1 　　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. 　　2 　　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