The Phantom of the Opera
Registered by 
GoryDetails
of Nashua, New Hampshire USA on 6/21/2016
This Book is Currently in the Wild!
GoryDetails of Nashua, New Hampshire USA on 6/21/2016 This Book is Currently in the Wild!
1 journaler for this copy...
I found this handsome hardcover, with evocative illustrations by Greg Hildebrandt and an introduction by Sarah Brightman, at a local Savers thrift shop - quite a bargain! It looks to be the complete text, with color and black-and-white illustrations.
The story's a classic by now, although that's due largely to the various film and, more recently, Broadway adaptations, which do tend to vary from the book. I enjoyed it, though I have to admit that it is rather slow-paced, and as it includes a description of the Phantom's marred face quite early on, it changes the whole what's-behind-the-mask thing. [The description is sufficiently horrifying that it may have added tension for pre-film-version readers, I imagine!] The novel adds a brother to the handsome young love-interest, as well as more back-story; and there's a mysterious Persian who's the Phantom's henchman from his pre-Opera life (which we also get a bit more back-story about). The odd relationship between Christine and Eric certainly exists in the book - a mix of student/teacher, victim/captor, and one who feels pity/one who feels obsessive passion... There are some rather unbelievable Indiana-Jones-style scenes of torture, action, escape - and an odd story structure that includes third-person narrative, first-person reports/accounts, and police reports to fill in the details.
This may be a prime example of a fabulous germ of a story that wasn't that well realized in the novel, but which inspired a horror-story icon...
It also inspired a not-very-successful-in-my-opinion sequel, The Phantom of Manhattan.
[The story's been filmed many times; I've enjoyed the 1925 Lon Chaney version and the 1943 Claude Rains version, and was so-so about the 2004 film version of the musical; I know I've seen other versions too but don't recall them as clearly. I did enjoy Terry Pratchett's Maskerade, which does some lovely riffs on the story, both the original and the Andrew Lloyd Weber version {grin}. There's a TV Tropes page on the book and its adaptations too; entertaining, but do beware of spoilers.]
The story's a classic by now, although that's due largely to the various film and, more recently, Broadway adaptations, which do tend to vary from the book. I enjoyed it, though I have to admit that it is rather slow-paced, and as it includes a description of the Phantom's marred face quite early on, it changes the whole what's-behind-the-mask thing. [The description is sufficiently horrifying that it may have added tension for pre-film-version readers, I imagine!] The novel adds a brother to the handsome young love-interest, as well as more back-story; and there's a mysterious Persian who's the Phantom's henchman from his pre-Opera life (which we also get a bit more back-story about). The odd relationship between Christine and Eric certainly exists in the book - a mix of student/teacher, victim/captor, and one who feels pity/one who feels obsessive passion... There are some rather unbelievable Indiana-Jones-style scenes of torture, action, escape - and an odd story structure that includes third-person narrative, first-person reports/accounts, and police reports to fill in the details.
This may be a prime example of a fabulous germ of a story that wasn't that well realized in the novel, but which inspired a horror-story icon...
It also inspired a not-very-successful-in-my-opinion sequel, The Phantom of Manhattan.
[The story's been filmed many times; I've enjoyed the 1925 Lon Chaney version and the 1943 Claude Rains version, and was so-so about the 2004 film version of the musical; I know I've seen other versions too but don't recall them as clearly. I did enjoy Terry Pratchett's Maskerade, which does some lovely riffs on the story, both the original and the Andrew Lloyd Weber version {grin}. There's a TV Tropes page on the book and its adaptations too; entertaining, but do beware of spoilers.]
Journal Entry 2 by GoryDetails at Little Free Library #11753 - 56 Middlesex Tpke in Burlington, Massachusetts USA on Saturday, June 25, 2016
GoryDetails at Little Free Library #11753 - 56 Middlesex Tpke in Burlington, Massachusetts USA on Saturday, June 25, 2016
Released 7 yrs ago (6/25/2016 UTC) at Little Free Library #11753 - 56 Middlesex Tpke in Burlington, Massachusetts USA
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
I left this book in the LFL at around 4:45 or so; hope the finder enjoys it!*** Released as part of the 2016 Movie release challenge. ***
*** Released as part of the 2016 Theater release challenge. ***
