I have always been a huge fan of this type of story. Some of my favorite books are adventures form this era like Orczy's The Scarlet Pimpernel, Hope's The Prisoner of Zenda, and Sabatini's Scaramouche. The swashbuckling genre can really make such fun reads. I was expecting a lot from The Phantom of the Opera because it is so famous since the musical, but while I was entertained, I was a little bit disappointed.

The novel is entertaining. I truly liked the story of the love between Raoul and Christine. The character of the Erik was so intriguing, and Leroux's atmosphere was pretty good. This can be an extremely enjoyable read for many people, especially those who love the musical. I only thought that the author's narrative techniques seemed a little dated. The historian telling the story really detracts a lot of suspence from the story. Also, certain plot aspects aren't lead up to in any way. I mean all of a sudden, there is this brand new character, the Perian, who knows all about Erik and you briefly get his story. It just doesn't make too much sense.

That all said, it was definitely an interesting read. The novel just hit on a few things which happen to annoy me. A lot of people would enjoy this novel, and novels of this genre should not be forgotten.

I fell in love with the musical The Phantom of the Opera (Andrew Lloyd Weber) Years ago and it wasn't until recently that I really wanted to know more about this story of a love striken masked man and the beatiful Christine who won his heart. Well written, fast moving plot, great storyline, it seems Gaston Leroux was planning that this book become a movie! I got the book a couple days ago and succcessfully finished reading it within the course of two days! It's that GOOD! It has many loveable characters, but the character of Erik (phantom) is very complex! Sometimes you love him, sometimes you hate him, and other times, you pity him! The ending is terribly sad and you crave more, but it also makes you wonder...was the Opera ghost real?

Great book and I strongly suggest you read it!

What I enjoyed most about this book was the simplicity of language and the direct truth of human needs. Erik was physically deformed and sickly. Mostly, he was unloved and cast out from society; he was bigger than just the Opera Ghost. He was society's shame -- a shame they felt that should be hidden and not acknowledged (either out of fear or because of it... you choose). That lack of positive acknowledgement is what makes this book so sad and frustrating. He had love to give, but it was not wanted; he was deemed a creature of horror. But it was really the general attitude of society that was the horror -- not him. The book really echoes the truth that it is what is on the inside that matters, for that is what lasts the longest, and that people should be more open-minded to the mental and physical flaws that either God or Nature or both created. Erik is a symbol not of darkness and the gothic motif, but of light and life and living. If anyone liked this book, they should read Susan Kay's Phantom; it is a good precursor to Leroux's The Phantom of the Opera.

This book is poorly written. That does not mean it is not a great story--it's just not a great novel. The Wizard of Oz is written in a very conversational style; it often does not flow, as if Baum were pausing to collect his thoughts or remember exactly how he last described the Wicked Witch. I think it is meant to be read aloud to a child or else you are missing something. I feel that the pauses and the stops and starts probably have more impact on a small child trying to fight off sleep with a wonderful tale than they do on a grown woman finally checking The Wizard of Oz off her "Things I Always Wanted to Read" list.
Please don't misunderstand, I enjoyed the story of The Wizard of Oz, and I think everyone should read it, especially those who enjoyed the movie. There is much more to it than the movie, many more adventures, more explanation, and more sarcasm and social criticism. There just isn't much more literary merit.

I bought this book years ago and am looking for another copy as a gift. This edition is the entire MGM script (including the lyrics to the songs) of the 1939 movie and is is wonderfully illustrated with stills from the movie. My family has practically worn out this oversized book and we need another! My husband recently witnessed my daughter's new boyfriend reading along as they watched the movie because he knew we were just fans and he had better catch up! Our families favorite book!

Here's a trivia question for you. When Dorothy killed the Wicked Witch of the West by dropping her house on the witch, was the witch wearing (a) ruby slippers? (b) silver shoes? (c) both?

If you answered "both," you have the correct answer. L. Frank Baum's original story (found in this book) has magical silver shoes in it. The movie version of the story, starring Judy Garland as Dorothy, had ruby slippers. Why the change? Well, ruby slippers film much better. So the Wicked Witch of the West wore both types of footwear, depending on whether you are reading the book or watching the movie.

I share that example with you because 9 people out of 10 have seen the movie, but never read the book. When I was a wee lad, I started in the opposite direction and was sorry to see how much of the Oz story was left out in the movie.

Now, you can make up for lost time by reading or rereading the original. I commend it to you for three primary reasons. First, the book version is built around the idea that the different parts of Oz cannot be easily traversed and the ensuing travel complications make for a better plot. Second, there are many more types of imaginative creatures in the book than in the movie. Third, the book has been lovingly enhanced by new illustrations done in turn of the 20th century style by Michael Hague. The illustrations encompass styles from immediately post van Gogh (yes, there are sunflowers) through Art Deco. I especially liked the water colors of gloomy and darkening skies.

If you are like me, you will chortle when you read L. Frank Baum's comment in the beginning that the story was "written solely to please children . . . a modernized fairy tale, in which the wonderment and joy are retained . . ." while the scary parts are left out. If you remember frightening moments, you are thinking about the movie. The book is much more gentle, which makes it more suitable for the youngsters. Yes, there are frightening villains, but they are quickly dispatched rather than being allowed to hang around to menace and frighten children just before bedtime. Still, children must have been braver in those days. This story is still scary enough for most to feel a deathly chill now and then.

Many of the ambiguities and confusing aspects of the movie are clearer and less disconcerting in the book, as well.

I won't go into a fine comparison of the two, because that will just spoil the plot for you. Do let me mention a few chapters that you will not recognize from the movie . . . just to whet your appetite for the book -- Away to the South, Attacked by the Fighting Trees, The Dainty China Country, and The Country of the Quadlings.

After you have finished enjoying the wonderful story and new illustrations, think about some of the lessons of the book. Notice that by teaming up, Dorothy and her friends could combine strengths to overcome individual weaknesses. This is the ultimate group of superheroes. How can you combine your talents with others so that all of you combined can accomplish vastly more than any one of you can individually?

Stay on the Yellow Brick Road with effective allies!

As you turn the pages of this book, the dragons literally jump off of the pages at you. Beautifully drawn and executed, in an oversize book with even more oversized dragons! The text is wordy at times, but of course you don't buy this book for the text. Hildebrandt's illustrations translate into glorious creatures with the use of deep colors and intriguing mechanics. I just wish there were more!

My son, like most boys, is in love with dragons. This is a wonderful book that I highly recommend. The dragons are large and amazing in their detail.

There are only a few dragons though and the book seems a bit delicate - not so good for the younger set.

A "Arabian Nights"-era group who are taking gifts from their Caliph to a "Cauccasian" prince, are hunted by a "Vampyr". In order to survive, they accept his wager to tell a tale that is more sad than his.
• POSITIVE ELEMENTS: Self-sacrifice plays a large role in the book. When one of the men is seriously wounded in a fall, the others will not leave him, though it will slow their flight from the monster. At the end of the story, though the monster is getting ready to kill him, one of the protagonists cries for the beast's neverending lonliness.
• SPIRITUAL CONTENT: The majority of the characters are Muslim and constantly offer praise to Allah. Two of the characters claim to be Christian, but flee their faith because the Church won't allow them to marry. They are relatives. The main character speaks of Muslims preaching in front of Christian churches and converting many of them to the "true faith." This is somewhat disconcerting from a Christian perspective, as this book is obviously written on a grade school level and may affect young minds.
• SEXUAL CONTENT: .The book doesn't have any sexual content, per say, though the main character refers to the act by a crude term. Another character, while telling a story, mentions that he, as a young man, was following a girl who had promised sexual activity before disaster strikes. Two relatives marry, leaving their homeland and, presumably, their Christian faith to do so. One of the illustrations shows an Arabian woman in revealing attire.
• VIOLENT CONTENT: People are killed in a number of ways. One man is bludgeoned in the head, another's throat ripped out. Blood is shown to be virtually non-existent on corpses, as the creature that is stalking them feeds on it.
• CRUDE OR PROFANE LANGUAGE: One word. One man uses the phrase, "Am I a Christian or a Jew?" as a swear phrase.
• DRUG AND ALCOHOL CONTENT: The story is being told at a celebration where many of the characters are drunk from too much wine. At one point, a servant drops (and destroys) a barrel of wine.
• OTHER NEGATIVE ELEMENTS: The book leaves one loose end. The main character mentions, in a story that he tells, that he regrets never having seen what was in a package that he delivered to a wealthy woman in his youth. We never find out what this item is. Also, the resolution seems a bit forced. The villain's story is predictable, at best.
Another thing to take into consideration is that this book deals with rather mature subject matter, considering its reading level. I'd say that a sixth grader would be able to read it with full comprehension. The violence and religious viewpoint should be enough to give Christian parents pause.
• CONCLUSION: For an adult, a decent, somewhat unfulfilling read. Not for the kids, though.

I've only read _Caliban's Hour_ by Tad Williams but I liked that much better than this book. I've also read some shorter works by Hoffman which I've had mixed feeling on. This seemed more like a long, short story. It did seem rushed because there was a lot in the story. A main setting of some men having dinner and then one of them telling a story and then the characters in that story telling many stories.

As confusing as that sounds it wasn't a confusing read. I like the arabian setting and it was funny at times but nothing really impressed me about it, except for one of the stories told within the main story.

I think it would be more impressive for someone just getting into fantasy as opposed to a veteran. Though as the last reviewer mentioned it may not correctly represent Williams' 'normal' style of writing.

Hi all,

I'm an absolutely _huge_ fan of Tad Williams. I've read everything out there from Talechaser's Song to Mountain of Black Glass (and read MST three times). I've read both of his shorter works: Child of an Ancient City and Caliban's Hour. In reading Child, I found the prose weaker than what I was accustomed to with Tad: perhaps this was due to the condensed nature or perhaps it was that much of the text was actually written by Nina? I'm undecided. On the whole I enjoyed it more than Caliban's Hour. I would recommend this book to fans of Tad but not to the uninitiated.

Edited and illustrated by Greg Hildebrandt. Includes The Second Voyage of Sindbad the Sailor, Rip Van Winkle, The Little Mermaid, The Story of Siegfried, Snowdrop, Aladdin's or the Wonderful Lamp, The Necklace of the Brisings, The Sleeping Beauty, Polyphemus The Cyclops, The Pied Piper, Tontlawald, The Lepracuan, Perseus, Jack the Giant Killer, Pumpelstiltskin, Rapunzel, Hansel and Grethel,Beauty and the Beast, The Elves and the Shoemaker,and others. Luscious, colored illustrations you may want to take out and frame!

How many times have you heard and seen Clement Clarke Moore's classic "'Twas the Night Before Christmas," and how many ways have you heard the Biblical story of the Nativity told? How often do you find them presented with equal reverence and restraint in the same book? This book has dreamy illustrations and tellings of both stories, first of Santa, then of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, followed by the words and notes of classic Christmas carols. I loved this book since I bought it about eight or nine years ago for my future children (now ages 8 mos and 3 years). I was so sad when it was spoiled by a spilled cup of milk. It is out of print now, but I am on the hunt at used book stores in person and online. Worth finding. My 3-year-old had me read it to her again and again this past holiday season.

The cover art represents a scene in which a hobbit like myself would find comfortable. That is where the pleasure ends.

Hobbits of the Shire (and of Bree) owe a great debt of gratitude to Professor J.R.R. Tolkien for allowing Big People to see and appreciate our world and our lives. This volume shows no respect to the Professor at all, and by extension, shows us no respect as well.

Hobbits understand family and family life. Hobbits understand privacy. Mr. Grotta apparently understands neither, preferring to denigrate the Professor and his family for not providing access to family papers. I'm sorry, Mr. Grotta, the Professor's family has chosen an authorized biographer -- and you are not it. Accept that fact, and make contributions (if you have any) in other areas of Tolkien lore.

I urge all hobbits to stay away from this volume, and suggest that the purchase of Mr. Carpenter's books "JRR Tolkien", "The Inklings", and "The Letters of JRR Tolkien" would be a wiser use of money.

Mr. Grotta is definitely NOT invited to tea.

I must say that as a college student I would like to have my 15 dollars returned to me from the purchase of this book. Although there are some interesting "facts" in this book, it is largely not credible. I believe Grotta used questionable resources in compiling this biography which Tolkien himself refutes in many of his letters. i.e. Grotta writes of Tolkien's garage work shop on Sandfield Rd., which in "The Letters of..." Tolkien himself states that he "...had never written any literary matter in it..." and that the room was only used by his secretary. Grotta was clearly perturbed at his lack of "access" and seemed to want to portray one of the most prolific writers in history as a "lazy" individual. Obviously Grotta has never balanced a teaching post at Oxford, an ill wife, several children, along with creating one of the most fully imagined "secondary worlds" ever created. Hats of to all things Middle Earth and Grotta back to the drawing board.

I'm ordering a second copy for a dear friend. It's an easy read but is perfect for introducing someone who knows little of JRR Tolkien, CS Lewis, others. I paged through the "authorized biography" (Grotta is not the "authorized" Tolkien biographer) at the bookstore and my first impression was that the "authorized"version was a bit verbose and certainly not as elegant; I also appreciate biographies by authors not given special access by the family -- one always wonders where allegiances lie. If you are already quite familiar with "Tolk" this book probably has little to offer; but as a first book for someone who has been caught up in the recent movie trilogy, this is where I would start.