Other than the fact that he is brilliant and never grew out of a series of children’s fantasy novels, Quentin Coldwater is a fairly ordinary teenager in his last year of high school. When his interview to Princeton goes horribly wrong, Quentin finds himself in what seems like another world, where magic is real and he’s going to learn to be a magician. At his new magical college, Quentin meets extraordinary friends and learns that some of his favorite myths are more of a reality than he had ever dreamed.
I’m torn in writing this review. I think the concept behind this book is very clever. It’s billed as an adult Harry Potter, but it also draws on lots of children’s fantasy, most of which I recognized. The biggest sources are Harry Potter and the Chronicles of Narnia, and as I was reading, I could easily appreciate the slight mockery and satire that Lev Grossman uses to show how improbable such stories would be in “real life” and how adults would react to them. I loved these books as a child, so I did pick up on his cleverness. As I started it, I genuinely was enjoying it, especially during the early school years. I love boarding school stories, so I was immediately absorbed, but that regrettably didn’t last.
This is because I had a real problem with the main character, Quentin, and the behavior of some characters in general. I’m sure some people my age do behave the way these characters did, drinking and doing drugs on a daily basis and essentially throwing away their potential, but I’m not friends with them, and haven’t been, for a reason. Even in college, my friends and I largely avoided the drinking culture, so I had a serious problem relating to any of these characters except Alice, easily my favorite. The way Quentin then treats her appalled me and set me even further against the book. These characters do not live in my real world, and thus the book’s concept essentially failed for me. Not only is their behavior unfamiliar, Quentin is distinctly not a hero and is constantly determined to be unhappy with everything he has. He screws up over and over again, and neither his dissolute lifestyle nor his incredible achievements satisfy him. It frustrated him and it frustrated me, which is not something I want to feel while I’m reading. Maybe this was the point, but if so, no thanks.
I read this for an online book club and most of the members felt similarly about it. It’s a shame because I really wanted to love it. I adore Harry Potter and putting that on there was an instant attraction. I feel that it would have been better marketed as a satire on children’s fantasy. I can’t really recommend The Magicians. It’s interesting, but not enjoyable.
I am an Amazon Associate. I purchased this book.
I didn’t enjoy this book either. I agree with you about Quentin – he was such an unlikable character. This book had a great premise, but none of the magic of other fantasy books – it was too gloomy. I couldn’t finish it.
.-= Jackie (Farm Lane Books)´s last blog ..The Blind Owl – Sadegh Hedayat =-.
lol, I posted a review for this today, too! And, yeah, I had many of the same problems you did. It was an okay book, but I wish it had been better than okay.
.-= Anastasia´s last blog ..Review: The Magicians by Lev Grossman =-.
I think your review covers the problems perfectly. I’m not sure I would have finished it if hadn’t been a book club pick.
.-= Beth F´s last blog ..Thursday Tea: Watching Sense & Sensibility =-.
It’s so funny–I wasn’t really interested in this book but it got to be so popular and had so many rave reviews, so I thought maybe I should give it a try. But then, within the past few days, I have been reading some negative reviews, so I finally decided it’s not worth it.
.-= Stephanie´s last blog ..Showin’ Off my Shelves: Shelf #2 =-.
Helpful review. I’ve been torn on giving this a read, but the things you pointed out would turn me off too.
.-= Katy´s last blog ..Review: Legends of the Fall by Jim Harrison =-.
Great review. I felt the same way as you – Quentin needed to grow up at some point.
.-= Kathy´s last blog ..Review with Carl: Leviathan =-.
I think I’ll stay away from this one. Quentin sounds like a serious loser.
.-= heidenkind´s last blog ..Covet =-.
Alice was easily my favorite as well, although even she got annoying in parts (mostly the fact that she putting up with Quentin’s crap). Everyone else… bah. Totally obnoxious.
.-= Fyrefly´s last blog ..Lev Grossman – The Magicians =-.
Great review! It’s the third less than glowing review of this book I have seen today, without counting the previous ones. I often like to read the books and make my own mind, but those descriptions – including yours – really make me thing that this book isn’t for me!
.-= Kay´s last blog ..Artsy Shelf – 13 – Butterfly Wings =-.
I was torn about this book. I wanted to love it and I did like it and thought some of it was good but I was also annoyed. It wasn’t a Harry Potter for adults and I felt some of the references were mean-spirited. I think if you’re going to write a book about fantasy books, I don’t thinking mocking is the best way to go about it.
.-= Amy´s last blog ..A Highlander’s Temptation =-.
Everyone seems so pumped up about reading it, but felt let down after they did. Thanks for your detailed description of Quentin. He doesn’t sound like any of my friends either. Think I’m skipping this one.
.-= Stacy´s last blog ..The Rosy Rivalry Game =-.
This book sounded like it had so much potential, but everyone’s reviews have been very similar to yours, so I think I’ll skip it.
.-= Jen – Devourer of Books´s last blog ..Blogger Unplugged – A (Sort of) Challenge =-.
Couldn’t agree more… this book should not have been marketed as HP for adults.
I had heard about this one and was considering reading it out of genuine interest. However, it sounds like it would be better if I skipped it. From your review, this book doesn’t seem to be the magical, feel good book I’d want it to be. Bummer that it didn’t meet your expectations but instead let you down.
.-= Jennifer´s last blog ..Review: Mercury in Retrograde by Paula Froelich =-.
Your opinion on this one echos a lot of others I have read about this book. When I first heard the concept for this book I was really excited, but all of the reviews I have read have said it was really not a very good read. I’m sorry that Quentin was so frustrating to you and that the story was so disappointing. I am definitely skipping this one.
.-= zibilee´s last blog ..Elynia by David Michael Belczyk – 173 pages =-.
I had some of the same problems with the book. Great review!
.-= S. Krishna´s last blog ..Far From Home – Anne deGrace =-.
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