Resurrecting a really ancient thread here.  I recently re-read PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, the second time I'd read it.  Since my first reading was 50 Years Ago, I thought maybe a re-visit was in order.

Just a couple of thoughts...

It's still a good, fun read.  Even not remembering much from half a century ago, it was still very familiar in large, mostly because of the Chaney film, which is certainly the closest of any of the major versions.

I was surprised at the amount of humor in the novel.  Didn't remember that at all, and didn't expect it.  

Of course, I knew that Erik was...had...suffered from...err "psychological problems."  But I was a little surprised at just what a raving, round-the-bend, fullbore nutjob he was.  None of the movies have really gone that far and probably just as well.  It's a little extreme and is part of what makes his eventual turnabout much too quick and unlikely.

A novel is not a movie, certainly, but still I think this Phantom runs off at the mouth just a bit much.  And either Leroux or the translator or both should be taken to the woodshed for having Erik repeatedly call the Persian "a great booby!"  Not very Phantom-esque, that.

Still, a nice yarn and I was happy not to be disappointed.

If you want to know what God thinks of money, just look at the people he gave it to.                                                                                     Dorothy Parker