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The Cure
A young American flees to Wiesbaden, Germany where he develops an obsession with the spa water, leading to a surreal journey into the occult.
- GenresFiction
236 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
34 people want to read
About the author
Anthony Marais
11 books16 followersI'm an American living in Europe. I lived in Paris for two years where I studied language and art history, before going to Berkeley to study anthropology and later Simon Fraser University in Canada to study archaeology, focusing on the prehistory of Polynesia. In 1995, I moved to Germany where I began to write essays and literary fiction. Since 2015, I've been living in Prague where I teach writing and film at the Anglo-American University. I’m the author of four books and a screenplay co-written with Polish film director Jarek Marszewski.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 9, 2008
This is an intriguing novel about one man's slow seduction into the occult. Robert Holsen fled academic problems in America for a prolonged sabbatical in a German spa town. He quickly develops a taste for the curative spa waters, an act that draws the attention of one of the town's more mysterious characters. As Robert attempts to learn more about both his strange new acquaintance and the true properties of the water, he is drawn down a cryptic path he feels compelled to follow despite his own better judgment.
Like many who find themselves fascinated by phenomenon that seems to exist beyond the edge of accepted reality, Robert is adrift in his life. His aimless uncertainty contrasts nicely with orderly, predictable precision of everyday German life; Marais has a particularly good feel for the culture of Robert's adopted home and the quirks of its inhabitants. This is an elegant, Old World portrait of the swirling dangers that can confront those who dare to peek beneath the cobblestones of conventional life.
Like many who find themselves fascinated by phenomenon that seems to exist beyond the edge of accepted reality, Robert is adrift in his life. His aimless uncertainty contrasts nicely with orderly, predictable precision of everyday German life; Marais has a particularly good feel for the culture of Robert's adopted home and the quirks of its inhabitants. This is an elegant, Old World portrait of the swirling dangers that can confront those who dare to peek beneath the cobblestones of conventional life.
September 28, 2007
Marais' "The Cure" is an elegantly erudite novel with compelling prose. It recounts a man's mental journey, far from home; Robert has distanced himself from California and unusual academic troubles. Seeking the cure to his life so far, he has moved to Kochbrunnen, Wiesbaden, Germany, long known for its curative waters--which at first he just dabbles with. Slowly, though, the waters become the driving force of his existence.
Marais begins the novel with Robert waking from a tortured and confused dream, about which the reader is given much detail, though it's difficult to piece together. It comes across as a real dream, in that there are elements of truth but not everything is as it appears, or even relevant. The narrative slips from the dream into introducing us to Robert's existence; and we follow Robert around town for most of the rest of the book.
His life is both patterned and chaotic, having few constraints on it. Robert walks the town, sits in cafes, and talks with friends, occasionally making new ones. Amidst this, there is the water--and transformation. He's induced to wonder about the reality of everything, and begins to consider as possible things far from the norm. While this could be a very juvenile story, Anthony Marais has put a lot of thought and polish into the introspection and the interactions, and even when not novel they ring true, and human.
As we approach the inevitable conclusion, we're dropped, one by one, into the heads of his friends and acquaintances--to separate us from the reality of his dream and, I think, to draw out the suspense of things. The answer at the end--or rather the perhaps necessary lack of one--left me somewhat disappointed: I'd followed the quest faithfully and wanted some other truth than what we're given.
Reading the author notes that came with the book, I understood what he was going for and did gain a greater appreciation for it. I almost wish the notes were printed as an afterward, more integral to the work itself, but then, I perhaps could have done with an annotated version from the get-go. Still, the story is engaging, whether or not one fully notices and understands the meaning of the elements involved. And in all, it's a beautiful book and fodder for thought and conversation.
There is a mood and scope that reminds me somewhat of The Illuminatus Trilogy. But everything in "The Cure" is more personal, and seems far more reasonable, and reasoned, until we ourselves are steeped in full-blown delirium and wonder where (or whether) we lost our way. Of course, it's easy to blame the water.
Marais begins the novel with Robert waking from a tortured and confused dream, about which the reader is given much detail, though it's difficult to piece together. It comes across as a real dream, in that there are elements of truth but not everything is as it appears, or even relevant. The narrative slips from the dream into introducing us to Robert's existence; and we follow Robert around town for most of the rest of the book.
His life is both patterned and chaotic, having few constraints on it. Robert walks the town, sits in cafes, and talks with friends, occasionally making new ones. Amidst this, there is the water--and transformation. He's induced to wonder about the reality of everything, and begins to consider as possible things far from the norm. While this could be a very juvenile story, Anthony Marais has put a lot of thought and polish into the introspection and the interactions, and even when not novel they ring true, and human.
As we approach the inevitable conclusion, we're dropped, one by one, into the heads of his friends and acquaintances--to separate us from the reality of his dream and, I think, to draw out the suspense of things. The answer at the end--or rather the perhaps necessary lack of one--left me somewhat disappointed: I'd followed the quest faithfully and wanted some other truth than what we're given.
Reading the author notes that came with the book, I understood what he was going for and did gain a greater appreciation for it. I almost wish the notes were printed as an afterward, more integral to the work itself, but then, I perhaps could have done with an annotated version from the get-go. Still, the story is engaging, whether or not one fully notices and understands the meaning of the elements involved. And in all, it's a beautiful book and fodder for thought and conversation.
There is a mood and scope that reminds me somewhat of The Illuminatus Trilogy. But everything in "The Cure" is more personal, and seems far more reasonable, and reasoned, until we ourselves are steeped in full-blown delirium and wonder where (or whether) we lost our way. Of course, it's easy to blame the water.
March 25, 2022
guys i’m actually so sad like i’m tearing up i liked this book a lot
October 25, 2010
"The Cure," entertains the ageless question "why am I here, and what is my purpose?" A question many ask themselves, and very few are ever able to answer. The story is one of self discovery..of fleeing your everyday world for someplace new, in an attempt to put your own life into some sort of perspective.
The plot is simple: Robert, the main character, is disappointed in what his university filled life has to offer him, so he leaves. Cutting all ties with those people and things who no longer bring any sort of fulfillment, he finds himself in a spa town in Germany. From here we follow Robert on his somewhat painful, often mysterious voyage towards self discovery.
Anthony Marais has produced a brilliant novel here..its something anyone can relate to. The characters are entertaining and have witty dialogues, and Marais has intelligent views on life and human nature.
I'm not sure what else to write here..I don't want to tell all about the story, as it really is one that everyone needs to read and appreciate for themselves. If you know anything about personal journeys, or just want to read about one, this is your book.
The plot is simple: Robert, the main character, is disappointed in what his university filled life has to offer him, so he leaves. Cutting all ties with those people and things who no longer bring any sort of fulfillment, he finds himself in a spa town in Germany. From here we follow Robert on his somewhat painful, often mysterious voyage towards self discovery.
Anthony Marais has produced a brilliant novel here..its something anyone can relate to. The characters are entertaining and have witty dialogues, and Marais has intelligent views on life and human nature.
I'm not sure what else to write here..I don't want to tell all about the story, as it really is one that everyone needs to read and appreciate for themselves. If you know anything about personal journeys, or just want to read about one, this is your book.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews