Review: A Beautifully Crafted Book.. One You Will NOT Forget
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 31, 2014
For those who don't know, the famous musical "The Phantom of the Opera" is based off of this book. I can tell you first-hand that that musical is a lifetime experience. The performance has been made into a movie, even.It does not matter in what order you read this book, see the show live or watch the movie. You don't have to do them all, but each gives a different perspective.The book "The Phantom of the Opera" is a classic love story, but far more complex than just that. The writing style is slightly awkward in this day and age, and the translations from the original (in French, I believe) are above average. Despite this, the style hints of the past, which it takes place in (1875ish). Also, there are no obvious spelling errors or any peculiar phrases that you can find in books of this day and age today.In an Opera Populaire, there are rumors and fears of a ghost, Opera Ghost, or O.G. He is said to be everywhere but found nowhere. This ghost causes no disturbance as long as his demands are met--a salary, Box 5 left empty, and Christine Daae to sing onstage every now and then.But of course, the owners won't have any of it. They don't believe in the supernatural..And neither does Christine's lover ("boyfriend"), Raoul. Until, of course, Christine herself tells him.But what she actually tells him is what the story's about.The Phantom, as he's known in the movie, loves Christine. He has been the one teaching her to sing after her gifted violinist father died. Christine, however, has never seen the Opera Ghost until he kidnaps her, wanting to be with her forever. He wears a mask to cover his disfigured face, and because of his malformations his own mother feared him. The Phantom has never known compassion, and doesn't know how to express himself to Christine. He is used to methods of violence to getting his way, and this is evident as he meanwhile murders people and threatens them, and brings down a chandelier during a performance.Christine's heart, however, is to Raoul instead. Raoul seeks killing the Phantom, who would do anything for Christine.Now, let me draw the line here between the show and movie, and the book. The show/movie is solidly based off the book, but does NOT follow it. The musical is just as good as the book (a rare occurrence in this world), but the book is more... descriptive. In a violent way. Both are definitely without a doubt PG 13+, but the more gruesome screens and dark moods lie in the book instead.Book (as bad as it gets): People die, bodies are found (no solid description of them), there's a Torture Chamber which drives a few people to insanity, a gun, gruesome descriptions of The Phantom, a few people almost drown, kidnapping, supernatural power-y stuff. There is no sexual content beyond a PG 13 level. A very creepy tone, not recommended for ages below 15.Movie/show (as bad as it gets): People die in violent manners (two hangings), a gun, The Phantom with his disfigured face, mild sexual content, not-so-much-kidnapping-but-still-there, supernatural power-y stuff, and that's really about it. More of a life lesson story, has a lighter and more inspiring tone to it. To be honest here, there's no specific age level I'd recommend, instead I'd simply say the show/movie is for the mature only. A few lyrics are opera too, and hard to understand, so factor that as well.Movie is about 2 hours, plus another 40 minutes if you watch Andrew Lloyd Webber give a speech and all the original cast sing. The book is just under 200 pages. The show: plan on 4 fours total there. If not more.I am greatly obsessed with The Phantom of the Opera, and immensely enjoyed the book and movie. Today, it's THE best musical you can see, better than Wicked, Camelot, etc.Now, whenever something happens in my house,"He's there, the Phantom of the Operaaaaaaaaa!"