Book Review: "The Magicians"
I've been putting off writing this book review because I am still ambivalent about this book. On the one hand, I've read glowing reviews about how original it is, ect ect but on the other, I found it dry as dust and boring as hell. So I keep going back to it, promising myself to read another 50 pages and judge it then. But, after 250 pages, I can't stomach it anymore.
This book is derivative (much of the plot features a fictional series of books about a magical land called Fillory, which is EXACTLY LIKE Narnia), it refuses to let you feel anything at all for the characters and worse--the whole promise of slash? One scene. And not all that hot.
I cannot recommend this book, which is a shame because I so wanted to like it. And the premise is good-a wizarding college, kind of like Harry-Potter-grows-up. And all the pieces for a good story are there. But the writing is...okay, have you ever taken a writing class and there is this one kid that is just so convinced of his own cleverness and always writes in references to fine wines and French words? And you read it and at first you might think, "Am I just not smart enough to get this?" because the instructor seems to think its great. But the more you read his writing, the more you realize that no, its not just you. He's just not a very good writer. But he has the ability to fool people for a while because he is good at form and style. That's this book--its like reading a textbook on how to write prose. And some of it is beautiful. But its all cold. There is nothing to care about and, without the emotional connection, no need to keep reading.
Its not that the characters are unlikable, although that's part of it. But I love David Feintuch's "The Still" and the central character of that novel is a spoiled brat. Its that they are inaccesible. The main character, (God! I can't even remember his name!), is a cipher-I have no idea what kind of person he is, what he will do, what he likes or doesn't like....he's just NOT THERE. And the whole book is like that. Not there.
Maybe this book is written for some other kind of person-someone who finds Chinese cinema subtle and spare and who doesn't mind that much of this book is a rip-off of CS Lewis. I'm just not that person.
Bottom Line: I can't believe I spent $22 on this. Think I'll donate it to the library.
This book is derivative (much of the plot features a fictional series of books about a magical land called Fillory, which is EXACTLY LIKE Narnia), it refuses to let you feel anything at all for the characters and worse--the whole promise of slash? One scene. And not all that hot.
I cannot recommend this book, which is a shame because I so wanted to like it. And the premise is good-a wizarding college, kind of like Harry-Potter-grows-up. And all the pieces for a good story are there. But the writing is...okay, have you ever taken a writing class and there is this one kid that is just so convinced of his own cleverness and always writes in references to fine wines and French words? And you read it and at first you might think, "Am I just not smart enough to get this?" because the instructor seems to think its great. But the more you read his writing, the more you realize that no, its not just you. He's just not a very good writer. But he has the ability to fool people for a while because he is good at form and style. That's this book--its like reading a textbook on how to write prose. And some of it is beautiful. But its all cold. There is nothing to care about and, without the emotional connection, no need to keep reading.
Its not that the characters are unlikable, although that's part of it. But I love David Feintuch's "The Still" and the central character of that novel is a spoiled brat. Its that they are inaccesible. The main character, (God! I can't even remember his name!), is a cipher-I have no idea what kind of person he is, what he will do, what he likes or doesn't like....he's just NOT THERE. And the whole book is like that. Not there.
Maybe this book is written for some other kind of person-someone who finds Chinese cinema subtle and spare and who doesn't mind that much of this book is a rip-off of CS Lewis. I'm just not that person.
Bottom Line: I can't believe I spent $22 on this. Think I'll donate it to the library.