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elin_am's review against another edition
1.0
I am finally giving up on this book halfway through, because I can not stand the main character. The way he thinks and judge and acts around women (teens) is just painful to read about.
There are a few short moments that are good and interesting, but they drown in the 800 pages of whatever they are trying to accomplish, and i simply do not care about any of it.
There are a few short moments that are good and interesting, but they drown in the 800 pages of whatever they are trying to accomplish, and i simply do not care about any of it.
foolishmortal23's review
reflective
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
usnebojemesa's review
4.0
Finally finished this wretched book and I wish it didn't take me twelve days to do it but it was one of the bigger ones in a long time.
Anyways, let's brace ourselves for this one.
I genuinely stopped reading big books some time ago. It's no surprise most of the books I've read are 200-300 pages or, preferably, less. The second to last big one, '[b:Farewell, Monsieur Gaston|23550601|Farewell, Monsieur Gaston|Nikolai Grozni|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1415815394l/23550601._SX50_.jpg|43150439]' took two months to finish (from the end of July till beginning of October last year) and it 'only' had around 400 pages (if I am remembering correctly), but it was a beast, plot-wise, language-wise, complexity-wise.
Now I remember I've read '[b:The Goldfinch|17333223|The Goldfinch|Donna Tartt|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1378710146l/17333223._SY75_.jpg|24065147]' after putting it off for a long time but that one also cost me some twenty days. Now, I don't spend most of my days reading, I have two jobs and mandatory uni classes so imagine all the ways I fit reading into this.
This one was just... extremely tedious to finish somehow but it was not un-enjoyable (or I could just say it was enjoyable, I'm tired).
No, the length of did not make me 'happy' to hang out with the characters or love them in any way. The plot and the way it blossomed and unraveled made it clear to me how much this book relied on it being a 'mystery' which had attracted me to it but it was so convoluted at times because we followed it as it unraveled with Nicholas. Don't get me even started on him.
In the first part of the book I couldn't stand him, the middle left me really close till I propelled this book from my window just because of the whole Greece mystery (but honestly it was starting to get hard to follow) and honestly, the last 100 pages were really my favorite bit. That's it.
The prose is really nice at times, leaving us with some nice passages and memorable words structures (green as lettuce, hello??).
Anyways, let's brace ourselves for this one.
I genuinely stopped reading big books some time ago. It's no surprise most of the books I've read are 200-300 pages or, preferably, less. The second to last big one, '[b:Farewell, Monsieur Gaston|23550601|Farewell, Monsieur Gaston|Nikolai Grozni|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1415815394l/23550601._SX50_.jpg|43150439]' took two months to finish (from the end of July till beginning of October last year) and it 'only' had around 400 pages (if I am remembering correctly), but it was a beast, plot-wise, language-wise, complexity-wise.
Now I remember I've read '[b:The Goldfinch|17333223|The Goldfinch|Donna Tartt|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1378710146l/17333223._SY75_.jpg|24065147]' after putting it off for a long time but that one also cost me some twenty days. Now, I don't spend most of my days reading, I have two jobs and mandatory uni classes so imagine all the ways I fit reading into this.
This one was just... extremely tedious to finish somehow but it was not un-enjoyable (or I could just say it was enjoyable, I'm tired).
No, the length of did not make me 'happy' to hang out with the characters or love them in any way. The plot and the way it blossomed and unraveled made it clear to me how much this book relied on it being a 'mystery' which had attracted me to it but it was so convoluted at times because we followed it as it unraveled with Nicholas. Don't get me even started on him.
In the first part of the book I couldn't stand him, the middle left me really close till I propelled this book from my window just because of the whole Greece mystery (but honestly it was starting to get hard to follow) and honestly, the last 100 pages were really my favorite bit. That's it.
The prose is really nice at times, leaving us with some nice passages and memorable words structures (green as lettuce, hello??).
slimewitch's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
rosapeachdrift's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
kevin_milne's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Often tilted between three and four stars here. Lots to think about, perhaps overly long and lagging in the second act. But beautifully written, despite the terribly unlikeable protagonist/ narrator. Impossible to predict, and always intriguing.
hakimbriki's review
5.0
“The days of simple experiments are over.”
I think this quote captures the essence of the plot pretty well... though The Magus is a very complex and deeply introspective novel. As the main character's psyche is turned upside down, John Fowles gets very philosophical, and often times poetic, in ways that make the whole experience more rewarding and overall majestic. He is also an amazingly descriptive author; his descriptions of the Greek island are some of the best I have ever read.
I found this book relatable, educative, and very gripping. I recommend it highly, especially to folks who are going through stressful life changes.
I think this quote captures the essence of the plot pretty well... though The Magus is a very complex and deeply introspective novel. As the main character's psyche is turned upside down, John Fowles gets very philosophical, and often times poetic, in ways that make the whole experience more rewarding and overall majestic. He is also an amazingly descriptive author; his descriptions of the Greek island are some of the best I have ever read.
I found this book relatable, educative, and very gripping. I recommend it highly, especially to folks who are going through stressful life changes.
isnotnull's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75