Though I’m posting this review in November, I listened to The Phantom of the Opera audiobook back in August. The hot weather had me in a Gothic mood, and who would pop up under the Gothic Classics tab but Erik. I love the 2004 movie adaptation and have blasted multiple soundtracks directly into my tender eardrums. Ralph Cosham’s audiobook performance was also my first time using the Libby app. It worked well!

While I didn’t bat an eye at the serialized nature of the original story, two other storytelling elements immediately surprised me. First, there’s a whole frame narrative. Raoul’s surviving family want to know what happened at the Opera, since Raoul took his secrets to his grave. They hire an unnamed detective to dig up the mysterious, tragic events, and the main story is the detective’s investigation. Second, Raoul is the protagonist, not Christine. The point of view does roam a little, but we see through Raoul’s eyes most consistently. We’re literally never in Christine’s head, even though she’s the center of the maelstrom. 

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical follows the remaining story beats fairly closely, and I can see why. It’s a lot more fun to be in the thick of the action. That being said, Christine’s absence meant that Raoul had to fill the role of swooning Gothic heroine full of fevered emotion. The genre gender reversal was a treat. Erik is a softer, more viable love interest, but I still think Christine should have chosen Meg, who loves her as she is. Many scenes had me riveted. One scene involving a masked man and rats raised the hair on my nape.

The Phantom of the Opera has been out a hundred years, and it’s still got it. If you love the musical, I heartily recommend the book. An enjoyable adventure from start to finish.