(Instagram @elle_reads)

BOOK REVIEW⠀
[The Magicians] Mopey magician Quentin tries to find life’s meaning in magic.⠀
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WHAT I LIKED⠀
Secret magical school? Sign me up. Like now. I like Grossman’s play on Narnians multi-worlds and Tolkien magical beings. He plays with the same ideas in a darker tone. There is one good twist at the end (which I unfortunately already knew from watching the show) which Grossman continuously hints towards without being too obvious. I loved his play with time and the define - though kind of static - characters.⠀
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WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE⠀
Grossman’s characters remind me of Salinger rich kids with magic still never finding happiness in the world. Which would be great if I liked Salinger, but I pretty much have hated everything I’ve read by him. The characters are always distraught for basically no reason, and it tries my patience. I understand the whys of the writing…but really. YOU HAVE MAGIC. YOUR LIFE IS LITERALLY MAGICAL. I’m here if you want to trade abilities. Just saying. Also, the male gaze just kills me. It just serves no purpose. The Magicians is a product of its time - with usage of the r-word to boot. ⠀
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Ending note: I like the show more.⠀
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The Magicians (by Lev Grossman) ⚡️⚡️✨2.5/5⠀