The Magus by John Fowles Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Magus
Book Review: I have never reviewed abook in my life!
Summary: 5 Stars
But I feel after reading The Magus, I had to look more into it, this book takes the main charicter on a journey into the unknown. A mind game is been played on him and they are no rules, just a lession at the end of the game, but fowels doest just play this game for Nicholas (the main charicter) he plays it for the reader, and still after I have read the book, I am still looking on the internet to find out what other people got from the book,this book is full of shocks, insecouritys, and paranoia, I belive it really fits in to todays socityBook Review: A twister and turner
Summary: 4 Stars
This is a lengthy book that is written by someone with a very good command of the English language. When I was a schoolboy, I remember my English teacher telling us "The first sentence of a book is the most important ..." Until this book, I have never found that to be the case. However, here's the first sentence of The Magus: I just love it"I was born in 1927, the only child of middle-class parents, both English, and themselves born in the grotesquely elongated shadow, which they never rose sufficiently above history to leave, of that monstrous dwarf Queen Victoria."
I suppose it's the oxymoron applied to one of Britain's least likeable Monarchs that tickled my fancy: OK, subjective but I believe it's true!
Another sentence from the tens of thousands of others that leapt out at me is on page 617 of my Vintage paperback edition:
"She was splaying great worms of viridian green with her thumb across murky black and umber explosions of Ripolin."
This was Urfe's landlady 'making a painting'!
The best compliment I can pay this book is that it is Anna Karenina done right! Karenina is a good story but Tolstoy does go on a bit. I never felt this with The Magus even though we are led down many avenues and there are many lengthy scenes and dialogues to digest. I never tired of Fowles' narrative and congratulate him on keeping my interest so well for so long.
My only complaint about this book is that my imagination is never good enough to sort out book endings that are not crisp and absolutely transparent. I will have to visit Blackwells in Oxford to find out if the Latin snippet that ends the book would help me to fathom whether the story has a happy ending or is dying for a sequel to sort it all out. Speaking of this sort of thing, I did feel that some of the Latin, French and Greek snippets got in the way from time to time; and also believe they weren't really necessary.
Otherwise, it's another book that had me wishing I were a psychologist since it seems very rich in such material!
The plot and the characters are rich and they move along nicely in all respects, although I must say that Urfe had more insight and tenacity than I would have had in these circumstances. Mitford's probably nearer my mark, I'm afraid: although I'm not a military type and I don't have such airs and I don't pass dud cheques!
Finally, I believe Michael Caine has starred in a film of this book and can only say that this is wholly inappropriate. I do not believe Caine has anywhere near the talent to play Nicholas Urfe and do him justice.
A good book if you like a long read.
Book Review: A book you can take through life
Summary: 5 Stars
Onto a lonely and isolated island, into a mysterious domain with its enigmatic owner, comes our dislocated anti-hero, Nicholas Urfe.Although 'The Magus' is essentially a coming of age novel, through the interweaving of the psychical, the theatrical, fantasy, illusion and reality, we are taken on a magnificent cerebral journey to self-discovery.
As the enigmatic Conchis draws Nicholas more and more into his world, so we too are manipulated along with him. We know nothing more nor less than Nicholas and so share his fate. As the plot twists and turns, we are no less hungry for clues and meanings until we become as bewildered and emotionally exhausted as Nicholas.
Fowles' expert exploration of the human psyche shows us the dark depths to which it can sink and how, against impossible odds, the human spirit can soar.
There are shades of 'The Tempest' and 'Great Expectations' and also echoes of Ibsen's continuing theme, "To be true to oneself", but nothing can prepare the first time reader for the spellbinding experience that lies within these pages. As we read, we are reminded of Fowles' alternative title, "The Godgame" and indeed we identify totally with Nicholas as he is confused, taunted, baited and made to distrust his own feelings, senses and thoughts.
Although there is a touch of envy for the first time reader, this is a novel which can be read many times and at different stages of one's life and our appreciation improves with each reading.
The ambiguous ending may seem harsh, but so is life and there is hope in the Latin footnote. There is no denying that John Fowles has created in 'The Magus' something quite rare, a work of literary genius,
Book Review: Amazing
Summary: 5 Stars
I think that this book is an attempt at showing us how responsible we are, both for ourselves and others. That if we knew beforehand the far-reaching affects of our actions, both on ourselves and others, we would think twice before acting. The book explores the concept of freedom - being free means having less freedom.Book Review: Everyone should have a favouraite novel...
Summary: 5 Stars
...and this is mine. You will either love or hate The Magus. That is to say you will either identify with the main character, Nicholas Urfe or you despise him as tepid, middle class cliche. For those, probably slightly misguided individuals, whom like me share Urfe's background - a dominant parent, public school, vague degree course and a taste for the arrogant and narcissistic, The Magus is a mirror to one's search for self esteem.The plot is convoluted but constantly engaging. Although set in the mid twentieth century, the content is almost completely portable to the present day.
If you are an early to mid twenties male, probably between partners, then reading this book will add perspective to your life. If you are a woman it will bore you to tears. If you are a woman who has recently been spurned by a mid twenties underachieving but intelligent male, then reading The Magus will depress but ultimately enlighten you as to the capriciousness of the disenfranchised and immasculated twentieth century boy.