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Summary: If you read just one book in your life, read this one
Review: I was fortunate to first read this book in 1968 when I was 21 years old. In addition to being wonderfully entertaining, it forever altered my perspective and outlook on so many things in life. It is without a doubt the best book that I have ever read; nothing remotely comes close to challenging it. I suspect that those who don't 'get' it suffer from a tendency to 'drink the wave rather than the water'.
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Summary: Tops!
Review: One of the Fowles' key themes examined here in a way that makes his other work clearer: the choices we have to make within a framework of freedom real or imagined. The ending of the "French Liuetenant's Woman" encapsulates this better and clearer than this one. Clearly the work of a young man, but thoughtful and fascinating. Definitely a worthwhile read.
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Summary: this is the best book i have ever read.
Review: this is the best book i ever read. i was stealing books from my school out of boredom when i came across this weird looking cover with a picture of a pretty girl and a man with ram's head and thought i'd give it a try. if you gonna read this book, keep a dictionary nearby. i could not put this book down. i cried when conchis took the main character apart and i loved the ending. i read it 4 months ago and haven't been able to find another book that comes close to this one.
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Summary: In not denying the question, one has the answer
Review: Prose is extremely, almost intimidatingly learned. Some very touching scenes. An intellectual puzzle that is also very emotionally real. The author is very hard working, and requires that you be so as well. Similar to and better than "Focault's Pendulum" in that it is much more than just a game. For those who don't feel they have understood it well: like learning itself, the more you learn, the more you find that is unknown. If you think you understand the book, you are either utterly brilliant and/or fooling yourself. Come to think of it, those descriptions apply to the protagonist, as well!
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Summary: challenging and enchanting
Review: Wonderful evocation of mood and place. I admit to confusion and frustration in trying to understand it, but still thrilled to the excitement of events unfolding and situations/relationships shifting. I had hoped the movie would shed some light on it, but that was not the case. Don't bother with the movie even if it's available in video. Another amazon.com reviewer mention DeLillo. His "The Names" reminds me in some respects of "The Magus". (I liked "The Names" also.)
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Summary: The modern classic
Review: Having read The Magus at least ten times, it remains the most complex, thought-provoking, essential book, constantly requiring the reader to adapt his or her approach and perceptions with every reading. It is a cliche of the classic to say it has many levels, attainable depending on the emotion, background, gender and intelligence of the audience; yet for this book it is no more than the truth. I urge every lover of literature to buy and dedicate themselves to reading The Magus. It quite simply doesn't get better than this.
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Summary: The Most Powerful Book I Have Read
Review: This book is not for everyone. As others have said, it is perplexing, and at times frustrating. But it is the most exciting, rewarding, and profound book I have ever read. At one point, Conchis explains to the narrator that the novel is a dead and worthless art form because a reader must digest numerous pages to discover a single kernal of wisdom the author wishes to impart. Yet Fowles dramatically disproves that perception. This book is magnificently rich in ideas and concepts, and challenges our approach to everything we perceive as the narrator learns that nothing is as he sees it. If you don't "get" the ending, just realize that life is a continuum and there is no ending; that is the beauty of The Magus. I have read this book in both its versions at least 20 times. However, I must say that I prefer the original to the revised version.
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Summary: A great work from a great writer, first version was better.
Review: John Fowles is certainly one of this century's greatest writers, and "The Magus" is one of his greatest works. I am now 37, and I have read this novel nine or ten times since the age of 13. The revised version is, I feel, somewhat inferior to the original. That may be because I was so satisfied with the original. "The Magus" is truly an overwhelming joy to read. Fowles' prose is amazing. The imagery created by his words thrilled me as an adolescent, and continue to thrill me today. As some revievers have noted, parts of the plot are awfully far-fetched, but this must be forgiven by the beauty of the work as a whole. This novel creates what is essential in a work of fiction; an absolute sense of amazement at the world the writer has envisioned. I never tire of this novel, and would recommend it whole-heartedly to any reader of serious literature.
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Summary: You'll either love it or throw it away...
Review: Fowles builds an elaborate game for his characters and for the reader. He often leads you astray into deadends. Just when you think you have it all figured out, you find out that you're wrong. That's all part of the fun. For those who like a neatly wrapped up package at the end of a book, this can be frustrating. For those who are fascinated by the game, this book is worth re-reading several times.
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Summary: One of the Greatest Novels Ever Written
Review: John Fowles is among the best writers of this century, and "The Magus" is his finest novel. It's narrative is utterly compelling, with vivid settings, interesting characters and fabulous plot twists. But what makes this book so special is Fowles' ability to seamlessly incorporate his wide-ranging knowledge of a variety of disciplines (art, philosophy, history, mythology, etc.) into the story without seeming heavy-handed or didactic. I have re-read "The Magus" many times over the years and always come away with something new--such is the richness of Fowles' prose. Likewise, I have recommended it to many friends; some have simply appreciated it as "a great story," while many others have felt that it changed their lives. My advice to anyone about to read "The Magus" is this: don't be overly concerned about "getting it" or understanding the ending. The whole point is to learn, as Nicholas does in the book, that the hazard of life cannot always be easily explained in black and white terms. Enjoy the book, take from it what it gives you...and you too will begin to become a "Magus."
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