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Shamanka : La magie est partout
What is magic? What is illusion? What is real? Step into the extraordinary world of Sam Khaan, who has just discovered a witch doctor's notebook in her attic. Convinced that it belongs to her long-lost father - the son of a witch doctor - she sets out on a journey to discover the answers to these questions. In her encounters with diviners and healers, conjurers and mystics, Sam learns the truth about magic the hard way. Here is your chance to take a far easier route.
464 pages, Paperback
First published March 5, 2007
About the author
Jeanne Willis
363 books122 followersJeanne Willis was born in St Albans and trained as an advertising copywriter at Watford College. She worked for various agencies creating press adverts and TV, cinema and radio commercials. She is now a full-time writer and has published over 80 books. Her hobbies include gardening, reading (non-fiction), natural history and collecting caterpillars. Jeanne has also worked on scripts for TV, including POLLY POCKET and THE SLOW NORRIS, and a pilot TV series for DR XARGLE. She lives in North London with her husband and two children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
June 12, 2015
It was ok, but didn't care for it.
April 3, 2010
This story was quite magnificent, the idea of the magician talking to you, as if 'he' was taking you on the adventure, and then suddenly jumping to his past, then to Sam's, then you are taken away by all the description that Jeanne had put into the story.
This book, was one of the few of the many i have read which has practically captured me within it. The fact that the story 'uses' you at the begging, then the magician taking you as a apprentice, is quite magnificent, and the story is amazing with the fact that it just flows.
The Characters in the book, are would you are likely to see in London, but how they are portrayed is something quite different from other books.
The entire concept of the story has got to be (to me) one of the best i have read. I without a doubt suggest this book to anyone whom wants a little adventures, whom like to look at peoples past, and who like to be included to read this master piece.
The story is filled with action, mystery and even a bit of comedy.
This book, was one of the few of the many i have read which has practically captured me within it. The fact that the story 'uses' you at the begging, then the magician taking you as a apprentice, is quite magnificent, and the story is amazing with the fact that it just flows.
The Characters in the book, are would you are likely to see in London, but how they are portrayed is something quite different from other books.
The entire concept of the story has got to be (to me) one of the best i have read. I without a doubt suggest this book to anyone whom wants a little adventures, whom like to look at peoples past, and who like to be included to read this master piece.
The story is filled with action, mystery and even a bit of comedy.
January 7, 2015
This was so goooood, it was nice an interesting I loved how everything was connected and how the story unraveled slowly throughout the book
It wasn't slow, it wasn't fast, it had such a nice pace
I really enjoyed it
It wasn't slow, it wasn't fast, it had such a nice pace
I really enjoyed it
August 28, 2013
This book was the most captivating book I've read in a long time! Most of the books I read leave me feeling awed, but this book stuck with me, and if anybody asks, this is still one of my favourite books. The story is fascinating, especially the way it is set out. The book is a perfect mixture of adventure, mystery, magic and realism (along with a bit of wisdom). Recommend it to EVERYONE!!!!
May 28, 2024
This book gave me weird vibes so I've been avoiding reading it. Could have easily DNF'd but decided to push through. Featuring Disney syndrome with the dead parents and abusive guardians. There is an orangutan for some reason. My main gripe with the book is I don't appreciate how a white lady trivialises these ancient cultural practices and traditions for the sake of writing a strange 90 days around the world featuring tribal magic.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 3, 2019
absolutely brilliant
September 6, 2012
An excelent novel that was absolutely enchanting. It gives such a fascinating insight into the world that surrounds you. The story had so many interesting revelations that I always had the urge to read on and see what happened next. Suffice to say I finished the book in one sitting and still love reading years later. I recomend it to anyone because I couldn't care less if you disagree with me =) I know what is illusion, what is magic and what is real ;)
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July 29, 2019Neviem. Nedám hviezdičky. Čakala som tajomný román s dospelými postavami. Dostala som detskú knihu o dievčati, ktoré hľadá otca a počas putovania sa učí magické triky. Nanešťastie po ceste stretne toľko postáv, že si človek ani nepamätá, kto je kto. A bola to detská kniha v takom zmysle, že postavy boli ploché a ich činy boli vyslovene pritiahnuté za vlasy.
April 5, 2012
awesome!!!! when i read this book my school principle praised me for reading a book so thick!!!! it is good and magical, teaching a lot of magic tricks too. although i didn't understand the last part, i love this book so much that i hope it have a series.
April 5, 2015
I read this years ago when i was 12. What an amazing book, filled with magic and mystery. I learned a lot of magic trick, herbal powers and symbolism from this novel. It is a very mysterious book. I give it 4/5.
October 15, 2012
This just twisted and turned throughout! the whole time was a thriller adventure
February 15, 2013
A book that you read on a sunny day
May 2, 2015
I really didn't like this strange little book. It was supposed to be about magic and mystery, but it was as obvious as walking into a lamp post. Or something.
March 3, 2023
It was beautifully presented with the book itself and the dust jacket so meticulously designed. Then also it was an interesting idea and the writing was easy to follow and in some places witty. I liked all the anagrams and I didn't mind that this was foreshadowed.
Problems I had included- chosenness as a theme "you are more exceptional than your peers", the potential narcissism was also fed with a whole lot of new age woo about the power of the mind, borrowing heavily and without asking from all sorts of cultures which were reduced, exoticised and just poorly researched for something so featured. The "celestian alphabet" appeared to be a bastardiation of the Hebrew alphabet for example (to my untrained eyes).
The characters tended toward sterotype- especially features of Aunt Candy and the roles of husbands and wives in some sections. The white mother was portrayed as more charismatic and enlightened than the "tribal" father -although this was sort of reversed at the end to be fair. I liked the magic tricks but found the language and writing appropriated from other languages somewhat inappropriate and the "how to detect if someone is lying" section was dangerously simplified and could potentially cause problems relating to people. It was a careless book overall.
In other ways it reminded me of Paolo Coehlo's The Alchemist which I seem to have been alone in disliking but to be fair this book was more interesting AND more tongue in cheek than that. If you liked Geoffrey McSkimming and you are not reading critically you might enjoy this too.
Problems I had included- chosenness as a theme "you are more exceptional than your peers", the potential narcissism was also fed with a whole lot of new age woo about the power of the mind, borrowing heavily and without asking from all sorts of cultures which were reduced, exoticised and just poorly researched for something so featured. The "celestian alphabet" appeared to be a bastardiation of the Hebrew alphabet for example (to my untrained eyes).
The characters tended toward sterotype- especially features of Aunt Candy and the roles of husbands and wives in some sections. The white mother was portrayed as more charismatic and enlightened than the "tribal" father -although this was sort of reversed at the end to be fair. I liked the magic tricks but found the language and writing appropriated from other languages somewhat inappropriate and the "how to detect if someone is lying" section was dangerously simplified and could potentially cause problems relating to people. It was a careless book overall.
In other ways it reminded me of Paolo Coehlo's The Alchemist which I seem to have been alone in disliking but to be fair this book was more interesting AND more tongue in cheek than that. If you liked Geoffrey McSkimming and you are not reading critically you might enjoy this too.
November 2, 2019
Et bien j'ai énormément peiné pour finir ce livre... J'ai pas accroché. Les personnages ne m'ont pas du tout attirés. J'avais malgré tout envie de savoir la fin mais l'écriture, le déroulé sont vraiment étrange et pas très passionnant... Sans parler des théories qui melangent religion/ésotérique avec des réflexions franchement superficielles. Et les tours de magies révélé qui maintenant ne me font plus voir les tours de magie de la même manière. Bref j'ai pas aimé.
April 20, 2023
I’ve read this book 3 times, I just keep thinking about it and going back to it. I remember being enchanted by the adventure but also the absurdity of it all and then the twist was definitely not the type of turn I expected! The experience of reading is very entertaining, easy-flowing and it’s got some interesting insights about life as well :) I know someday I’ll definitely be reaching for it again just for fun!
December 25, 2018
I really enjoyed it! Snuck in before my little one reads it, she’ll enjoy it and a has a nice ending.
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June 4, 2020Super duper duper good, must have read it at least 5 times.
December 12, 2020
Definitely underrated
August 1, 2021
im so surprised because i really enjoyed reading it ? i wasn't expecting that much of this book and i spent such a great time
September 8, 2024
my favourite book as a child, I've probably read it 10+ times. it always kept me hooked
August 28, 2014
Its 1985 in London and Sam in not having a good life or childhood, ruled by her tyrannical aunt candy she is left with no one else but her mother like figure/ friend the orang-utan lucky.
With magic and magic tricks being her only source of amusement and fun, her aunt ruined every chance of practising but being locked up in the attic she discovers her father is the Dark Prince 'Tabuh' and her mother is still alive a lie told by the former contortionist aunt candy, she is shocked of how the child learnt of this truth.
With candy hating magic after Sam's father betraying her she made Sam's whole childhood a hell, with Sam learning the truth Sam and Lucy travel around the world to find her parents and follow her destiny shown by the psychic dream she received from her witch doctor grandpa.
learning that her father was sent on a quest to find the answers to three questions:
What is magic?
What us illusion?
What is real?
But now Sam is faced with a similar situation but she must find her parents starting of with finding her friend Lucy from the animal institute .
the whole story is a particularly singular quest, one that forces Sam to meet every kind of performance artiste from the fire-breathers to the living statue forced to engage with almost every kind of psychic ability and situation Sam at a fast ace starts to become more powerful. with different psychic techniques having their own faults she is learns important lessons and learns dreams are interpreted, dowsing with pendulums is done, people who use automatic writing are sought. The mystical ranges from the miracles of Lourdes to qi gong, and the laying on of hands. The protagonists are mostly brilliantly-written characters, most of whose names are anagrams of each other, a completely unknown hint at the beginning with the slow realization of this the author has successfully fooled one over the readers.
The author using a variety of tricks makes an element within the book with a simple mission it might be a simple-sounding quest, but it turns into a thrilling mystery before its conclusion. this only working due to the protagonist learns the different magic/psychic. Sam's universe has always been of magic and magicians, practising sleight-of-hand at a young age (and forced by her wicked aunt to wear recycled ringmasters' uniforms as school costume - gold glitter thread in the blazer and all).
with the fast paced action throughout the whole book there is never a dull moment within the book with different plot lines and turnarounds of the revealing of secrets we are mystified on what will happen next with each discovery of secret being completely unexpected Jeanne Williams has potentially created one of the best stories in the world.
With magic and magic tricks being her only source of amusement and fun, her aunt ruined every chance of practising but being locked up in the attic she discovers her father is the Dark Prince 'Tabuh' and her mother is still alive a lie told by the former contortionist aunt candy, she is shocked of how the child learnt of this truth.
With candy hating magic after Sam's father betraying her she made Sam's whole childhood a hell, with Sam learning the truth Sam and Lucy travel around the world to find her parents and follow her destiny shown by the psychic dream she received from her witch doctor grandpa.
learning that her father was sent on a quest to find the answers to three questions:
What is magic?
What us illusion?
What is real?
But now Sam is faced with a similar situation but she must find her parents starting of with finding her friend Lucy from the animal institute .
the whole story is a particularly singular quest, one that forces Sam to meet every kind of performance artiste from the fire-breathers to the living statue forced to engage with almost every kind of psychic ability and situation Sam at a fast ace starts to become more powerful. with different psychic techniques having their own faults she is learns important lessons and learns dreams are interpreted, dowsing with pendulums is done, people who use automatic writing are sought. The mystical ranges from the miracles of Lourdes to qi gong, and the laying on of hands. The protagonists are mostly brilliantly-written characters, most of whose names are anagrams of each other, a completely unknown hint at the beginning with the slow realization of this the author has successfully fooled one over the readers.
The author using a variety of tricks makes an element within the book with a simple mission it might be a simple-sounding quest, but it turns into a thrilling mystery before its conclusion. this only working due to the protagonist learns the different magic/psychic. Sam's universe has always been of magic and magicians, practising sleight-of-hand at a young age (and forced by her wicked aunt to wear recycled ringmasters' uniforms as school costume - gold glitter thread in the blazer and all).
with the fast paced action throughout the whole book there is never a dull moment within the book with different plot lines and turnarounds of the revealing of secrets we are mystified on what will happen next with each discovery of secret being completely unexpected Jeanne Williams has potentially created one of the best stories in the world.
August 24, 2010
I find this very hard to label. It sort of was but it wasn't a lot of things. I enjoyed it but didn't love it - I easily put it down and didn't feel the urge to pick it up again, because though the story was an interesting one, I never found it terribly gripping. It was fun to read but there was nothing that I wanted to find out so there was no urge to continue. It was a bit strange too, perhaps too strange in parts for me. I did like the magic tricks and illusions at the start of each chapter though!
April 24, 2017
Did not like this one at all. at a glance the premise sounded good and upon going in I seemed promising, however the further I got into the book I realised this one was just not for me. the storyline simply did not interest me, the characters seemed a little too silly and nothing in it held my interest which was a shame since I thought this would have promise.
March 18, 2010
hmmmm, magical and mystical :)
August 6, 2010
great book
Read
August 4, 2011A really good story as the book unravelled secrets about the main character
December 26, 2012
This is book is really, really underrated. It's magical and intriguing and I have read it countless times, so much so that the book is falling apart!
September 21, 2013
Amazing
March 23, 2014
this book is truly amazing. i love the action the characters and how it all comes together in the end 5/5
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews