I read this novel about two years ago, just incredible, read every novel and journals by John Fowles since. One of the greats

I read this book as a gift from my grandfather. It's fantastic!

An incredible book. On so many levels. Unclassifiable. Five stars, whatever that means.

I’ll keep this as simple as possible due to it being KZread Nickolas is the Fool The archetype of the wise Fool is one that is found in many cultures in all parts of the world. Hislack ofexperience in the ways of society is seen on the surface to be a disadvantage, b u tin reality it ensures that his mind is not closed to unusual experiencesthat are denied toordinary men. He is the vagabond who exists on the fringe of organised life, going his own way, ignoring the rules and taboos with whichmen seek tocontain him. Heisthe madman who carries withinhim the seeds of genius, the one who is despised by society yet who is the catalyst which will transform that society. The Fool is the Green Man, the harbingerof a new cycle of existence, the herald of new life and fresh beginnings. He can be seen as the innocent spirit about to embark on physical incarna- tion; the young child who has yet to learn of the perils in the world; or as the seeker after enlightenment chasing the elusive butterfly of intuition in the hope that it will lead him to the mysteries. Themood is joyous and carefree, yet hints of pitfalls and trials just ahead. He represents the chaos before reason, the pure impulse that is neither good nor evil. ahead. Symbolically the Fool can be said to be both the beginning and the end, therefore he is not limited by being assigned anumber,and can appear at the beginning or theend of the twenty-two card sequence. When he appears, as here, at the beginning, he can be inter- preted psychologically as representing the newly-born child which is not yet aware of itself as a separate entity. He is not yet anindividual, and therefore si not responsible for his actions asan individual. Conchis The Magus Following on from the Fool, the Magician signifies the first stage of comscious existence, the e m e r g i n gself-awareness o f the child and the beginning of his journey through life. His first task will bet o learn how to live in his environment; he must come to wield his elemental weapons--his physical senses--with power and authority before he can proceed. Traditionally the Magician is the adept who has brought all facets of his being into consciousequilibrium, from the physical to the divine, and is therefore able to manifest divine power on the material plane. The sceptre he holds on highrepresents his flam- ing will, with which he controls the Four Elements-symbolised by the four devices that lie on the altar before him--the sword (air), the cup (water), the baton (fire) and the coin (earth). He is the teacher who appears when the pupil is ready, the master of wisdom who will instruct the Fool in the hidden ways of thesoul. In mundane terms he is the man who uses his intellect and energy to explore and transform the worldaround himself, who is not satisfied with things the way they are but must ceaselessly search for meaningsand alternatives. Being unable to accept the explanations that are given him con- cerning the nature and goal of life, he must strive to uncover the secrets of existence for himself. In this aspect he is the hero who has embarked on the quest for wisdom, the seeker at the door of the hidden temple. To really have a good understanding of this book requires some occult/esoteric knowledge. My interpretation is Nicolas is being initiated into the upper echelon of society. “Are you elect” is something that’s repeated throughout the novel. The secret society in the book has a vast resemblance to Adam Weishaupt’s Illuminati. Science and Reason are the principles these people worship. Each act is a different stage into the initiation where the point is to kill that old semblance of “I” and be reborn anew

11:17 - I can confirm yes The Magus was an influence on the TV series Lost, which you can see in the 'god game' Jacob plays with the people on the island. The book was on a shelf in the background of one of the shots, and the producers stated on a podcast that it was one of their influences - that's actually why I sought out and read The Magus.

@davidtester3239

3 ай бұрын

Still the best "adaptation" of the book is the movie "The Game" from 1997.

@HeroJournalism

3 ай бұрын

@@davidtester3239- Interesting, i'd never connected them. I've been researching similar stories, I will add that to the list!

@davidtester3239

3 ай бұрын

@@HeroJournalism Go onto the Internet Archive and search for John Fowles The Magus and check out the book Filming John Fowles. Edited by James Aubrey. He makes a strong case that The Game is an adaptation of the book. And he gives a really good reading of the book itself. Worthwhile.

Great video, Rick. The book sounds very interesting. I might have to give it a try one day.

One of my Top Ten novels of the 20th Century. I re-read it every 4 or 5 years and always find something that I missed on the previous readings. Don't be put off by it's length --I found it to be a real page turner and hard to put down. And unlike you Juan, I enjoy reading it during the darkest, rainiest months of my Pacific Northwest winter and imagine being on "Phraxos". I enjoy your reviews!

Excellent, review! This is worth reading as a book or dried it for ages. Your video will now lead me to pick it up, thank you!

@JuanReads

Жыл бұрын

Thank you, Dan! I hope you enjoy the book.

I read this in 2002 (I was in my 40's), while I was island hopping in Greece for a few months. I read several books that either took place in Greece (real or fictional), or by Greek authors, i.e. books by Kazantzakis, etc. I always thought 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑠 rhymed with conscious as a deliberate Easter egg, if you will?

Ohh interesting. I read this when I was about 19 and then again some forty years later, during lockdown. I had wonderful memories of the book. The setting, the mystical feeling of it, the angst of Nicholas.. but when I reread it I hated it. I still loved the setting and the description of place and the mysterious feeling of it but couldn’t stand Nicholas. I felt he didn’t grow in the novel, despite being given every opportunity in every way to examine himself. A near rape scene and the violence towards a woman in the book seemed to be little reflected on by him or the author in his telling of the story. That description Nicholas gives of a woman ‘ tanned skin, clear blue eyes and a body that had not run to seed made her forgivable’. Arrgghhh. And his lack of compassion was too much for me. But I agree the book takes you to that Greek island and you live and walk on it while you read this book, it is also beautiful. It is just that I couldn’t get over Nicholas and his lack of growth. But reading is subjective and this is only my view, I agree it is atmospheric and thought provoking, which is what we all want from reading anyway 😀

@JuanReads

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for your comment! I wonder how I'll feel about The Magus when/if I reread it in years to come. I don't disagree with you on Nicholas. As I said on the video, he was a man of his time. He rings true to me. I don't have to agree with what literary characters do or say to enjoy reading about them. Having said that, I see where you're coming from.

@tumblyhomecarolinep7121

Жыл бұрын

@@JuanReads oh I absolutely agree .. I don’t think it is necessary to like characters to enjoy reading about them. I just finished Blood Meridean and I can’t think of a nice character in that but really enjoyed that read. I love that everyone connects with different books, it is what makes talking about them all the more interesting.. thank you for your thought provoking video.. it made me think about the Magus again and there were some very wonderful aspects to it

@2msvalkyrie529

Жыл бұрын

Yes Caroline . I tend to agree . Nicholas is forever trapped in his role of repressed , middle class English male whereas we readers grow and mature ( hopefully ) ? First time read is still magic though ??

Great job! I’m glad you loved it as much as I do. Just a slight concern about taking it on holiday as I was obsessed with reading it and sometimes shouted out loud so it might alienate you from other people. I read it the first time with work colleagues in a book shop and it’s fun to watch people shout “I figured it out!” when you know they have many twists to go. Relax and go with it is good advice.

@JuanReads

Жыл бұрын

That's why I mostly read at home!

The Magus is a mind-game about a mind-game. There are no rules of the game. It means whatever you decide it means and you are allowed to change your mind. A book based on such premises will enchant some people and infuriate the rest. Are you drinking the water or the wave? John Fowles, who wrote the original book, also wrote the screenplay for the movie. If the author knew what his story was about he failed to convey that information to the director, actors and film crew. They were all professionals and confessed they had no idea what they were supposed to be doing in the film. The prose style is verbose and often obscure. Much of it will seem pretentious unless you are thrilled by ambiguous literary and mythical references. Be prepared for quotes in various classic languages. I was rather dissatisfied with the book when I read it in my early twenties. I hoped the film might clarify the meaning of the book since the screen-play was by John Fowles and he, presumably, knew what he wanted his text to look like on film. But, no such luck. Maybe I am looking for something that is not there. Or maybe the author is a fraud or an artist manqué like his protagonist.

@2msvalkyrie529

Жыл бұрын

Were you not entertained in great style while you read the book. ? I'll bet you couldn't put it down ? So , why complain .? You won't find the Meaning of Life in a book !

@GlossaME

11 ай бұрын

So many books can fit into your comment perfectly. Sometimes it seems that having 300+ pages and a cute book cover, is enough to call a book "addictive/ inspiring".

This book has been on my radar for a while now. I really need to read some Fowles. :)

I will get a copy of this Book at some point. I have never heard of this Book and now I have a new Book to look forward to because of you. Thank you for this great video, Jeff

@JuanReads

Жыл бұрын

Thanks, Jeff! I hope you enjoy The Magus!

I love books and respect every author, Thank you.

What a great review! I want to read this, it takes place here in my country of Greece. BTW the island of Spetses (great pronunciation!) isn't remote at all, it's 50 miles South of Attica by ship, people travel there for a short weekend.

@JuanReads

Жыл бұрын

Thanks! I'm glad I at least got the Greek pronunciation right. Fowles makes the fictional island of Phraxos seem remote, but not necessarily hard to get to. He lived in Spetses in the early 1950s. I imagine it was different back then, but I can't know that. Anyway, I need to go to Greece!

My favorite book! Glad you liked it.

An excellent and balanced review.

I would imagine there is a difference between 'confusion' and 'ambiguity' here. I haven't read the novel, though I grew up in the 1960s and it was ubiquitous and stamped on my consciousness, but i suspect 'ambiguity' may be the better word. I have been recently returning to such books I was too young for at the time (Steppenwolf was no less glorious when I read it two years ago and I reread Cat's Cradle regularly). I look forward to finally reading the Magus in the near future, perhaps if only to reflect upon my own lost, searching youth.

This is one of my favorite books and I have read it 2x. I know I will read it again it is just that good 😚

The Magus is my favourite novel - I have read it twice, and will read it again. I would say you downplay Alison's role a little - she is absolutely critical to the plot, and remains in the shadows throughout, and the fact that her character is not developed in the way you suggest (at 4:22) adds to her mystery and fragility, and the uncertain resolution in the (revised) ending.

i felt alison was a major , ever present , figure here, altho she does little in the novel. Except as it ends, she seems to act as a ( shocking ) catalyst for nicholas' maturation/ enlightment.

The Magician card is about the person transforming reality to their will, self mastery, desire, the go between heaven and earth, skill, focus, etc. The time to act is now, you can use inner life to change outer world.

Magus is the Persian Priest , Hafez used to refer to Magus as Pir.

I clicked because I thought it was about wizard but got something far more interesting

I like all kind of book.

Hi im making a film based on the Magus, can you read the script and review it?

@hitchchristos257

26 күн бұрын

Literary journalist of 40 years here. Happy to read it.

I honestly did not understand the whole point. What was the reason for all the mind games? What did these cultish people wanted to achieve?

@stwheel

27 күн бұрын

I came away feeling the whole point *was* to be utterly confused by the underlying motivations, and why anyone would go to such lengths to deceive a naive young man.

Juan, I love your content but, for the love of Cervantes, please change the thumbnail to this video. It's an eyesore. Still gonna watch the full video though. Love your content.

@JuanReads

Жыл бұрын

Hahaha. I hope you enjoy the video! 😉