Intriguing and mystical

Brilliantly narrated. Had read it many years ago so glad to revisit. Many classical and historical references give the story depth. Excellent characters, humanly flawed and mysterious. Never predictable twists and turns never sure where we are going to be led next.

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3 people found this helpful

Utterly absorbing

This is an amazing, fully-developed work of art, perfectly read. It didn't even seem like acting - it was so real. A book that sees you through every twist and turn of the plot, working it all out so naturally, so skilfully, that for once I wasn't even sad when I got to the end. I had been taken on an 80-hour journey, a remarkable exploration deep into the development of one man's soul XXXXX

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A mesmerising story but without an end

Beautifully written, fabulous descriptions and a good web of intrigue that keeps you listening - but sadly the lack of a satisfactory conclusion left me a little disappointed.

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a good story but hasn't aged well

First the positives: The narrator was vey good. Good French pronunciation and accents in the story were pretty well done for the most part.
The story itself was intriguing and you wanted to know what was goi g to happen next. The descriptive writing , especially of landscape was very good.
The negatives and potential triggers for readers were the casual racism and misogyny. It was so awful at some points I wasn't sure if I wanted to go on. The final scene in which violence against the heroine by the hero was portrayed in such a way that it indicated that she was asking for it and that she would continue in the relationship was appaling.

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Great reading by Nicholas Boulton

What made the experience of listening to The Magus the most enjoyable?

Form and content perfectly matched. A great reading from Nicholas Boulton of a very enjoyable and thought provoking book.

I am now 50 and have not revisited this novel (one of my favourites in my earlier years) in detail since I last read it in my 20's. It was still a riveting read, although - perhaps with maturity - I now see more of the things that don't quite work or seem dated. Overall, still electrifying with a strong propulisve narrative drive allied to a consideration of how to approach life and love.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Almost all the characters were interesting in some way, even if some worked far better than others.

What about Nicholas Boulton’s performance did you like?

I thought Nicholas Boulton's reading was absolutely outstanding - and that is what has driven me to this review - he deserves the credit. He pitched Nicolas Urfe's voice exactly how I imagined it: cynical and not entirely likeable, yet still eliciting a degree of sympathy with the listener. The supporting voices: various greeks, germans, women as well as men were also very well presented and clearly distinguishable - without turning them into caricatures. The pace and inflection of the reading was even, but varied where necessary in a nuanced and subtle way to underline and represent emotions.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

I wouldn't. It's already been tried with Michael Caine and although watchable could not really represent the ideas Fowles was bringing out in the novel.

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22 people found this helpful

Excellent

This is without a doubt my favorite book of all time, and now favorite audiobook. So many twists, a book that will have you thinking about it long after you after you have finished it!

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5 people found this helpful

Strangely gripping

I was recommended this book in 1974 when we were travelling around Greece. We passed Monemvassia and Naplion on the ferry to Kythera many times, watched the little boats come out to greet the ferry, and travelled “steerage”. We had sat in Syntagma square looking at the Grande Britannia knowing one day we would stay there, but I couldn’t get into this book. Almost 50 years later I still dream of staying in the Grand Britannia and have just finished listening to this book. I’m not sure. It’s descriptions are as I remember but the story? Was the author on some hallucinogenic drugs? Or just mesmerised by Greece and it’s myths? I had to get to the end but none the wiser, I have a sad feeling that it is finished, like many great books when they’re done it’s like losing something.

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Long journey, frustrating ending

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

No

What could John Fowles have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

What a long journey, where most of the characters are engaged in an odd conspiracy to seemingly teach a man a couple of life's lessons. Perhaps I fell asleep occasionally and missed bits, but after several re-winds and 're-listenings', I felt I was was abreast of the tale and was expecting a spectacular finish, which fizzled into a sort of lackluster conclusion.I mostly enjoyed the various meanderings and descriptions of places and people, but I don't feel I really 'got it' and thought that all the cooperation and secrecy of the participants was a bit hard to believe, as I failed to discern what were they getting out of the whole production? Suffice it to say, I was somewhat disappointed, and taking into consideration some magical element, which was supposedly a thread running through the story, I didn't think the listening commitment gave the reward I felt entitled to.I'll try again in a year or two and see if my opinion should be revised.

Have you listened to any of Nicholas Boulton’s other performances? How does this one compare?

Good narration, but cannot recall hearing any from Nicholas Boulton previously.

If this book were a film would you go see it?

Probably not

Any additional comments?

No, nuff said already I think.

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4 people found this helpful

Gripping listen

I remember reading the Magus as a teenager, and it functioned then like a horror novel, presenting everyone as wearing masks in order to arrive at 'truth' in the subjective sense of 'know thyself' and of course any moral arguments passed me by as it was read more to justify one's own desire for gratification, and the only message that seemed clear then was to not let one's' needs fool you.
It was with much curiosity then that I purchased this in Audible's £3 sale and what a buy. The reading is flawless, the different voices all distinct enough to really create definite characters. There is a deeply moral argument running through it, the misery of Adam once he consumed the fruit, that knowledge is absence and ultimately loneliness, Nietzsche's subterranean man burrowing for truth in the dust that is humanity. All of which doesn't do justice to just how gripping a tale it is and even better listening to this reading than reading it oneself. Superb.

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1 person found this helpful

Great reading of 1965 version

Superb narration by the actor Nicholas Boulton - just the right amount of arrogance and self-justification to bring Nick to life but be aware this reading is of the old 1965 text and not the universally accepted and in places quite different 1977 one. This should be made clear as this is not the version you'll find in the bookshop.

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