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　　EveryoneatonepointintheirliveshasheardofthestoryofThePhantomoftheOperawhetheritistheoringalnovelversionorAndrewLyodWebber'smusical.HoweverthisiswhereitallbeganwiththepublicationofLeroux'soriginalnovel.

　　Imustadmitthatatfirstglancethebookseemsverydryandwrittenmoreorlessfromareporterorjournalist'sperspective.MoreorlessitremindedmeofBramStoker'snovelDraculainthefactthatmanyoftheareasofthebookarewrittenthoughthepointofothers.Butonceyougetpastseeminglythedryexterioryoufindanimmeasurablecornucopiaofamazingcharacters,eventsandoneofthebestliterarylove'sandgothicworkoffiction.ITpersonallytookmeagood20pagesbeforeIbecamecompletelyabsorbedinLeroux'srichworldofamazingdetail.

　　ThestorymainlyrevolvesaroundtheVicomteRaouldeChagnywhohasfalleninlovewiththebeautifulChristineDaaewhoisbeinghauntedbyamysterious"ghost"inherdressingroom.TheplotmovesasanyonewouldsuspectwhenChristinebeginstoreturnthefeelingsoftheVicomtebutthenhesooncomestorealizethatChristine'sghostisrealandhasathingorthreetosayabouttheirrelationship.

　　Ifoundthisnovelamazing,IreaditinonedayfromthemomentIpickeditupandnearlyhaditconfiscatedwhenIwasreadingitinclasswhenIshouldhavebeentakingnotes.Thereisjustsomuchrawemotion,mysteryandloveinthisamazingstory.Icouldnothelpbutbesweptupinitlikeatidalwave.ThebookgivesthecharacterofthePhantom,orErik,somuchmoredepthandemotionsthanwhattheALWversionevenbegantoscratchthesurfaceof.Nomatterwhoyouare,whetherornotyousupportErikornot,youcannothelpbutbemovedathisattemptstowoeChristineandhowshallow,yetdangerouslyinnocentsheis.

　　Erikhasearned,onmyshelf,theawardofbeingoneofthebestliterarycharacters.HisloveforChristineisjustsimplysopurethatyoursympathyforhimisgreat.Thisbookactuallyhadmemovedtotears.LuckilyIwasintheshelterofmyroomwiththedoorsafelyclosedsoIcouldcryinpeaceattheending.Undernormalcircumstances,manypeopleseemyselfasthestonecoldpersonwhonevercriesinmoviesorbooks,butthisbookistheonlyonethathaseverbroughttearstomyeyes.

　　Ihavereaditoverandover,neveroncehaveIeverregreatedmypurchessinanyway,shape,manororfashion.Ihighlyrecomendthistoeverysoulonearth.

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　　Iadmitit,I'mawimp.IhearthewordHorrorandrunintheotherdirection,whimpering.NotformethegoryslasherPhantomswhodisfiguretheirrespectiveChristines.Butgivemeangst,plot,characterdepthandI'mthere.Thisbookdoesmore:itgivesyouallofthat,anditmakesitFUNNY!

　　Ireluctantlypickedup"Phantom",expectinghorror,andwaspleasantlysurprisedbyitsabsence.Yes,therearecreepymomentsand"yikes!"jumpyscenes,butbyandlarge,it'sawry,funny,fast-pacedromanticthrillerratherthananysortofgloomyGothicblood-fest.

　　Leroux'dryhumouriswhatkeepsthepacecracking,andthestoryneverflags.Idon'tknowwhyanyonewouldthinkitslow:Iwasentrancedfrompage1andhadnoproblemreadingallthewaythrough.Likeallgoodhumour,iteventuallyleavesoffthegagsandleadsusintoatender,poignantandunabashedlytragicfinale.Bythetimeyougetthere,you'recompletelyhooked.

　　Inadditiontothehumour,thereisdepth.Leroux'charactersarequi