The Magus by John Fowles was my least favorite book on the Modern Library's Top 100 Novels list.
I could not stand The Magus! It may be the only book that I actually hate. Pompous nitwits running around a stupid island playing games with each other! And all the time spouting humanistic gobblygook about the death of God, or whatever they were prattling on about. It has a cult following, but I thought it was overwrought nonsense.
So no full-length review -- just my gut reaction.
10 comments:
Thanks for being so honest about your reaction to this book - I have never read it and don't really intend to now...
thanks for sharing
Hannah
I read this and wrote that rant a couple of years ago. I didn't post it because it isn't very constructive, but I am trying to add information to my Modern Library post.
I find that it is good to trust the gut reactions:)
This is on my long, long list of books to read. Or at least: it WAS.
I always wondered about this book, The Magus. I would pick it up and put it down for years. Thanks for your honest review.
I had it recommended to me a long, long time ago and for some reason I've never gotten around to it. No need to now!
Thanks!
This is just my opinion. You can find a hundred or so people who disagree with me over on the amazon review page. :)
I have a high tolerance for reading books that I don't really enjoy. But this one really drove me bonkers.
And the thing is, his French Lieutenant's Woman is a real favorite! I've read it twice.
I like The French Lieutenant's Woman a lot and was so-so about The Collector. I never read this because well, I'm not terribly attracted to the title. And now with your review I'm even less attracted.
I don't even know what The Magus is about but I do see if often in lists. I've read The Collector which was pretty good and I have The French Lieutenant's Woman sitting on my shelves.
Bybee -- The Collector is on my TBR shelf, but I've been avoiding it since I read The Magus. I'll get to it one of these days.
Mad B -- I had never heard the word "magus" until I read this and learned that it is the singular form of "magi" -- as in Gift of the Magi or the three wise men of Christmas.
But the "wise man" in the book is just some old rich coot on an island, manipulating a bunch of people into pervy sex shows. At least, that was my "take away" point. :)
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