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Magpie
Magpies have an eye for shiny things. They search for bright bits of meaning amongst the dirt and filth of their world.
Living in a small town on the outskirts of Saskatoon with his emotionally distant and alcoholic father, Ben struggles with his increasingly somber view of society. He is haunted by the death of his older brother and the mysteries of his mother’s suicide. Unable to live life like the other magpies around him, he slips deeper into the darkness of his own mind.
Deciding that everything wrong in his world can be traced back to the drug dealer, Faran Bird, Ben travels to Saskatoon to kill Faran. In one long and lonely day, Ben starts out on the dusty gravel roads of his hometown, and continues on, to the dirt and grime of the worst parts of Saskatoon.
Living in a small town on the outskirts of Saskatoon with his emotionally distant and alcoholic father, Ben struggles with his increasingly somber view of society. He is haunted by the death of his older brother and the mysteries of his mother’s suicide. Unable to live life like the other magpies around him, he slips deeper into the darkness of his own mind.
Deciding that everything wrong in his world can be traced back to the drug dealer, Faran Bird, Ben travels to Saskatoon to kill Faran. In one long and lonely day, Ben starts out on the dusty gravel roads of his hometown, and continues on, to the dirt and grime of the worst parts of Saskatoon.
- GenresFictionContemporaryAdult
231 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 23, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
September 9, 2015
Tired of that pesky cheerful mood? This is the book for you. Seriously though, it's really well written and a punch to the gut. If you are the kind of reader who just likes to curl up with a good book every once in a while, you should probably look elsewhere.
If I had to describe this with only two words: death and despair. And not at all in a cheesy way. This is about one of society's unwanted, the kind of person you see on the streets now and then and contemplate crossing it to avoid contact with. The kind of person you would shake your head at slightly and mutter 'poor soul' under your breath while he continues stumbling down the road. This book lets you follow him to wherever that road takes him.
If I had to describe this with only two words: death and despair. And not at all in a cheesy way. This is about one of society's unwanted, the kind of person you see on the streets now and then and contemplate crossing it to avoid contact with. The kind of person you would shake your head at slightly and mutter 'poor soul' under your breath while he continues stumbling down the road. This book lets you follow him to wherever that road takes him.
November 13, 2016
A compelling insight into the psyche of someone suffering from extreme mental illness. Definitely not a feel good read, but will hold your interest and evoke a bit of pity in you. You will have to look past quite a few spelling and grammar problems though.
April 14, 2021
A novel that gives me Catcher in the Rye vibes. Very compelling story made even more compelling for myself since the setting is my home town. Really neat to read something that has so many landmarks that I know and can picture quite well. Excellent writing.
July 17, 2015
It was good. I felt guilty after reading parts of it. It Made me want to throw my jewelry into the river and go live in Seattle in the year 1991
June 26, 2016
Despite the far too many grammar/editorial mistakes, it was otherwise well thought out and an interesting read.
June 22, 2021
There wasn't any hook really and certainly not enough of one to continue reading something this bleak with a thoroughly unlikable protagonist.
November 8, 2021
Mighty courageous.
January 1, 2016
Did this book hold my attention? Yes. Did it interest me enough to keep reading, and quickly at that? Sure. But did I like it? I'm not quite sure I can say that I did. I do know that I liked it enough to keep reading and to finish it.
I would classify Magpie as one of those books that interested me enough to keep reading and learn what will happen next. I can't say I cared about the characters themselves, though. Perhaps it was just the way it was written. The protagonist's mental instability probably lends itself to be difficult to latch onto and care about, as he is rather disjointed and continually all over the place (literally and figuratively). I also adore novels that delve into the psyches of their characters and explore various forms of mental illness, health, and all that's in-between. For some reason the depiction of the protagonist's psyche just didn't "do it" for me. In books I truly love and seek an emotional connection of some sort to the characters; I can't say I cared too much about these. This, of course, is a personal preference and others may certainly feel different.
One of my primary criticisms is how neatly the story unfolded and wrapped up. The unfolding of the plot seemed a little too easy to me. Things seemed to fit together a little too well for me, which detracted from the realism of the story. I don't think there's anything wrong with that in and of itself; it's just not my particular cup of tea.
I don't think it will be a book that sticks with me. I am okay with that, though. I enjoyed reading it well enough, and I'm happy to leave it there. I don't regret reading it by any means, and I'm glad I had the experience. I think the word "enough" is useful to sum up how I feel about Magpie: it was interesting "enough." I don't intend to dissuade others from reading it, as you may find jewels between the lines that I may have overlooked.
I would classify Magpie as one of those books that interested me enough to keep reading and learn what will happen next. I can't say I cared about the characters themselves, though. Perhaps it was just the way it was written. The protagonist's mental instability probably lends itself to be difficult to latch onto and care about, as he is rather disjointed and continually all over the place (literally and figuratively). I also adore novels that delve into the psyches of their characters and explore various forms of mental illness, health, and all that's in-between. For some reason the depiction of the protagonist's psyche just didn't "do it" for me. In books I truly love and seek an emotional connection of some sort to the characters; I can't say I cared too much about these. This, of course, is a personal preference and others may certainly feel different.
One of my primary criticisms is how neatly the story unfolded and wrapped up. The unfolding of the plot seemed a little too easy to me. Things seemed to fit together a little too well for me, which detracted from the realism of the story. I don't think there's anything wrong with that in and of itself; it's just not my particular cup of tea.
I don't think it will be a book that sticks with me. I am okay with that, though. I enjoyed reading it well enough, and I'm happy to leave it there. I don't regret reading it by any means, and I'm glad I had the experience. I think the word "enough" is useful to sum up how I feel about Magpie: it was interesting "enough." I don't intend to dissuade others from reading it, as you may find jewels between the lines that I may have overlooked.
February 15, 2016
Istruggled with my rating on this one . . . as I was reading I considered giving it only 3 stars,because the main character in many ways is difficult to like. But at the end of the day, I was moved by Michael James story and deeply flawed main character.
This is not "the feel good book of the year!" . . . but it is a page turner, and I think you will (like me) come to care for the narrator.
I'll be curious what James writes next.
This is not "the feel good book of the year!" . . . but it is a page turner, and I think you will (like me) come to care for the narrator.
I'll be curious what James writes next.
May 27, 2015
Pretty dark novel. Also a short read.
August 30, 2015
Because you've been told to read a book does not make it worth while.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews