The Prestige by Christopher Priest Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Prestige
Book Review: Not the same as the movie
Summary: 4 Stars
I saw a preview for the movie "The Prestige" and was intrigued. When I
discovered it was based on a book I decided to go ahead and read it before
the movie came out. I'm glad I did. If you have seen the movie, I recommend
reading the book, not because they are the same, but because they are
different. The major characters in the book are multi-faceted and I there
is a whole set of characters that were omitted from the movie. The ending
is very different and left me thinking for days...
Book Review: Only a good writer could write a book this bad
Summary: 2 Stars
Imagine that you're reading a well-written story of two magicians, linked in a feud that spans generations, each trying to figure out how the other does their most impressive illusion.Imagine further that each does an illusion of lead changing into gold. (This isn't the real illusion used in the book.) The first magician has an unusual way of doing the illusion that you understand quickly and that contributes to the heart and spirit of the book. The second magician ... really converts lead into gold.
Why does the author insult us with this? What's the point of illusion if you possess the reality? Why doesn't the magician who possesses this secret just commercialize it (he cares a good deal about money) instead of going on with his comparatively trivial career as an illusionist? Why does the author give such an ridiculously pseudo-scientific story about how the illusion is done?
And most of all, why engage the reader's interest in a central mystery of a novel only to solve it with a deus ex machina?
If only the author had been content to write this as a non-science-fictional work. Unfortunately, this book uses its single science fictional element in a tremendously shabby fashion that, for me, made the last part of the book nearly unreadable.
Book Review: Prestige Indeed
Summary: 4 Stars
I read this book after watching the movie version so I had some insight into the story. Even still, the story deviated enough from the movie version that I was intrigued with what was going on. The book was definately a page-turner. At the end, I still wanted more explanation. Also, you don't necessarily need to be interested in magicians specifically to appreciate this book. Anyone who enjoys a good mystery/thriller would enjoy this.Book Review: Read It Even If You've Seen the Movie!
Summary: 5 Stars
I watched the movie and was compelled to read the book. I expected an expansion of the characters and situations in the movie, but was pleasantly surprised to find that the book was much different yet at the same time very much like the movie. Some comparisons between the two:
The reasons behind the two magicians' grudges towards each other are different, they had different career paths here. The movie had them as friends first who had a falling out while here the two never met each other under pleasant circumstances. In the movie the two were much more cruel to each other than in the book, but the feelings of bitterness and the drive for revenge still felt deeper in the book. Also, Rupert was the more sympathetic character in the book while Borden turned out to be so in the film.
The relationships between some of the characters were the same, especially in the case of Olivia, but Rupert's family situation was deeper and far more complicated. Cutter, while a driving force and a friend to both magicians in the film, was a background character who worked with Rupert for less than twenty pages and then faded away.
The Tesla machine was almost the same, but with a much different twist. Rupert's family background was expanded more. Borden's secret was better concealed in the book, and was revealed in a different way. Due to the format in which the book was written, a lot of the story relied on subtleties while the movie made a point to drive everything home. Still, both ended on different notes, and both were very powerful.
As for the book itself:
I loved the format, with the present day descendents and the different narrators in different sections. Part one was Borden's relative being invited to Rupert's relative's house to stir up some unanswered questions. Part two was Borden's version of the story. Part three was Rupert's relative's story of a disturbing childhood memory. Part four was the longest and was Rupert's diary, kept over a 40 year period and told his version of the story. Part five was the present day Borden's discovery of Rupert's secret and the discovery of a memory that had haunted him all his life.
The story unfolded in such a mysterious way, with neither magician letting very much of their secret go in their narratives... the stories were their journals and if someone had gotten hold of them their secrets would have only been alluded to and never fully revealed. The end of Rupert's journal was pretty conclusive in terms of explaining his trick, but one part was never resolved. SPOILER ALERT, STOP HERE IF YOU HAVEN'T READ: The final section could have contained about ten more pages that detailed whether Kate knew that Rupert's spectre still lived in the vault with the "prestige materials" and the Tesla machine, and if she still used the machine to expand her finances. Also, what did Andrew plan to do with the little Nicky once he carried him from the vault? It seems he was better left to rest there. And why did Rupert's ghost wander into the woods, and what really happened in 1904 when he tried to transport himself into his dead body? Did he communicate with the following generations of his family or did he hide in the vault? Kate seemed to know he was there, yet seemed scared when he appeared. What relationship will Kate and Andrew develop now that all of this has been brought to light? Not enough material for a sequel I wouldn't think, but questions I would have liked answered.
Overall, one of the best books I've read in a while and certainly the most developed. I will be on the lookout for more by Christopher Priest. He writes very compelling fiction and did a great job of capturing the time period. Highly recommended.
Book Review: Strong, engaging read
Summary: 5 Stars
The Prestige is on its face a story of two rival magicians. It is told from the perspectives of each. I don't care to say much else about the book, but prefer only to warn readers about the linearity of the novel. Priest's The Prestige is divided into 5 sections from varied perspectives. The best way to read the story, in order to get the full power of the "secrets" of the two magicians, is to read 2,4,1,3,5. Read it front to back if you wish, but I fear you will lose your curiosity.