BOOK REVIEW - The Magcians (Novel)
Mike
402 pages Hardcover $26.95 (U.S.) $33.50 (Canada)
Reviewers before me have called this book “Harry Potter for grown-
ups,” as if Harry Potter is only for children. This book should be
more appealing to the adult readership for a number of reasons.
Firstly, the world of Brakebills College of Magical Pedagogy is not
removed from the world the rest of us live in (okay, it has been
rendered invisible to the non-magical eye [like Hogwarts], but its
students have a working knowledge of the world outside its walls).
Secondly, it treats the entire concept of magic in a very “adult”
manner – some can’t, some can, and some can but don’t know how or
why. There are nods given to Narnia, Hogwarts, and the land of Oz
among others.
This is not quite “sex, drugs, and rock and roll” (no rock and roll
here). It is an adult book without degenerating into a constant
bedroom romp. There are insecurities enough to keep a team of
psychologists busy. There are also some unresolved plot lines, and
the ending seemed a bit contrived and left me mildly disappointed.
The author has obviously done a little research on the magical/occult
community, since he has several references to belief systems outside
of the mainstream. These references, however, are superficial and
portray no depth of knowledge or understanding.
The Magicians was a well-written book. It grabbed my interest and
dragged me deeper into it with every chapter, but by the time I had
reached its conclusion I felt a little disappointed. Much like being
invited to what is anticipated to be a gastronomic feast, and sitting
down to find a burger and fries in front of you; it just didn’t
deliver in my opinion.
The characters were, for the most part, either copies of characters
from other books or so shallow that it was hard to develop any feeling
for them – good or bad. The plot twists were, in most instances, not
so much twists as curves. Some of them could be seen coming and only
one or two of them actually surprised me.
As I said earlier, it is well-written, but for those who are looking
for a book which relies on magic, it is bound to be a disappointment.
By all means, if you are looking for a book to while away a weekend
read and enjoy it. Just don’t expect too much from it.
Evergreen
> The Magicians by Lev Grossman =A9 2009 Viking ISBN:
> 978-0670020553 402 pages Hardcover $26.95 (U.S.) $33.50
> (Canada)
>
> Reviewers before me have called this book =93Harry Potter
> for grown- ups,=94 as if Harry Potter is only for children.
There's no fundamental difference between the psuedo-magick
portrayed in Harry Potter and the psuedo-magick employed
by 'neo-pagan magicicians' and 'ceremonial magicians'.
Neither work outside the bounds of fiction and they were derived
from the same sources.
> This book should be more appealing to the adult readership
> for a number of reasons. Firstly, the world of Brakebills
> College of Magical Pedagogy is not removed from the world the
> rest of us live in (okay, it has been rendered invisible to
> the non-magical eye [like Hogwarts], but its students have a
> working knowledge of the world outside its walls).
> Secondly, it treats the entire concept of magic in a very
> =93adult=94 manner =96 some can=92t, some can, and some can
> but don=92t know how or why. There are nods given to Narnia,
> Hogwarts, and the land of Oz among others.
And there you see more 'neo-pagan' ignorance.
We are all magickal beings. Magick is how reality works. It
is what we _are_.
> This is not quite =93sex, drugs, and rock and roll=94 (no rock
> and roll here). It is an adult book without degenerating into a
> constant bedroom romp. There are insecurities enough to keep a
> team of psychologists busy. There are also some unresolved plot
> lines, and the ending seemed a bit contrived and left me mildly
> disappointed.
>
> The author has obviously done a little research on the
> magical/occult community, since he has several references to
> belief systems outside of the mainstream. These references,
> however, are superficial and portray no depth of knowledge or
> understanding.
>
> The Magicians was a well-written book.
> It grabbed my interest and dragged me deeper into it with
> every chapter, but by the time I had reached its conclusion I
> felt a little disappointed. Much like being invited to what is
> anticipated to be a gastronomic feast, and sitting down to find
> a burger and fries in front of you; it just didn=92t deliver in
> my opinion.
>
> The characters were, for the most part, either copies of
> characters from other books or so shallow that it was hard to
> develop any feeling for them =96 good or bad. The plot twists
> were, in most instances, not so much twists as curves. Some of
> them could be seen coming and only one or two of them actually
> surprised me.
>
> As I said earlier, it is well-written, but for those who are
> looking for a book which relies on magic, it is bound to be a
> disappointment. By all means, if you are looking for a book to
> while away a weekend read and enjoy it. Just don=92t expect too
> much from it.
Sounds boring.
Sid
--
Sidney Lambe
Wiccan Priest and Apprentice Magician
http://tinyurl.com/7vs9zb
usenet4444 (at) gmail (dot) com
Mr. Joseph Littleshoes Esq.
Mike wrote:
> The Magicians by Lev Grossman ÔøΩ 2009 Viking ISBN: 978-0670020553
> 402 pages Hardcover $26.95 (U.S.) $33.50 (Canada)
>
> Reviewers before me have called this book ÔøΩHarry Potter for grown-
> ups,ÔøΩ as if Harry Potter is only for children. This book should be
> more appealing to the adult readership for a number of reasons.
> Firstly, the world of Brakebills College of Magical Pedagogy is not
> removed from the world the rest of us live in (okay, it has been
> rendered invisible to the non-magical eye [like Hogwarts], but its
> students have a working knowledge of the world outside its walls).
> Secondly, it treats the entire concept of magic in a very ÔøΩadultÔøΩ
> manner ÔøΩ some canÔøΩt, some can, and some can but donÔøΩt know how or
> why. There are nods given to Narnia, Hogwarts, and the land of Oz
> among others.
>
> This is not quite ÔøΩsex, drugs, and rock and rollÔøΩ (no rock and roll
> here). It is an adult book without degenerating into a constant
> bedroom romp. There are insecurities enough to keep a team of
> psychologists busy. There are also some unresolved plot lines, and
> the ending seemed a bit contrived and left me mildly disappointed.
>
> The author has obviously done a little research on the magical/occult
> community, since he has several references to belief systems outside
> of the mainstream. These references, however, are superficial and
> portray no depth of knowledge or understanding.
>
> The Magicians was a well-written book. It grabbed my interest and
> dragged me deeper into it with every chapter, but by the time I had
> reached its conclusion I felt a little disappointed. Much like being
> invited to what is anticipated to be a gastronomic feast, and sitting
> down to find a burger and fries in front of you; it just didnÔøΩt
> deliver in my opinion.
>
> The characters were, for the most part, either copies of characters
> from other books or so shallow that it was hard to develop any feeling
> for them ÔøΩ good or bad. The plot twists were, in most instances, not
> so much twists as curves. Some of them could be seen coming and only
> one or two of them actually surprised me.
>
> As I said earlier, it is well-written, but for those who are looking
> for a book which relies on magic, it is bound to be a disappointment.
> By all means, if you are looking for a book to while away a weekend
> read and enjoy it. Just donÔøΩt expect too much from it.
Well, fiction, ever read Somerst Maughm's "The Magician" supposedly the
"Oliver Haddo" character is modeled on Aleister Crowley and Crowley
accused Maughm in a published review of the book of plagiarizing his,
Crowley's, own works to describe the character.
I don't think there is any really good "Occult" fiction. Foucaults
Pendulum, The Magus, Quincunx, Da Vinci Code, all seem unreal and rather
a bit silly to me, i put von Daniken Chariots of the Gods & "Holy Blood
Holy Grail" in the fiction category and don't think much of them either.
At one time i liked Zelazny's 9 princes in Amber but i was much younger
then and had a less developed taste in literature.
The English writer E. F. Benson, most famous for his "Mapp & Lucia"
series of "comedy of manners" did a volume of "Ghost Stories" & stories
of the occult & paranormal that i found very readable, but im a fan of
the whole Benson Clan, from the Archbishop of Canterbury Father &
Lesbian Mother to the homicidal daughter:)
And all of the Benson lads made a nice living as writers. Though really
only Edward Frederick is still published.
--
Mr. Joseph Littleshoes Esq.
Domine, dirige nos.
Let the games begin!
http://fredeeky.typepad.com/fredeeky/files/sf_anthem.mp3
Gary Woods
>I don't think there is any really good "Occult" fiction.
"American Gods," Gaiman and Pratchett; pagan concepts central to the plot.
Gary Woods AKA K2AHC- PGP key on request, or at home.earthlink.net/~garygarlic
Zone 5/6 in upstate New York, 1420' elevation. NY WO G
Mr. Joseph Littleshoes Esq.
Gary Woods wrote:
> "Mr. Joseph Littleshoes Esq." wrote:
>
>
>>I don't think there is any really good "Occult" fiction.
>
>
> "American Gods," Gaiman and Pratchett; pagan concepts central to the
plot.
>
>
> Gary Woods AKA K2AHC- PGP key on request, or at
home.earthlink.net/~garygarlic
> Zone 5/6 in upstate New York, 1420' elevation. NY WO G
I suppose there is "occult fiction" that is both popular, that sells
well, and also 'occult fiction' that is accepted as 'literature' James's
"The Turn of the Screw" comes to mind.
I guess i just don't find the genre of much interest, i have yet to find
an example of 'occult fiction' that i could really lose myself in.
I can think of various 'fictional' works, love stories, historical
fiction, Sci Fi, fantasy, 'romance novels' humor both drawing room and
comedy of manners, that can, if not move me on an emotional level, as
some do, then amuse and beguile me in a more superficial way, than so
called "occult fiction" has yet to do.
I find Lovecraft boring but i do like Poe, whom IMO is the stand out
example of the genre. C. S. Lewis i just cant get into, i even left the
theater early as i was bored by the Narnia film when it first came out,
and as much as i like both the book and movie Moll Flanders i had to
walk out on "Barry Lyndon" it was like a soporific, it was sooooooo
slooooooow moving i almost nodded off.
The original "Bell Book and Candle" that later was the inspiration for
the t.v. show "Bewitched" (im shocked that any one would have made the
movie of it that did get made) was, imo, an amusing bit of fluff, but
too silly to do anything more than giggle over, certainly not make me think.
Im hesitant to include the Herbert Novel "Dune" in the "occult fiction"
category as its so space ships and outer space Sci fi, but at the same
time, and as im reading this in alt.relgion.wicca it strikes me, in my
awareness of the "occult" that what is often called "magick" is just
something that is not understood, once its understood it ceases to be
'magick' and becomes science. And the mystic element various groups in
the novel Dune cultivate for political and propagandistic purposes seems
to me to be able to allow the novel to be placed in the 'occult'
category, but i admit, its a stretch.
Now there are several stories and a book or 2 Aleister Crowley wrote
that deal, as might be expected, with the subject commonly called
"occult" Moonchild being one and his Sherlock Holms rip off "Simon Iff"
are both imo intriguing in the minutiae of occult lore they portray,
however to be really appreciated they must be already known about and as
that
is rare in the general public they may be legitimately called esoteric
and thus not widely disseminated nor read.
Interestingly enough, one story he wrote he titled it "The Magic
Glasses". Set in late Victorian England it concerns the reaction of as
archetypal, prudish, sexually repressed Victorian father, how he reacts
to finding sketch's of the Venus d'Milo by his daughter whom he was
reluctant to let go and study art in Paris. He throws her out of the
family home as a perverted, depraved 'fallen woman'.
The story has a subplot of the young woman rejecting job offers for her
drawing and painting because a properly brought up young women of her
time and class did not "work" it was considered 'unseemly' so though the
young lady was tossed out of her home it was implied she could take care
of her self financially.
The story ends with the Father, calming himself down after confronting
and banishing his daughter by taking his "French Postcards" out of a
locked drawer in his locked study where he keeps his photograph of the
Venus d'Milo to arouse himself with...."oh the shame of it!"
And while im on the subject of Crowley, and it seems appropriate for
the alt.book.reviews group, Crowley was a working writer, he supported
himself working for a number of publications of his day, and some of his
best writing are reviews of various books, plays, music, art he wrote
about other peoples works as a paid professional critic of them.
When Crowley is NOT writing about himself he can be very witty and
insightful. Vicious even, he once wrote an obituary of another writer,
famous in "Occult" circles and generally held in a rather dubious
reverence and referred to him as "Arthur Edward (wisdom while you) Waite.
"Brooklyn, N.Y., where he was born, organized a procession which,
instead of taking so many hours to pass a given point, decided, in
flattering imitation of its greatest son, to take several weeks to come
to it."
A good collection of Crowley's critical reviews and essays may be found
in a volume edited by his private secretary of some 20+ years, Israel
Regardie who published a text of Crowley's 'technical' writings on the
"Occult" and in keeping with the theme of the title of the text "Gems
from the Equinox" included a selection of those critical reviews and
essays Crowley wrote for his magazine "the Equinox".
Baird Stafford
"Mr. Joseph Littleshoes Esq." <jpst...@isp.com> wrote:
<snip>
> When Crowley is NOT writing about himself he can be very witty and
> insightful. Vicious even, he once wrote an obituary of another writer,
> famous in "Occult" circles and generally held in a rather dubious
> reverence and referred to him as "Arthur Edward (wisdom while you) Waite.
It might be worth noting that Crowley's detestation of Waite was
cordially returned.
<snip>
Baird
--
In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice
there is. -Yogi Berra
Mr. Joseph Littleshoes Esq.
Baird Stafford wrote:
> In article <4A8470C0...@isp.com>,
> "Mr. Joseph Littleshoes Esq." <jpst...@isp.com> wrote:
>
> <snip>
>
>>When Crowley is NOT writing about himself he can be very witty and
>>insightful. Vicious even, he once wrote an obituary of another writer,
>>famous in "Occult" circles and generally held in a rather dubious
>>reverence and referred to him as "Arthur Edward (wisdom while you) Waite.
>
>
> It might be worth noting that Crowley's detestation of Waite was
> cordially returned.
>
> <snip>
>
> Baird
>
But Crowley Loved Waite, he said so in print:)
Lady Azure, Baroness of the North Pole
> �
> A good collection of Crowley's critical reviews and essays may be found
> in a volume edited by his private secretary of some 20+ years, Israel
> Regardie who published a text of Crowley's 'technical' writings on the
> "Occult" and in keeping with the theme of the title of the text "Gems
> from the Equinox" included a selection of those critical reviews and
> essays Crowley wrote for his magazine "the Equinox".
> --
>
> Mr. Joseph Littleshoes Esq.
Sort of, but he was hardly the Golden Dawn nor was he the only word.
Mr. Joseph Littleshoes Esq.
Baird Stafford wrote:
> In article <4A8470C0...@isp.com>,
> "Mr. Joseph Littleshoes Esq." <jpst...@isp.com> wrote:
>
> <snip>
>
>>When Crowley is NOT writing about himself he can be very witty and
>>insightful. Vicious even, he once wrote an obituary of another writer,
>>famous in "Occult" circles and generally held in a rather dubious
>>reverence and referred to him as "Arthur Edward (wisdom while you) Waite.
>
>
> It might be worth noting that Crowley's detestation of Waite was
> cordially returned.
>
> <snip>
>
> Baird
>
I was, recently, able to add to the repertoire of Waite bashing in a way
that produced a much more gleefully enthusiastic response than i had
anticipated. Waite was sooo very very bad he was integral in the
evolution of what became Aleister Crowley, it was all Waites fault:)
Seems i was just chatting with a few friends while we browsed through
the local food shopping area when the conversation turned to the
ambiguities and confusing contradictions of "Ceremonial Magick" and that
even with Waites "Christianizing" of the tradition it was still unwieldy
and in many places incomplete and i was able to point out that along
with all the other awful things Waite did, it was he who introduced
Crowley to the Golden Dawn.
Given the permutations of the original London Temple it is rather
amusing to think it can be laid to Waites actions, its possible that
Crowley could have come to the Golden Dawn by another person, but he did
not, he wrote a letter to Waite and Waite showed him the way:) or at
least gave him an address in Marelybourne street:)
Waite was well enough known as a writer at the time that a young Edward
Alexander just beginning to read the available literature wrote to him
for advise on finding the "secret Temple" hinted at by Councillor
D'Eckartshausen in his "The Cloud upon the Sanctuary" ...
http://www.adepti.com/docs/eck.pdf
...the "Hidden Masters" & etc. And Waite replied with what amounted to
Crowley's initiation into the Golden Dawn. "Here you go Ed my lad, I, A.
E. Waite just happen to be a member of the secret temple you seek
(undoubtedly reiterated in Latin with Sanskrit footnotes) and here's the
address and dues schedule and a free trial packet of Horlock's Malted
Milk, the preferred drink of all Fraters & Sorrors. LVX."
Any way, the idea that along with all Waites other foibles Aleister
Crowley could be seen as a product of Waites actions was found highly
amusing by a number of people, and then we went about our real lives. I
I had a pentagram to polish and a friend needed a couple of black
candles to go with her chickens:)