Lance L.

Extraordinary Life

Reviewed: 08-02-21

Incredible, true story.

Exceptional writing.

Excellent narration.

I don’t understand why Audible requires more words.

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What a downer!

Reviewed: 08-07-20

I very much looked forward to rereading The Magus. I read it for the first time during what I have often described as “the best week of my life”. I remember reading it to be a wonderful experience. Perhaps I was not able to recall reality.

It was 1970 and I was a Marine lieutenant in Vietnam. For some reason I thought someone was trying to kill me. I was sent to the hospital ship USS Hope with incipient ulcers. I spent a week undergoing tests while we cruised the South China Sea. I was medicated with Valium. I slept like a baby and read The Magus during every waking hour. I was enthralled.

I was discharged from the hospital and sent back to my same assignment as an artillery forward observer with an infantry company. I never had another symptom.

I have told the story of “the best week of my life” many times. I own a first edition inscribed by John Fowles.

Fifty years later I decided to reread/listen to The Magus. I did not remember a word. This time I had the benefit of having traveled to London, Greece and other locations in the book many times. The closest I have been to Spetses, the inspiration for Phraxos, is Nafplio, which is often mentioned in the book. It helps, but...

I was disappointed and disillusioned and my “memory” has been shattered. While “well written”, the book is a slog. When it ended I felt empty. I have seen other reviews which say this book is for young adults not seasoned citizens. Maybe. On the other hand it might have been the Valium more than the literature I admired.

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3 people found this helpful

Why?

Reviewed: 01-22-18

I read this book as assigned reading for a literature class. I finished reading it. I do not know why. Until the teacher explains that to me, my conjecture is that this helps understand the development of novel writing. I cannot think of any other possible reason to read it in 2018. Perhaps my evaluation says more about me than it does about the book.

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6 people found this helpful

Good potboiler.

Reviewed: 07-26-17

What did you love best about A Death in Vienna?

Excellent narration by John Lee.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The Sturmbanfuher seemed very real. That doesn't mean I like the guy, but people like that, and they do exist, are very fascinating.

What does John Lee bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Pace, his voice, the characters voices, gravitas.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The mother's written testimony.

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Well Written But Nonsensical Historical Fiction/Fantasy

Reviewed: 03-27-17

Philip Roth writes very well. However, his attempt at an alternative history of the USA during WWII requires that the reader not know the real history and the backgrounds of the real historical figures whose history he changes. You must suspend any understanding of the US Constitution and our whole civic/political structure/system.

I get the paranoia of the Jewish community of the time or even now, I understand anti-semitism has long existed and exists today, but this yarn doesn't help whatever Roth is attempting to convey.

I worked my way through the entire novel simply to be able to credibly discuss it with my book group. I wish we were reading something else.
Ron Silver's narration helped get me through it.

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Simply a classic!

Reviewed: 03-18-17

One of the best books I ever read. It certainly is more than a loose biography of Huey Long. Much more!

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A Classic

Reviewed: 02-14-17

I first read this book around fifty years ago. It is still just as good. Simon Vance's narration actually improves it.

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Fast, Unrelenting Action Fable

Reviewed: 09-24-16

I needed a break. My previous two books were James Joyce's Ulysses and Isaac Asimov's The Gods Themselves. I wanted some escapist fiction. I chose this. Big Mistake! I read it straight through. You can't do that with Ulysses. I lost sleep, but I'm glad I did. I enjoyed it thoroughly.

I had read the first four Gray Man novels. They were all good, but not this good. They were well written, but the action was implausible. You had to suspend your reasonableness sensors and you didn't get inside the characters, principally the Gray Man. While the action remained over the top in Back Blast it seemed eerily plausible and you spent a great amount of time understanding the history and psyche of the protagonist. I actually found myself comparing it to James Joyce...That's a joke.

I strongly recommend the first four novels. They are good or better for this genre, but always keep in your mind that you have this to look forward to.

I don't know where they got the narrator for this series. I don't believe I have heard him before. He is absolutely perfect.

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Disappointing story with non-sense ending. Excellent reader.

Reviewed: 08-01-15

The story had an interesting premise, but went nowhere. The character development was fair. Timothy Dalton is an excellent reader.

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Better than I hoped for.

Reviewed: 07-26-15

Glad I finally read it. Raymond Chandler deserves his excellent reputation. He said this was his best.

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