 |
 |
September 12, 2014
I loved this book. But I cannot recommend it to anybody. Because I don’t know how to judge the type of person who would like this book and I assume I’d be judged harshly if someone read it....and hated it. Unlikely as it seems, this is a Harry Potter-esque story for grown-ups. With sex, drugs, drinking, cursing and violence. It also has a cleverly crafted story; shockingly superb plot twists; an expertly interwoven plot; flawed and fascinating characters; great writing; I could go on and on. It is remarkable from cover to cover. But again, I must say, don’t read it.
It’s appropriate now for me to admit some truths that are a bit personal and will be surprising to some. Try not to laugh at me the next time you see me. One is: I love books about magic and about far-away fantasy worlds. I grew up on the Xanth series of books by Piers Anthony and they remain in my heart as some of the best, most exciting novels I’ve ever read. I don’t reveal that often because they are full of fantasy and are about magic. However, Mr. Anthony is a fabulous writer and the Xanth books are also edgy, funny and wholly unique. Those who enjoy this genre would probably still enjoy these books as adults, they are written so well. And if you already like the Xanth books, or think that you could now, and you don’t mind adult content that is done well and fits in the context of the story, you’d probably also love The Magicians. But I won’t recommend this book, cuz I just don’t know you.
Another truth: as a kid, I always daydreamed about being drawn through some portal or strange door into a magical world. I still think about that sometimes. It’s embarrassing. And it’s also what happens in The Magicians. It happens twice, actually. Quentin Coldwater, the main character, is an unhappy, highly intelligent, bored high school grad who forever longs for something more. And finally, he finds it. He’s magically transported to a school for spell casters and from there his life skyrockets to fantastic, previously unfathomable places. And as he realizes all he’s ever dreamed of, he constantly faces this sobering thought: “now that I have it, do I really still want it?!”
The violence, sex, drinking, etc. are not everything the book is about. Far from it. We aren’t talking about a Quentin Tarantino movie here. (I do dig all of Q.T.’s movies, by the way.) These things are simply present throughout The Magicians, but they remain a part of its art, part of its character, part of what it is. A fantasy and magic book for grown-ups. The adult content bits are not cheap additions just to make the book racy.
I read The Magicians on the Kindle app on my iPad. It cost me $2.99. For the price, it might be my favorite book I can remember right now. That’s big talk, but it is what it is, as they say. There are two more books in the series and I will be absolutely reading them at full price. I don’t mind giving Mr. Grossman a full wage for the outstanding writing job he’s giving me back.
However, again, I must say, I do not recommend this book. I loved it, but you gotta be interested and drawn in by what it is to like it too. It has 1,000+ reviews on Amazon so it's a pretty famous read, not some obscure title I stumbled upon somewhere. However, you mustn't read it because of me or because of those other 1,000+. Read The Magicians because you want to BE one.
To finish up, I'll share a fabulous passage from early in the book that really sets the tone for the story. These are Quentin’s thoughts as he contemplates joining Brakebills, the mysterious school for magicians...
“They were going to make him a magician, and all he had to do was sign. Jesus, what the hell was he thinking? Of course he was going to sign. This was everything he’d always wanted, the break he’d given up on years ago. It was right in front of him. He was finally on the other side, down the rabbit hole, through the looking glass. He was going to sign the papers and he was going to be a [curse word] magician. Or what the hell else was he going to do with his life?”
One more revealing quote, this time from Alice, Quentin’s on-again-off-again girlfriend. This one speaks to their fragility and their struggles to deal with the enormous situation they’ve both strived so hard for, but are now unsure they can actually handle...
Alice: “I will stop being a mouse, Quentin. I will take some chances. If you will, for just one second, look at your life and see how perfect it is. Stop looking for the next secret door that is going to lead you to your real life. Stop waiting. This is it: there’s nothing else. It’s here, and you’d better decide to enjoy it or you’re going to be miserable wherever you go, for the rest of your life, forever.”
Quentin: “You can’t just decide to be happy.”
This was such a wonderful book for me and I greatly look forward to Mr. Grossman’s next two Magicians novels. And that is all I have to say about that.
Click here to read all the more reviews you want to on Amazon
It’s appropriate now for me to admit some truths that are a bit personal and will be surprising to some. Try not to laugh at me the next time you see me. One is: I love books about magic and about far-away fantasy worlds. I grew up on the Xanth series of books by Piers Anthony and they remain in my heart as some of the best, most exciting novels I’ve ever read. I don’t reveal that often because they are full of fantasy and are about magic. However, Mr. Anthony is a fabulous writer and the Xanth books are also edgy, funny and wholly unique. Those who enjoy this genre would probably still enjoy these books as adults, they are written so well. And if you already like the Xanth books, or think that you could now, and you don’t mind adult content that is done well and fits in the context of the story, you’d probably also love The Magicians. But I won’t recommend this book, cuz I just don’t know you.
Another truth: as a kid, I always daydreamed about being drawn through some portal or strange door into a magical world. I still think about that sometimes. It’s embarrassing. And it’s also what happens in The Magicians. It happens twice, actually. Quentin Coldwater, the main character, is an unhappy, highly intelligent, bored high school grad who forever longs for something more. And finally, he finds it. He’s magically transported to a school for spell casters and from there his life skyrockets to fantastic, previously unfathomable places. And as he realizes all he’s ever dreamed of, he constantly faces this sobering thought: “now that I have it, do I really still want it?!”
The violence, sex, drinking, etc. are not everything the book is about. Far from it. We aren’t talking about a Quentin Tarantino movie here. (I do dig all of Q.T.’s movies, by the way.) These things are simply present throughout The Magicians, but they remain a part of its art, part of its character, part of what it is. A fantasy and magic book for grown-ups. The adult content bits are not cheap additions just to make the book racy.
I read The Magicians on the Kindle app on my iPad. It cost me $2.99. For the price, it might be my favorite book I can remember right now. That’s big talk, but it is what it is, as they say. There are two more books in the series and I will be absolutely reading them at full price. I don’t mind giving Mr. Grossman a full wage for the outstanding writing job he’s giving me back.
However, again, I must say, I do not recommend this book. I loved it, but you gotta be interested and drawn in by what it is to like it too. It has 1,000+ reviews on Amazon so it's a pretty famous read, not some obscure title I stumbled upon somewhere. However, you mustn't read it because of me or because of those other 1,000+. Read The Magicians because you want to BE one.
To finish up, I'll share a fabulous passage from early in the book that really sets the tone for the story. These are Quentin’s thoughts as he contemplates joining Brakebills, the mysterious school for magicians...
“They were going to make him a magician, and all he had to do was sign. Jesus, what the hell was he thinking? Of course he was going to sign. This was everything he’d always wanted, the break he’d given up on years ago. It was right in front of him. He was finally on the other side, down the rabbit hole, through the looking glass. He was going to sign the papers and he was going to be a [curse word] magician. Or what the hell else was he going to do with his life?”
One more revealing quote, this time from Alice, Quentin’s on-again-off-again girlfriend. This one speaks to their fragility and their struggles to deal with the enormous situation they’ve both strived so hard for, but are now unsure they can actually handle...
Alice: “I will stop being a mouse, Quentin. I will take some chances. If you will, for just one second, look at your life and see how perfect it is. Stop looking for the next secret door that is going to lead you to your real life. Stop waiting. This is it: there’s nothing else. It’s here, and you’d better decide to enjoy it or you’re going to be miserable wherever you go, for the rest of your life, forever.”
Quentin: “You can’t just decide to be happy.”
This was such a wonderful book for me and I greatly look forward to Mr. Grossman’s next two Magicians novels. And that is all I have to say about that.
Click here to read all the more reviews you want to on Amazon