At the 2011 Texas Book Festival Lev Grossman said that he
wrote The Magicians to fill the void he felt while waiting for the next Harry
Potter book. It seems a third of
the people at work had read The Magicians and the jury was most definitely
out. Some raved that it was a
page-turner others said that it was home to the most unlikeable character in
modern literature.
The Magicians is the story of Quentin; a genius, yet
morosely depressed High School senior living in Brooklyn. While everyone can relate to the
feeling of life not measuring up, Quentin got the solution that I assume most
of us don’t get- he’s admitted to a magical college in upstate New York. Filled with off-center goths and geeks,
Brakebills is the anti-Hogwarts brimming over with drinking and promiscuity. However, only a portion of the
book takes place in Brakebills with the remainder being a glimpse into the
graduates on the prowl in New York City and later moving on to a more-noble "fantasticle" adventure in another land.
The major feeling that I felt towards Quentin was
sympathy. Was he selfish?
Yes. Was he sometimes obnoxiously
down? Yes. Was he often an asshole? YES. But you know what? SO ARE MOST PEOPLE. People are flawed. People are dark. And while I know many of us pick up a
good book to escape from that, there was something liberating and comforting
about picking up a book that let me bask in the darkness, desperation, and dissatisfaction
of life.
While the battle scenes toward the end felt rushed and
lacked the specificity of Rowling’s writing, overall Grossman is a literary writer
with the appeal of a popular plot.
Had I published this book I probably wouldn’t have classified it as Fantasty
as I think that may have eliminated some potential fans. I think that the reader who will enjoy
The Magicians, well, it doesn’t lie in their ability to embrace the Fantasy
aspect, but more so willing to embrace the dark side of life.
A-
**AV Club A+ Rating
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