The Magician's Assistant |
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| Title: | The Magician's Assistant |
| Author: | Ann Patchett |
| Publisher: | Mariner Books |
| Type: | Book / Paperback |
| Publication Date: | 17 September, 1998 |
| ISBN / ISBN-13: | 0156006219 / 9780156006217 |
| List Price: | $14.00 |
| You Save: | $3.92 |
| Amazon Price: | $10.08 |
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This book is also available, brand-new, from 3rd-party marketplace sellers at Amazon.com, from $1.85.
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Editorial Review / Publisher's Information:
Product Description
A secretive magicianﾃや冱 death becomes the catalyst for his partnerﾃや冱 journey of self-discovery in this ﾃや彳nchantingﾃや book (San Francisco Chronicle) ﾃや徼hat is something of a magic trick in itself-a 1990s love story with the grace and charm of a nineteenth-century novelﾃや (Newsweek).
Amazon.com Review
The Magician's Assistant sustains author Ann Patchett's proven penchant for crafting colorful characters and marrying the ordinary with the fantastic. When Parsifal, Sabine's husband of more than 20 years and the magician of the title, suddenly dies, she begins to discover how she's glimpsed him only through smoke and mirrors. He has managed to keep hidden the existence of a family in Nebraska--his mother, two sisters, and two nephews. Sabine approaches them hungrily, as if they are a bridge to her beloved husband and a key to the mysteries he left behind.
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Customer Reviews:
• Pleasant Read, Nothing Remarkable
03 September, 2009
She's a magician's assistant, the magician is gay and attached to his lover, she hangs around for decades, the lover gets sick and dies, the magician, himself sick, finally marries his adoring assistant out of some combination of pity and friendship, and he dies. She's relatively young, beautiful and alone with her memories. She discovers he'd concealed from her his entire past, including the existence of his family that he'd claimed was dead. And then the story begins.
An intriguing plot, and Patchett certainly can write well enough--I wasn't nearly as enthralled with her style as some seem to have been, but sure, she can write. The plot develops s-l-o-w-l-y. We are in the assistant's head throughout the novel, hear all of her thoughts, which frankly aren't all that interesting; a person very intimate with grief may find her easier to relate to, but to me she seemed obsessed with the deceased magician beyond my comprehension--or interest. In fact, she may well be the least interesting character in the book, yet we have to spend all our time with her, which I found somewhat of a drag. Her own statements to the other characters are always short, often sour, and dull, so we wait for someone else to say or do something to move things along and hold our interest.
I give credit to Patchett for introducing one plot element I found a well-done surprise, and it perked up my interest for another hundred pages, but generally, she broadcasts her intentions without much subtlety, so by the end, when everything has happened just like we'd known for quite a while that it would, I felt relief--finally, yes, of course.
As a novella of maybe half the length, it would have been a stronger work, but for me, there was too much dead air.
- Amazon Customer Review
• Another Wonderful Novel!
15 February, 2010
This is the third of Pratchett's books which I've read. The first two were Bel Canto and Run. Anyone who has ever re-invented themselves will want to read this book. At first I found it hard to imagine a woman as self-effacing as the main character, but as the story unfolded she came alive. What I find striking about this novel, as with the two abovementioned, is that the characters stay with me. Pratchett has brought them to life and they live in my memory. In Bel Canto, I wonder how the marriage between the opera star and the translator turned out. In Run, I wonder how the African American fares. In The Magician's Assistant, I want to know how the liason that ends the book will unfold. I am also very impressed with Pratchett's writing style. Writing that appears that simple is very difficult to do. She is a master storyteller. And I was inclined to dislike her by the photo of her on the back cover. She looks so prim and self-satisfied. I'd choose another, if I were her or just omit the photo altogether. It gives a misleading impression of a gifted writer.
- Amazon Customer Review
• Finding A Treasure
29 November, 2009
When I discovered an Ann Patchett book that I had not yet read, I felt I had received a gift. After reading The Magician's Assistant I still feel very fortunate to have found this lovely book. If I rated this book solely on my inability to put it down while reading - it would get five stars. There was a surprise on practically every page and the dialogue is compelling. Bel Canto may still be the best, but this delight does not disappoint.
- Amazon Customer Review
• A Bit Strange
07 November, 2009
I have enjoyed previous Ann Patchett work but found this one just a bit too strange, in many respects. It is well written, however, and one might enjoy the unique twists found within it.
- Amazon Customer Review
• So What?
03 November, 2009
Ride the waves of Sabine's depressed point of view on and on and on and on and on. Its a well written ride, technically, if not a satisfying one. Its painfull to live in Sabine's head and the author makes no attempt to let you out of there, or even to just spruce it up a bit with some healthier life choices. Makes me think of Catcher In the Rye. Yes, its a ride, but do you really want to ride it?
- Amazon Customer Review
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