I had fun reading it. Some of the characters were entertaining. The story is classic, although remains problematic and inherently French.

Christine deserved better, Raoul was a creep (but Erik was worse so she was in a lose-lose situation there).

 This book is very dated. There are words used with negative connotations. Some of the phrasing is rather offensive.
Aside from that, the story is very dull. If you're interested in this novel because of the musical or the film adaptations, this is not the story you would expect. The characters are whiny and unlikeable. The pacing is odd. Any of the action and suspense is taken away by unbearable dialogue. 

When I tell you I obsessed over this book in high school it is not in any way an exaggeration.
So of course, it was required reading now that I'm an adult to see if it was truly as good as I remembered.
My finding was rather complex. The over all plot was much more boring than I remembered, very slow, fully of miscommunication, and no real information until the very end. However, I caught many many details I didn't remember from earlier reads, including huge differences between the book and movies it inspired.
Over all I still enjoyed the story and this is one I'm glad to have in my collection to read again in future.

all could have been avoided if ableism wasn’t so prevalent 🙄 above all else, I am an Erik apologist. I love that problematic Angel of Music

I've watched the musical years back, so I thought I would know how the story would go but the more I read, the more I realised how different they were. The book is much, much better than the play (although the music score was also brilliant).

I was pleasantly surprised to learn how fast paced the book was, and it was captivating from the start. It only took me more or less 6 hours to read it, and by the last 100 pages or so, I had the musical soundtracks to accompany me. 

It was spooky, intoxicating, yet somehow humorous at times. Occasionally I would find myself to snicker or giggle at what the character said or did. I did not have a favourite character exactly, but I enjoyed reading the storyline; it kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time.

Love was a huge theme of the book. In the end, people just want to be loved.

A classic which, in my opinion, deserves to be considered timeless; the Phantom of the Opera raises the question on how we should treat the truly low members of society.

The novel introduces the story of the Opera Ghost, which stalks the shadows of the Paris Opera House and hunts for mischief and mystery. Strange events emerge and connect as the singer Christine Daaé slowly begins her rise in fame with her heavenly vocals, supposedly learning to sing from the Angel of Music. The reader navigates through this episodic novel and slowly gathers the truths to the unfolding story.

The Phantom of the Opera places a great emphasis on concepts of love, obsession, desire, and pity. How can we learn to, not love, but accept someone who is supposedly heartless? How can we take pity on people who are seemingly monstrous? How does unrecieved love mould into an overpowering obsession built upon desires we are unable to satisfy? The novel feels like it is truly a love letter to these themes as both pain and pleasure are combined into the flowing story.

I have loved this ever since watching the musical, and the original story that brought it to life is absolutely incredible.

I can't get over how beautifully tragic the ending for this novel is. It ends in Erik's death for his own overflowing love of Christine, one which he had never experienced with another woman in his life. It just serves to show how much Erik wished for nothing but a normal life but was cursed from the endeavour ever since he was first born just for his horrific features, leading him down a path of using his wits and intellect for his own disturbing gains as a way to not acknowledge his pain.

 The Phantom of the Opera is a classic gothic novel by Gaston Leroux that tells the story of a disfigured musical genius who haunts the Paris Opera House. The novel is set in the late 19th century and is full of suspense, romance, and tragedy.

I really enjoyed the setting of the Opera theatre in this novel. The author does a great job in creating a dark atmosphere.

I was also really surprised by the Phantom's background. I didn't expect him to have such a tragic and meaningful story. It was really eye-opening to see how society can create evil again and again.

My favorite character in the novel was the Phantom himself. He is a complex and well-developed character who is both sympathetic and terrifying. I loved learning about his past and his motivations.

My favorite parts of the novel were the ones on the stage with Christine singing, the past of the Phantom in Persia, and the final escape of Raoul and the Persian. The scenes on the stage were really exciting and I loved the way the author used music to create tension. The scenes in Persia were also really interesting and gave us a better understanding of the Phantom's past. The final escape was a thrilling climax to the novel.

I think this book can teach us a few things. First, it shows us that a scarred soul can be accepted, Christine loved the Phantom for who he was, despite his disfigurement. This is a powerful message of acceptance.

Second, the book shows us that our sins are not always forgotten. The Phantom's past caught up to him in the end, even though he tried to escape it. This is a reminder that we should always be mindful of our actions, because they can have lasting consequences.

I really enjoyed The Phantom of the Opera. It is a well-written and suspenseful novel with a lot to offer. I would definitely recommend it to fans of gothic literature.