The Magus by John Fowles

[figurered]

I have just finished reading The Magus - and I think I only did it in order to post a new thread in Online-literature not because I really liked the book!

I don t know why I did not like it. Perhaps it is the fact that I am 35 years old, not 20. Or because my generation is not at all unversed in conspiracy plots etc ( see Lost or the Game which seem to have something in common with the Magus - I agree with the verdict of some online reviews of the book) ? Or it is the fact that I have allready read Durrell so I am not so much flattered by literary praises for my country ( I m Greek as you understand ) as I once was?

I don t know, but I would really like to hear other opinions about the book.

- I don t want to go into details about the plot for two reasons: a) my bad english, b) I find it boring to stroll through the book s labyrinthine plot once again (within this realm of a lying sun, to paraphrase Dead Can Dance) -

So, is it the Tempest that takes place on a greek island or just a storm in a tea cup that ends in Much Ado About Nothing?

(Once again I have to apologize for my bad english!)

edit: I just saw that it is Fowles not Fawles. Well at least I did not put Owls! I would have then to apologize not only to the readers but as well to Athena! (please Admin would u be kind enough to correct it?).

[kev67]

I keep hearing that book is good. I watched a Booktuber (book reviewers on YouTube) rave about one of his other books, The Collector.

[ChicagoReader]

I finished the book about a week or two ago and really enjoyed it, though I am 22, and I think it's fair to consider that this book is likely more enjoyable to younger readers. Perhaps the most interesting thing about this book for me was that the endless twists and deception didn't become tiresome to me. While reading, I would constantly tell myself, OK, no more believing in what the author is telling me, but then I'd get immersed in what I think is beautiful and elegant language, and start to fall for his tricks. For me, wanting to find out what was ultimately going on wasn't my biggest motivation for reading. There were constantly passages which caused me to stop on and think. As someone with little knowledge in philosophy, and even less in mythology, this book was very interesting and thought-provoking but again, I could easily understand someone with a lot more knowledge considering this a bit weak.

I won't get into details about the ending but it was probably my least favorite part, I thought it cheapened the rest of the book, though still, this is a book I highly rated. I felt Fowles did a good job of creating a protagonist that was fairly disagreeable but still somehow sympathetic. His views and thoughts often angered and disgusted me, but I still rooted for him. There was also a good deal of xenophobia, nationality being a major theme of the novel, which wasn't very intriguing. I was most interested in the philosophical mind-games, to be honest.

Ultimately it's a book I'd recommend. I actually started reading it because of a thread on here (Book That First Comes to Mind? Or some such title), and am glad I did, because I'd never heard of the book beforehand.

[Kafka's Crow]

This book is a serious brain****. I didn't like it much because too many twists and charades can leave the reader all bamboozled along with the protagonist. I like The French Lieutenant's Woman better. I read The Magus in March this year and was hoping great things from this one but was severely disappointed.