Dan Jones reviewed The Magicians by Lev Grossman
Review of 'The Magicians' on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
I'm not sure what to think about this book. It was incredibly derivative of both Harry Potter and Chronicles of Narnia. In fact, it made direct references to both stories. At times it felt like the author was trying to deliberately bring attention to the fact that he was ripping off [a:J.K. Rowling|1077326|J.K. Rowling|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1334596338p2/1077326.jpg] and [a:C.S. Lewis|1069006|C.S. Lewis|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1211981595p2/1069006.jpg].
On the other hand, there were some very different, and conflicting, messages than what either of those series portrayed. It appears, from the onset, that the only difference is that it's edgier and more adult than these other two series. The main characters aren't children, they're young adults, college students. And they get into all the same trouble that an average American college students gets into. It's Harry Potter with sex and alcohol.
But there's more to it than that. The main character clearly has chronic, clinical depression. When he learns that …
I'm not sure what to think about this book. It was incredibly derivative of both Harry Potter and Chronicles of Narnia. In fact, it made direct references to both stories. At times it felt like the author was trying to deliberately bring attention to the fact that he was ripping off [a:J.K. Rowling|1077326|J.K. Rowling|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1334596338p2/1077326.jpg] and [a:C.S. Lewis|1069006|C.S. Lewis|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1211981595p2/1069006.jpg].
On the other hand, there were some very different, and conflicting, messages than what either of those series portrayed. It appears, from the onset, that the only difference is that it's edgier and more adult than these other two series. The main characters aren't children, they're young adults, college students. And they get into all the same trouble that an average American college students gets into. It's Harry Potter with sex and alcohol.
But there's more to it than that. The main character clearly has chronic, clinical depression. When he learns that magic is real and he's been invited to study at Hogwarts Brakebills Magic College, he thinks becoming a magician will cure his depression. Of course, it doesn't. When he graduates, he tries to drown his depression in alcohol and drugs, which does nothing for him. When he learns that Narnia Fillory is a real place and he can travel there, he thinks going there will get him out of his funk. Of course, it doesn't.
At no point does he seek any actual help for his depression, and by the end of the book, he's basically given up on life, taking a meaningless job where he does nothing, and has little interaction with any real people. The book tells of fantastic adventures, with an incredibly depressed protagonist. I don't know if it's a nice change from most fantasy stories, or a pitiful portrayal of a pitiful life.
