The Magician Audiobook

" I thought this book was moderately engaging, especially since the magician in question is loosely based on Alester Crowley, whom the author knew and disliked. However, it started to seem very predictable and I lost interest entirely. "

" This is certainly a novel worth persevering with. The beginning is dare I say dull, and for a little while it drags, but then suddenly it develops into a truly gripping read. The awfully sinister Oliver Haddo is a sly practitioner of the occult, who appears to use his skill to ruin the lives of a couple of good and innocent souls. An excellent read. "

" 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. "

" Maugham apparently met Aleister Crowley, black magician, in a cafe and hated him so much that he decided to craft an antagonist and an entire novel around him. Thus, he came up with Haddo in The Magician, who uses dark magic to try to steal away the beautiful Margaret from her fiance Arthur. Haddo is described as disgusting in character and in visage. I loved his description of Haddo and how he incorporated his absolute hate for Crowley into the character. I think this serves as a great example of how a writer can channel his adoration or hatred for another real person into a fictitious character. "

" Not one of Maugham's best, but an interesting late Victorian view of evil of the Aleister Crowley type. "

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

" I borrowed this book from Nick, who bought it at a second-hand bookstore in Rome, and I read it in Naples... This all made the book far more attractive. But it was still a very enjoyable read. "

" Although I liked it, I can't recommend it because it didn't start rocking until more than halfway through. "

" Interesting story...you can tell that it's one of Maugham's earlier books! "

" I cannot get over the prose. I found myself literally gasping, crying, and screaming at my Kindle all through this one. Had Maugham written for me, he could've destroyed my life, too. So exciting. "

" Jimmy Page and Kenneth Anger fans beware! The main character is based on Alistair Crowley, the mad (and media smart) magik guru of the early Twenties and thirties. British to the core and fascinating! "

" excellent story. such good writing. and mystery all around. what fun. "

" W. Somerset Maugham is consistently one of the most fascinating writers I've ever read. "

" A bit slow\hard to get into, but worth it in the end. Well crafted. I learned a few new words too! "

" 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. "

" I adored this book. I could visualize every scene and when you realize that Maugham had actually lived with Aleister Crowley it makes the book even more terrifying. The scene toward the end of the book with the hommunculi was completely prescient. It perfectly predicted our fears of human clones. "