The Phantom of Manhattan Paperback – January 1, 2000

This was really hard to put down! Being such a big Phantom of the Opera fan I knew I would love it! Anyone who is a POTO fan should read this book!

I think that this book has been very badly misunderstood. The author has taken artistic licence with it, yes, but it does still resemble the Phantom who has known so many incarnations over the years that I doubt anyone could really say what is true of him any more.I became interested in this book after Amazon released Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Love Never Dies" on DVD. It took me a minute to warm up to that continuing story as well, but I came to realize that each and every Phantom Phan has always had a dream of hearing his story continued, ALW is no different. In the commentary for the movie ALW mentions this book as having an influence into his version of the sequel, so I decided to check it out. When I saw how few stars it had I left it alone while I spent months reading through just about every other Phantom Phan writing I could get my hands on, but I kept coming back to this one.I got the sample first and began reading through the intro, which starts out sounding like a critique of the original novel. Then you realize that Mr. Forsyth has now captured you and drawn you into his novel in much the same way Leroux did: mixing fact with fiction until you can no longer tell the two apart. I enjoyed the way Mr. Forsyth arranged his novel in a style that matched the original; he lets the tale be told through the words and writings of many different characters who were witnesses to the events in question.I was disappointed that there was not more romance involved, but recalling the original I remember that book was not outwardly romantic either. It was the empathy of the human heart for the Phantom's desperate need for love that made the tragedy pull at the heart strings of the reader. The constant changing of narrators allows little room to delve into the deeper human emotions. If Lloyd Webber capitalizes on the romance of this story, then this book does quite the opposite: it gives you the "facts". But, again, so did the original.I found the book entertaining and fast paced enough to keep me interested. It is a light read, I finished it in an afternoon, so I certainly wouldn't call it a waste of time. It was also interesting to read the similarities of this book has with the new "Love Never Dies" musical. I am sorry that it didn't get better reviews, but I can understand those who have been spoiled by the romanticized version of the Phantom not understanding the finer points. Sometimes love has nothing to do with romance, and sometimes redemption doesn't come in the form that we think it should.Give it a chance and keep an open mind. You might be surprized by what you read.

Andrew Lloyd Webber 's LOVE NEVER DIES, his musical sequel to THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, was not well received, despite a beautiful and inventive score and West End performances by the irreplaceable Ramin Karimloo and Sierra Boggess. The duo also starred in the 25th anniversary performance of PHANTOM at Royal Albert Hall, and is available on DVD. It is well that it is, since this is the definitive performance.Forsyth and Lloyd Webber clearly discussed this project, and while Forsyth thanks the composer, Lloyd Webber is dismissive of the author's contribution. That is unfortunate.For anyone who loves PHANTOM, this book is a must. It lives and breathes and breaks the heart. And it reminds me that, after all this time, LOVE NEVER DIES deserves to be seen on Broadway.People are usually reluctant to embrace change, especially regarding a work as well loved as PHANTOM. But this sequel stands on it's own. Karimloo and Boggess are now in New York playing other roles, but their pairing in LOVE NEVER DIES on Broadway would not only be a tremendous financial success, but a gift to anyone able to see Karimloo and Boggess once again play the characters they were born to play.If you love PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, read this book, and revel in the meaning of true love between a man and woman, a boy and his mother, and a son for his father.

I've heard so much negative stuff about this book and Love Never Dies, its so-called spin-off, that I just had to read it. I am one of those odd people who loves Love Never Dies and wanted to see if people were as wrong about the book as I felt they were about the musical.First of all, I must say that this is a well written book with a compeling plot line. It really hasn't got much in common with Love Never Dies except the setting and the ending; and even the ending isn't exactly the same. No Madam Ghiry and Meg. The Phantom and the world have moved on. It is no longer Belle Epoque Paris, it is now the cold reality of turn-of-the-century New York. I liked the way the story is told: through the eyes of people who are not central characters. (Isn't that kind of the way the original was written?) They don't know exactly what they are witnessing, but WE do. I would like to have read a little more direct interaction between Christine and Eric, and I would have liked to have learned a little more about "when what happened, happened" that led to Christine's child being conceived.In my opinion Phantom sequels, rewrites and prequels are always disappointing to those who have too narrow expectations and definitions about who the Phantom is. I like to take each new story I read as a totally new one with its own merits and imagination. Certainly I have my own phantasies about what happened and how, but I try to keep an open mind with others' ideas. If you can do that, keep an open mind, that is, this isn't a bad read.This is the 4th Phantom book I have read (not counting the original.) I have read Phantom (Susan Kay), Phantom's Legacy (Lucinda Epps?), Unmasked (Colette Gay) and Phantom of Manhattan. I've enjoyed every one; some more than others and I will continue to read stories about this beautiful, fascinating story and all its permutations and possiblities.

Forsyth never disappoints. Any journalist who reads, should not miss this one

Superb writing from Frederick Forsyth, and an easy read.

Forsyth fait partie de mes auteurs préférés et j'ai été un peu déçue par ce livre (pour le moment le seul). Une suite au "Phantom of the opera" décevante.

Easy read, short book, some interesting twists,but I wouldn't rate it as a classicunlike the original - read that instead if you're a Phantom fan, but this book byForsyth is worth a read not least because Phantom Love Never Dies is possibly looselybased on this version of events later on in the lives of Christine, Raul, Erik AKA the Phantom and the Son -ie Christines son .......... - but don't quote me as it's not opened in the West End yet! Some parts of the plotare a bit deja vu - which I can't mention without giving it away! Verdict - read it.

Not in the same league as Forsyth's well know publications but a good story.