The Magician Audiobook

" Disturbing. It kept me up all night after I read it. The ending is infuriating. "

" I listened to this as audiobook, but loved the flavor and fervor reminiscent of Catcher in the Rye. "

" When I finished this book it kind of seemed like the whole thing was a long set-up to a clever ending. I liked the writing and the atypical storyline keeps you guessing as it evolves in an enjoyably frustrating way. "

" Engaging story, over the top and disappointing ending. The story deals with class, cultural and ethnic tensions, bullying and cliques in high school and legal machinations. Up to the last few pages I'd have rated the book 4 or 4.5 stars, but the ending felt like a contrivance to me. "

" Wow, this has not aged well. Archaic & indigestible racial politics, a key plot point involving a karate chop & deadly dull towards the finish. Stay away. "

" I love Maugham but this one is so weak, a good read for teenage girls, perhaps. "

" This is all melodrama, little characterization, and overwritten (which Maugham himself acknowledges in his introduction). There's magnetism to the title character, based on Aleister Crowley, but the other characters are so cardboardish that I didn't much care what happened to them. "

" I never would have guessed this Faustian novel (the woman ruined by the antagonist is even named Margaret) to be written by Maugham. Quite the fascinating book. "

" W.Somerset Maugham ,1908) English version.I hated it, it's overloaded !Oliver Haddo trying to create life using black magic...He throw a magic charm into Margaret, marry her and kill her.It was Arthur whom she was engaged to,that killed Oliver.. "

" Still pretty cool (a 3.5 really, but couldn't give it a 4), but other Maughm books are better... "

" The writing is excellent. Vivid characters and wonderfully-written scenes. "

" Brilliantly done, and I would have given it 5 stars if the end didn't feel so abrupt. As I was reading, it came to me that if this were a movie, I'd cast Oliver Platt as Haddo. "

" Maugham's study of virtue perverted is as horrific, mesmerising and compelling as the eponymous magician himself. The, at times, heavy handed imagery does nothing to detract from a thoroughly enjoyable piece of traditional gothic fiction. "

" An absolutely fantastic, mind-boggling read. I loved it! "

" Maugham unbunched his frilly panties and wrote a man's man monster story. "

" An unsettling contrast of sweet ordinariness and unhinged evil. Creepy. "

" The last few pages are among the creepiest I've ever read. "