If you are a Phantom of the Opera lover, then this is the book for you. For many years, this book was not in print, forcing those who wanted to obtain a copy of it to buy used and pay high. I, myself, had to pay $300 to replace my lost copy and it was well worth the money!! In this version of the greatest love story ever written, each character was given their own section for the reader to see inside their thoughts. By doing this, it helps to feel more attached to the characters, as well as giving a more indepth insight to what they are thinking and feeling. The author managed to capture a more vulnerable and even gentler side of Erik that other versions of POTO don't show. Susan Kay's novel starts from the very beginning when Erik's mother is still pregnant with him. It continues through his life, going into details, sometimes painful and heart-wrenching, of his life from a troubled and neglected child to a lonely, heart-broken and demented old man. This book is sure to tug at your heartstrings and make you cry. If you aren't familiar with the storyline, this is the perfect book to introduce you to Erik's tangled life of painful rejection on his desperate path to be accepted and loved. This novel is sure to make you fall in love with a disformed man who was never meant to be loved.

Susan Kay's writing abilities are wonderful. I have read this novel many times, and each time, I get lost in her world of Europe in the 1800's. No matter how many times I read this book, I still go through the range of emotions when Erik's tragedies are playing out in my mind. Anger, sadness, sympathy, passion. You can see Erik's struggles as he tries to be a good person, but society's rejections push him over the edge of sanity. I highly recommend this book if you're looking for an emotional read.

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Created Apr 23, 2006 at 12:26am • Submit your own review...