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The Phantom of the Opera (Bantam Classics) (平装)
by Gaston Leroux (Author), Lowell Bair (Translator)
| Category:
Literature, Fiction, Classic Horror |
| Market price: ¥ 78.00
MSL price:
¥ 68.00
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| Stock:
In Stock |
MSL rating:
 Good for Gifts |
MSL Pointer Review:
This is an excelent tale that has been made into many plays and movies. The mystery, suspense, and in parts, downright horror of this novel will make you never want to put it down.
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AllReviews |
1 Total 1 pages 7 items |
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Darmandzhyan (MSL quote), USA
<2007-03-12 00:00>
French is a beautiful and romantic language and English translations of the Phantom of the Opera haven't always come through quite as beautifully and often times they sound military. This translation flows very well. I was very surprised when I found it. I had read about three or four versions of the book in English from different translators when I stumbled onto this one by accident at the local library. I prefer books in hardcover and searched for this translation in that format but was not able to find it. Now, I have only one classic French book in paperback. This is really the best translation of this book. It flows easily although not as perfectly as the French does. Who knew Bantam could pull this off successfully?
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A reader (MSL quote), USA
<2007-03-12 00:00>
What I enjoyed most about this book was the simplicity of language and the direct truth of human needs. Erik was physically deformed and sickly. Mostly, he was unloved and cast out from society; he was bigger than just the Opera Ghost. He was society's shame -- a shame they felt that should be hidden and not acknowledged (either out of fear or because of it... you choose). That lack of positive acknowledgement is what makes this book so sad and frustrating. He had love to give, but it was not wanted; he was deemed a creature of horror. But it was really the general attitude of society that was the horror - not him. The book really echoes the truth that it is what is on the inside that matters, for that is what lasts the longest, and that people should be more open-minded to the mental and physical flaws that either God or Nature or both created. Erik is a symbol not of darkness and the gothic motif, but of light and life and living. If anyone liked this book, they should read Susan Kay's Phantom; it is a good precursor to Leroux's The Phantom of the Opera.
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A reader (MSL quote), USA
<2007-03-12 00:00>
Raoul knew the was something fishy about a voice behind Christine's dressing room door, especialy when he went inside her dressing room right after she left and there was no one there, but he didn't expect that it could be a Phantom. The Phantom lives under the opera, for he fears others seeing his deformed face, but he falls in love with one Christine Daae after giving her singing lessons, which hightens her status at the opera. Yet, Raoul is in love with the prima dona as well; Christine has a choice. You will not be able to put this book, which describes everything in large detail, down one second, as you follow the gripping tale of The Phantom of the Opera. Leroux brings out his characters' personalities in a such a way that the whole story is believeable. This book could make a GREAT movie if they stayed close to the book, so that means that you ought to read this very very good book.
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Aethelflad (MSL quote), USA
<2007-03-12 00:00>
I started reading The Phantom of the Opera last night and finished this afternoon. Having seen the recently-released film first, then having followed up by listening to a recording of Webber's famous musical adaptation, I was curious to read the text that had inspired the film and the music I enjoyed so much. The book was an absolute page-turner.
Erik's character is among the most simultaneously compelling and horrifying ones I've read. I love the way Leroux does not treat him as a mere boogie-man, but gives the readers multiple insights to a complex personality. I found myself amused at the Phantom's practical jokes and ingenuity (such as the banknote affair and Carlotta's unfortunate croaking performance), horrified at his vengeance, impressed by his mastery over the secrets of the opera house, and softened by his slavish love for Christine. Should I be repulsed by his evil deeds and dark past or moved to pity? Erik's character is truly one larger than life.
Raoul's character was really my only disappointment. I could not bring myself to like or empathize with him at all and liked Christine less for returning his love. He came across as a spoiled brat who had never been denied anything in his life and cannot comprehend why Christine doesn't throw herself at him whenever he snaps his fingers. He insults Christine cruelly in fits of jealousy and is scarcely less obsessive than the Phantom, but in a sniveling, childish manner. I also hated his refusal consider the Phantom's plight as described by Christine, never allowing pity to soften his desire to kill Erik out of pure jealousy (and he does, indeed, take a gunshot at him when given the chance). It is obvious that the Phantom could have killed Raoul in a heartbeat once within the opera house, but he displays amazing self-restraint when it comes to his rival, especially given his seemingly super-human capabilities.
I would recommend this book to anyone, "Phans" and those with no prior exposure to the story. Perhaps it is not top-notch literature, but a very entertaining book nonetheless. It is an intriguing read with incredible characters, a book difficult to put down and a story difficult to forget!
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A reader (MSL quote), USA
<2007-03-12 00:00>
Where do I start? I have been facinated with the story of The Phantom of the Opera since I was about 10 years old. About a year ago, I decided to buy it. It took me about a half of a year to finish it, but it was really worth it. Gaston Leroux has described the Phantom in his full detail; from his hideous face to his nice figure inside.
As for the suspense, he has done a wonderful job keeping the reader into the story. I was glued to my chair while reading, but I couldn't put it down; so after about two chapters or so, I finally put it down, sighed, and walked out of the room with the book sitting in the table.
I finally finished the book in the middle of the afternoon and almost cried. What a sad ending! I figured this was better than the stage versions, movies, and other books any day.
I highly recommend you read this book; you won't want to put it down!
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A kid reader (MSL quote) , USA
<2007-03-12 00:00>
I haven't read the original traslation but I can tell you that it is fabulous! If you say that it has nothing to do with the musical and so is [bad], you are so wrong cos the musical was inspired by this in the first place. I would like to mention one fact. Erick's mask is made of black silk that covers his entire face except the forehead and not a white halfmask.
Erick aka the phantom, is very very talented. he is extremely skilled in singing, playing the violin, making trapdoors, and of couse throwing the deadly punjab lasso. And he has an ironic sense of humour too. you should have seen him talk to the daroga, "Then she kissed me for the first time,here, on the forehead - don't look, daroga - on my forehead . Don't look daroga." His mask was off while speaking to the daroga at that time and was very weak of, you guessed it, love. Even at that time he still had the sense of humour one could only aquire after being exposed to so much regection (I don't think you would have much humour within you if you were subjected to the way he had been treated).
If you think he is some kind of weakling to hide away underground and "bully" the managers, what would you have done in his position. I'll bet you would have gone and killed yourself, even more cowardly. He just was'nt given enough chance to prove himself as the prodigy he really was.
If you are'nt the kind of (person) who can not apreciate this kind of book (like some classmates I know), read this and you will definately be reading the book over and over and over again.
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Telegram Sam (MSL quote), USA
<2007-03-12 00:00>
This story comes off as a pretty typical penny-dreadful sort of tale at first glance, but there are subtle themes that are not apparent on the first read. I won't bore with details, but it is an unusually rich, human story despite the somewhat fantastical setting and the exaggerations inherent in the character of Erik.
Speaking of Erik (that's "The Phantom" to those of you who don't know), he's one of the best villians I've encountered in a while, right up there with Darth Vader. he is capable of extreme wickedness, but is still sympathetic, and those are always the villians that you remember. While Andrew Lloyd Webber did a fair job of adapting this tale to the stage and eventually film, much changed in the process, particularly Erik. He is not so slick in this book as he is in the musical, and definitely a bit more crazy, but I actually prefer Leroux's original to the derivative. The 2004 film did not quite do justice to this complex story and those who have only seen the film and no other form of the Phantom story ought to do themselves a favor and read the book.
In reference to the specific edition I purchased, the Greg Hildebrandt illustrated one, it is not, as has been mentioned in some reviews above (probably due to the fact that Amazon has made an unholy mess by crossing reviews from the umpteen different versions of this book), an abridged version. There are distilled children's editions out there, one by Peter Neumeyer, and another in the Illustrated Classics series but this isn't a children's edition despite the illustrations. This is, as far as I can tell (at least by comparing it to the free Gutenberg Project version) a complete translation of the original French text. I bought this edition specifically for the illustrations, which I enjoy, but some people do not care for the Hildebrandt style. If you like this artist, though, it is worth having for the pictures alone.
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1 Total 1 pages 7 items |
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