Helpful Score: 9
I have such mixed feelings about this book, it's actually hard to write a review. The Magicians has a great hook: imagine the premise of Harry Potter, but played out among college-aged characters, with all the angst and sex and confusion that accompanies that life stage. Only, to complicated matters even further, add magic to the mix in the midst of the real-world and all its mundane struggles and disappointments.
The story follows Quentin (Q), a fairly typical young man that has never quite fit in. The one place he finds contentment and peace is in Fillory -- a magical land (very reminiscent of Narnia) that exists only between the covers of his favorite childhood book series. Or so it seems. As readers, we learn that there's a very good reason that Q has been unable to let go of the tales of Fillory. Magic is in his blood.
But just because he's bright and has knowledge of magic doesn't mean things come easy to Q. The magic in Grossman's book is hard won after years of work, study and mastery -- there's no simple incantation and flip of a wand. Instead of an admittance letter delivered by owl, Q has to endure grueling admissions exams to study at Brakebills. Over his course of study, he makes friends, falls in love, figures out his area of study in magic, and makes a fantastic pilgrimage that, for me, was the high point of the story.
I think my biggest problem with The Magicians was that I just didn't like Q. He is moody, immature and self-pitying through the entire book -- and somehow, he doesn't do any growing in the novel, despite his fantastic circumstances. You could argue that most of us are moody, immature and self-pitying while we're in college, but Q still really grated on me. It took me much longer than usual to get through this book, and I think my lack of enthusiasm for the main character was the main cause. I just didn't feel called to check in on him and see what he was up to.
Grossman's writing is one thing in this book that is truly magical. I loved the way he spun his sentences, and his descriptions are top-notch without being wordy for the sake of wordiness. I am not familiar with his blog or his work as a book reviewer, but I hope he plans to write more novels in the future. His writing style and ability to create a fantastic world in line with our everyday one are definitely worth a second look.
The story follows Quentin (Q), a fairly typical young man that has never quite fit in. The one place he finds contentment and peace is in Fillory -- a magical land (very reminiscent of Narnia) that exists only between the covers of his favorite childhood book series. Or so it seems. As readers, we learn that there's a very good reason that Q has been unable to let go of the tales of Fillory. Magic is in his blood.
But just because he's bright and has knowledge of magic doesn't mean things come easy to Q. The magic in Grossman's book is hard won after years of work, study and mastery -- there's no simple incantation and flip of a wand. Instead of an admittance letter delivered by owl, Q has to endure grueling admissions exams to study at Brakebills. Over his course of study, he makes friends, falls in love, figures out his area of study in magic, and makes a fantastic pilgrimage that, for me, was the high point of the story.
I think my biggest problem with The Magicians was that I just didn't like Q. He is moody, immature and self-pitying through the entire book -- and somehow, he doesn't do any growing in the novel, despite his fantastic circumstances. You could argue that most of us are moody, immature and self-pitying while we're in college, but Q still really grated on me. It took me much longer than usual to get through this book, and I think my lack of enthusiasm for the main character was the main cause. I just didn't feel called to check in on him and see what he was up to.
Grossman's writing is one thing in this book that is truly magical. I loved the way he spun his sentences, and his descriptions are top-notch without being wordy for the sake of wordiness. I am not familiar with his blog or his work as a book reviewer, but I hope he plans to write more novels in the future. His writing style and ability to create a fantastic world in line with our everyday one are definitely worth a second look.
Helpful Score: 5
I really liked the descriptions, situations and plot twists in this book. The problem was that I wasn't fond of the protagonist, Quentin. His friends seemed so much more interesting. Perhaps Quentin will grow up in the next book!
Helpful Score: 3
I did not like it. I did not feel as if I got the know the characters, did not care if they lived or died and did not enjoy the fantasy aspect.
Helpful Score: 3
Honestly, I felt like this book was a big f-you to anyone who ever wanted to go to Hogwarts or dreamt of finding a secret cupboard to Narnia.
Quentin was an unlikeable main character who is constantly bored and unsatisfied with his life, no matter how miraculous it becomes. He even stops and says at times how he should be happy, but he just isn't. Someone should have given him a Prozac and the story would be much better. Probably.
The world was neat and I liked the magic school when Quentin wasn't mucking it up. I didn't like how the author took what should have been an amazing experience - Magic is Real!!! - and turned it into hard work. What I love about fantasy and magic is that they are better than the real world. There is Good and Evil and Quests and Glory. The Magicians turned magic into Difficult, Dangerous, and Useless.
I can give this 3 stars because it did hold my interest. It was a different take on your typical fantasy. Trying something new and succeeding should get at least that many stars.
I'm sure there are those who really enjoy this and can see beyond the main character's flaws, or actually can appreciate the main character for his flaws. For me, however, all I wanted after finishing this was to curl up with a childhood favorite where the good guys win and magic always sparkles.
Quentin was an unlikeable main character who is constantly bored and unsatisfied with his life, no matter how miraculous it becomes. He even stops and says at times how he should be happy, but he just isn't. Someone should have given him a Prozac and the story would be much better. Probably.
The world was neat and I liked the magic school when Quentin wasn't mucking it up. I didn't like how the author took what should have been an amazing experience - Magic is Real!!! - and turned it into hard work. What I love about fantasy and magic is that they are better than the real world. There is Good and Evil and Quests and Glory. The Magicians turned magic into Difficult, Dangerous, and Useless.
I can give this 3 stars because it did hold my interest. It was a different take on your typical fantasy. Trying something new and succeeding should get at least that many stars.
I'm sure there are those who really enjoy this and can see beyond the main character's flaws, or actually can appreciate the main character for his flaws. For me, however, all I wanted after finishing this was to curl up with a childhood favorite where the good guys win and magic always sparkles.
Helpful Score: 3
After all the hype, I was expecting a lot more out of this. Without giving too much away, the book spends a decent chunk of time at Brakebills but it doesn't feel like enough. The whole story feels like someone hit fast forward and you get the big main points, but not any of the character and story development that *could* be there. For lack of better comparison, it's like the first three Harry Potter books being distilled down into one story.
Quentin isn't the most likeable protagonist either. He whines and pities himself through most of the book, just like a lot of regular teens/people. Which is fine for the most part, because you know a big lesson is coming for him. Except the thing is, when the big lesson comes and he learns it, it feels anti-climactic and I just ended up mentally comparing him to an ex who was also whiney and poo-faced. Maybe I would have liked this story more had it been told from Alice, Penny, Eliot or even one of the professor's perspective. There's so much hinted at in their pasts and so little revealed; at certain points I was really hoping the story would take a multi-perspective storytelling stance so we could get into the meat of their lives, but no such luck.
Overall I liked the book and was entertained enough to finish it, but as other reviewers have stated, the whole book just feels like it exists as a set-up to the next book... which I'm not really sure I want to read.
Quentin isn't the most likeable protagonist either. He whines and pities himself through most of the book, just like a lot of regular teens/people. Which is fine for the most part, because you know a big lesson is coming for him. Except the thing is, when the big lesson comes and he learns it, it feels anti-climactic and I just ended up mentally comparing him to an ex who was also whiney and poo-faced. Maybe I would have liked this story more had it been told from Alice, Penny, Eliot or even one of the professor's perspective. There's so much hinted at in their pasts and so little revealed; at certain points I was really hoping the story would take a multi-perspective storytelling stance so we could get into the meat of their lives, but no such luck.
Overall I liked the book and was entertained enough to finish it, but as other reviewers have stated, the whole book just feels like it exists as a set-up to the next book... which I'm not really sure I want to read.
