Comments | retsuko: Semi-Book Rec: "The Magicians" by Lev Grossman

retsuko

Semi-Book Rec: "The Magicians" by Lev Grossman

Jan 21, 2010 13:55

I had heard this book being billed as "Harry Potter grown up", and recommended along the lines of "C.S. Lewis, but with sex!" And... it's sort of like that. It's a retake of the "lonely boy gets a chance to study at awesome magical school and has adventures" young adult fantasy plot, and there is indeed growing up and sex. There are also some ( Read more... )

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Comments 5

orichalcum January 21 2010, 22:49:15 UTC

Yeah, you pretty much nailed my feelings, except that I think I found Quentin Even More Insufferable. The comment I made in another LJ was that I kept feeling that Grossman doesn't actually really like YA/children's classic fantasy, and so took every opportunity to mock it and tear it down. Since I do cherish the genre, there were sections that felt like someone making rude drawings in church, for lack of a better metaphor. I kept thinking, "dude, if you don't like Narnia or Nesbit, _don't write fantasy._"

And all the Potter references were very offputting and strange. "Novels with magical schools and sports in them are so silly and stupid - except for mine, of course."

Also, yes, would have liked The Story of Alice _so much more._

retsuko January 21 2010, 22:58:29 UTC

Yeah, I couldn't tell if Grossman loved or hated YA. I think he knew it back to front, and respected certain parts of it, but that his problems with it overrode anything positive he had to say. I wonder if this book is an offshoot of his Comp. Lit. Ph.D.

Ha ha, all the Potter references got pretty heavy-handed. Welters actually sounded like a cool game, and I wanted to hear more about it. (Not play it, though. I do want to play Quidditch, though.) I thought Dean Fogg was pretty much the anti-Dumbledore, though. He seemed determined not to tell Quentin and the others what to do, except for his vague Graduation speech, which of course contained salient points, but Quentin and his self-absorbed friends were too busy angsting to notice.

psychoe January 21 2010, 22:53:57 UTC

ooooh! I think I saw this book in the New arrivals at Borders at one time and immediately wanted to read it!

Thanks for the review!

retsuko January 21 2010, 22:59:18 UTC

I'll be curious to hear your thoughts on it--I'm wondering how it reads for other people.

psychoe April 25 2010, 21:03:17 UTC

Just finished it this morning! OH MY GOD!

I know how you feel about Alice and I absolutely love her as a character too. Alice >>>>> Quentin for sure but I still fell hook, line and sinker for the poor flawed little talented dude. I don't know. It's hard to explain I guess. 10 years ago I'm sure I would only ever enjoy reading/watching good, kind-hearted characters but lately, I've been drawn to "creatures of excess" if you will. Hiruma from Eyeshield 21 being one of them. (hehe) Quentin's an ingrateful brat who doesn't understand how good he's got it, but he's legitimately looking for that 'greater purpose' which I can certainly relate to.

Overall, I really really enjoyed the hell out of this book. I never read the Narnia books as a kid so I don't have the same kind of attachment to these YA novels but I appreciate the mix of magic and teen/adult angst here.