Why you should Read "The Phantom of the Opera," The Novel by Gaston Leroux

Shall we pity a monster?

In the soul depriving, pulp, mystery novel, “The Phantom of the opera,” by Gaston Leroux, the author reveals what it truly means to be a monster. The curtain has risen and the scene is set in the grandeur of the Paris Opera House, it’s the final curtain call.

An overlooked classics, due to the massive adaptation of the film and Broadway musical. For those of you saying, I know the story of “The Phantom of The Opera,” take a look at the original form of the story.

I like many people who enjoy the stage musical, thought I completely understood the story. I was wrong. There was much more to be learned from reading the novel. Firstly, it’s a mystery novel with multiple POV’s. Showing the inns and out’s of the Opera during the mysterious events of the “Ghost.” I thought the story would mostly center around Christine Daae, the angelic singer of the story. Christine is definitely important in the story, but most of the POV is from the character of Raoul, the man who is deeply in love with Christine. At first as a phan (hehe see what I did there) of the musical, I was like, “What how dare you, Gaston Leroux! I want to hear about Christine and the Phantom, where is their POV’s. Now I will not ever read this!” However, I still read the book and I was a bit frustrated reading. Until I change my expectations and actually started to enjoy it just as much as the musical. Even though Christine's voice isn’t really heard till half way through the books I still found the novel interesting. It had a lot of backstories that you don’t get in the musical, that I really found intriguing.

I stopped viewing it as a dark romance and more of a mystery novel, because that what it is. I found that in changing my expectations of the book, I began to love it. It’s funny and chilling, with certain parts being a little too dramatic; but hey, that the phantom for you.

Don’t expect Andre Loyd Webbers phantom when you read the book, there a certain hint of the character when you read it, but overall it what you would expect of the real-life version of a man who lives underground. He has admirable and not so admirable qualities in the novel. Don’t expect Ramin Karimloo, when you finally meet the phantom, it’s more of the Lon Chaney version.

The book does drag once every few chapters with character POV’s that I didn’t much care for, but I still found the book as a whole to be excellent. With that to say it’s not for every fan of the musical or movie.

Even for those that have no Idea about the musical or movie, give the book a whirl, it’s pretty good. I’d give it about a three-star read. I think it is worth a shot. I cried on the last page, much like in the last moments of the musical.

Also, just a shout out a podcast and insta-called “Box Five” exists and I love to listen to it. It’s for Phantom of the opera fans, the first season has covered the novel if you like to read and listen along as I did.

Thank you for reading!