The Magus discussion

for real. I SUPER hate Nicholas, he's such a wang, and have no idea why Fowles is using him as a main character, as I know Fowles can write amazing characters in other works. Yeah I know, unreliable narrator, but I legit can't deal with his drama or sympathize with him at all. I keep wanting something to come along and decimate him, but when he slapped Allison I almost slapped this BOOK across the room. However, I dig Conchis' stories and I eagerly fly through them. The plot moves nicely and seems exciting but when it gets back to Nicholas I want to bail. I have a ton of other books on my to-read list so knowing this and without too many spoilers, should I finish the book if these are my current feelings?

Finish it.

You'll always wonder if you don't.

I need to find my copy and read it again. It's been awhile.

Its not an easy read and I agree at times you get fed up with Nicholas, but it comes together in the end. Ao as you are so far in, might as well finish it.

PLEASE do. As the others said, it isn't the easiest of reads, but I had the same feelings at the half way point and I'm beyond glad I finished it because it now holds to be one of my favorite books. Very much worth it. Do it for Conchis.

Finish it!! I've read it three times, one of my faves.

Absolutely! It's a top-ten book ever for me. However, if you are half-way through and asking yourself this question, then I doubt this book is for you. I could feel it's power from page one.

finished it and hated it. I also read it because of The Collector...oh well. the last quarter or so of the book I started digging it hard, getting really impressed...but then the last 30 pages...why??

finished it out of respect for the author tacking on at least 400 pages or more of what was necessary.

I understand your feelings towards Nicholas - hated him as well. But I remember that the amount of plot twists in the second half of the book made Magus a quick, interesting read.

yeah the plot was really...something. as in, I was very impressed the author did it and could keep track of it, but I felt he probably was just writing what he enjoyed to no (or very little) real end. also I guess a yardstick for measuring a novel is whether or not the main character has changed: to some people, this is the whole point of writing or reading a character-based novel. aaaaand after 700 pages and by the author's choice, Nicholas didn't change. the process, whatever it was, wasn't sufficiently transformative--usually this is how a novel relies on climax (think of Woman in the Dunes!). his personality and choices never vary in the slightest--this is what really got me, not his treatment toward women. the scenes and plot twist around, but he responds to everything the exact same way for 700 pages! his psychological tear down was so crazy and gripping I thought something would finally happen to his character. but then a few more very minor twists and it diesels out. I remember Conchis saying something like the novel is a dead art form, etc, so I wonder if the author was aware of this and that's why he made the choice to deflate it. still, I didn't ultimately dig how much time it wasted. he got me!