“Best parts of the books were the ones in which Conchis told of his "life". ”
“Tapping into this well after any earlier string. Fowles is one author who appreciates women and has taken some (male) time to 'do justice' to a woman's perspective (from a man's perspective). The Magus, in a sense, is a coming-of-age story -- about an adult male! He's led through a mysterious 'initiation' -- not just that culminating one shown, but the whole experience on the Greek island. He becomes 'more real' to himself by having been 'made into a character' -- in real life -- by a benignly-intrusive, manipulating millionaire. That Greek millionaire's story -- centered around the grit and nastiness of Nazi war and occupation -- models the kind of 'transitional experience' the protagonist discovers himself having to go through. Yes. I've recommended this to any male in his 'odyssey' years, but women readers must see more into the male psyche by witnessing the kind of turmoil and sensitivity Fowles brings out.Fowles did say somewhere an early influence was Le Grand Meaulnes, and I did read it, and at that in French! Needless to say, not so effectively as if I'd done it in English. That book struck me more 'fairy tale-ish', deliberately, and Alain-Fournier was writing during that has always struck me, literarily, at least, when not 'modern', then effete. Think Walter de la Mare poetry. Wispy, haunting. Maybe pre-adolescent, filling with inchoate sexuality, vulnerable questions about life. Fowles existentializes that story. Fully sexual male who can't 'commit'. We watch his maturation over the course of a mysterious and fascinating drama. From 'tosser' to 'man. In the making, always.”
“I've had Master and Margarita recommended to me by two people during discussions of Magus. Haven't read it yet, but it's on my list.”
“The MagusSimilar novels ?”
“I believe Fowles identified "Great Expectations" by Dickens as an influence. Kathleen Tarbox wrote a dissertation and brought the similarities to his attention. He said that at one point he toyed with the idea of making the manipulative character a woman.”
“As for novels, the Secret History had the same atmosphere for me.You should see the movie the Game, it's really different but also the same :)”
“You know, I think Anthony Quinn starred in both movies too! Weird.”
“The Magus is one of my all-time favorite novels. I would say the book most "similar" to The Magus -- though I have not read it -- would be "The Wanderer" by Alain - Fournier ("Le Grand Meaulnes," France, 1913). I had read somewhere that this is the single book that John Fowles stated influenced his best novel, The Magus.”
“I agree with others that this book is quite unique. But I do associate it with another novel and that is "Zorba the Greek" by Nikos Kazantzakis. Both books are about younger men being manipulated by older men. Both take place in Greece and both are very well written. ”
