bookstores in the city center to order it, but this book is worth every cent. This book is centered around Erik's background since he was born up to the burning of the opera. If you ever wonder about Erik's background, wonder no more. This book is wonderful and I simply can't express my appreciation for it. Thank you, Ms. Kay for such a lovely book.
One of the most expensive book I've owned. It was really hard to track it down and I had to go to one of the big bookstores in the city center to order it, but this book is worth every cent. This book is centered around Erik's background since he was born up to the burning of the opera. If you ever wonder about Erik's background, wonder no more. This book is wonderful and I simply can't express my appreciation for it. Thank you, Ms. Kay for such a lovely book.
March 18, 2021
毓蹖丿鈥� 丿賵爻丕賱 倬蹖卮貙 賲賳 讴鬲丕亘 卮亘丨 丕倬乇丕 乇賵 卮乇賵毓 讴乇丿賲 賵 夭蹖丕丿 丿賵爻鬲卮 賳丿丕卮鬲賲.
丕賲爻丕賱貙 讴丕賳賱丕 鬲氐丕丿賮蹖 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 乇賵 亘乇丕蹖 禺賵賳丿賳 丕賳鬲禺丕亘 讴乇丿賲貙 丿乇 氐賵乇鬲蹖讴賴 賳賲蹖丿賵賳爻鬲賲 丕賱賴丕賲 诏乇賮鬲賴 丕夭 讴鬲丕亘 卮亘丨 丕倬乇丕爻鬲..
禺蹖賱蹖 禺蹖賱蹖 噩匕丕亘鬲乇貙 乇賵丕賳鬲乇 賵 讴丕賲賱鬲乇 亘賵丿..
毓卮賯 賵 賴蹖噩丕賳 丿乇 讴賱 讴鬲丕亘 噩乇蹖丕賳 丿丕卮鬲 賵 丕蹖賳 丿賵 毓賳氐乇 讴鬲丕亘 乇賵 鬲亘丿蹖賱 讴乇丿賴 亘賵丿賳丿 亘賴 趩蹖夭蹖 讴賴 賳賲蹖鬲賵賳爻鬲蹖 夭賲蹖賳 亘匕丕乇蹖卮.
賵噩賵丿 賲乇丿 丕蹖乇丕賳蹖 丿乇 讴鬲丕亘貙 賵 爻賮乇 丕乇蹖讴(卮禺氐蹖鬲 丕氐賱蹖 丿丕爻鬲丕賳) 亘賴 丕蹖乇丕賳 丿乇 夭賲丕 賳丕氐乇丕賱丿蹖賳 卮丕賴 賵 賳賯卮卮 丿乇 賯鬲賱 丕賲蹖乇讴亘蹖乇貙 賲賳 乇賵 亘賴 毓賳賵丕賳 蹖讴 禺賵丕賳賳丿賴 丕蹖乇丕賳蹖 亘賴 卮賵賯 丕賵乇丿..
丕賲爻丕賱貙 讴丕賳賱丕 鬲氐丕丿賮蹖 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 乇賵 亘乇丕蹖 禺賵賳丿賳 丕賳鬲禺丕亘 讴乇丿賲貙 丿乇 氐賵乇鬲蹖讴賴 賳賲蹖丿賵賳爻鬲賲 丕賱賴丕賲 诏乇賮鬲賴 丕夭 讴鬲丕亘 卮亘丨 丕倬乇丕爻鬲..
禺蹖賱蹖 禺蹖賱蹖 噩匕丕亘鬲乇貙 乇賵丕賳鬲乇 賵 讴丕賲賱鬲乇 亘賵丿..
毓卮賯 賵 賴蹖噩丕賳 丿乇 讴賱 讴鬲丕亘 噩乇蹖丕賳 丿丕卮鬲 賵 丕蹖賳 丿賵 毓賳氐乇 讴鬲丕亘 乇賵 鬲亘丿蹖賱 讴乇丿賴 亘賵丿賳丿 亘賴 趩蹖夭蹖 讴賴 賳賲蹖鬲賵賳爻鬲蹖 夭賲蹖賳 亘匕丕乇蹖卮.
賵噩賵丿 賲乇丿 丕蹖乇丕賳蹖 丿乇 讴鬲丕亘貙 賵 爻賮乇 丕乇蹖讴(卮禺氐蹖鬲 丕氐賱蹖 丿丕爻鬲丕賳) 亘賴 丕蹖乇丕賳 丿乇 夭賲丕 賳丕氐乇丕賱丿蹖賳 卮丕賴 賵 賳賯卮卮 丿乇 賯鬲賱 丕賲蹖乇讴亘蹖乇貙 賲賳 乇賵 亘賴 毓賳賵丕賳 蹖讴 禺賵丕賳賳丿賴 丕蹖乇丕賳蹖 亘賴 卮賵賯 丕賵乇丿..
August 24, 2014
鬲賵囟蹖丨 夭蹖亘丕蹖蹖 丕蹖賳 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 丕夭 鬲賵丕賳 賲賳 禺丕乇噩賴.
丕夭 禺賵亘蹖丕卮 丕蹖賳 亘賵丿 讴賴 賮賯胤 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 亘賵丿. 蹖毓賳蹖 賴賲賴 趩蹖夭卮 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 亘賵丿貙賳賴 賮賱爻賮賴 賵 丿乇爻 夭賳丿诏蹖 賵 爻禺賳丕賳蹖 讴賴 鬲賵 賮讴乇 賮乇賵 亘亘乇賳 丌丿賲賵.
蹖賴 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 倬乇 丕夭 丕丨爻丕爻 賴丕蹖 毓賲蹖賯 賵 賱馗蹖賮 丕賳爻丕賳蹖
丕夭 禺賵亘蹖丕卮 丕蹖賳 亘賵丿 讴賴 賮賯胤 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 亘賵丿. 蹖毓賳蹖 賴賲賴 趩蹖夭卮 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 亘賵丿貙賳賴 賮賱爻賮賴 賵 丿乇爻 夭賳丿诏蹖 賵 爻禺賳丕賳蹖 讴賴 鬲賵 賮讴乇 賮乇賵 亘亘乇賳 丌丿賲賵.
蹖賴 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 倬乇 丕夭 丕丨爻丕爻 賴丕蹖 毓賲蹖賯 賵 賱馗蹖賮 丕賳爻丕賳蹖
September 13, 2008
This is one of my favorite books. If you like the story of the Phantom of the Opera, you'll be both astounded and heartbroken by Susan Kay's portrayal of Eric's life - from his birth, to after his death.
Often, with tales from the "bad guy's" perspective, you start to feel sorry for the antagonist. The traditional Phantom of the Opera does this already; you feel sorry for the "bad guy," but you ultimately end up siding with Christine.
Phantom does something a little different. You fall in love with him, you obsess over him and with him, you despair with him, you agree with his every action and cheer him on, and you're surprised by his strength and intellect on every single page. And don't worry, you can see his art and hear his music as you read. Yes, it's THAT awesome.
Often, with tales from the "bad guy's" perspective, you start to feel sorry for the antagonist. The traditional Phantom of the Opera does this already; you feel sorry for the "bad guy," but you ultimately end up siding with Christine.
Phantom does something a little different. You fall in love with him, you obsess over him and with him, you despair with him, you agree with his every action and cheer him on, and you're surprised by his strength and intellect on every single page. And don't worry, you can see his art and hear his music as you read. Yes, it's THAT awesome.
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