The Magicians/ part I only (chapters 1-14)

[Greg]

Dawn wrote: "I'm about 30% through the book and although the writing is very good it's a very slow book with very little happening except the main character whining a lot. I'm not sure what the plot thread is y..."

I pretty much felt the same about everything Dawn, but I started to like it a lot better mid-part II.

[Dawn]

Thanks Greg. I will keep reading :)

[LittleBookDruid]

Greg wrote: "LittleBookDruid wrote: "Just read the first scene, this month I am too behind. But I am already getting angry over this protag -_-
I always have trouble connecting with these sorts of people, "have..."
Yeah, that's why I have heard about it. So I will be a nice patient reader... lol

[Margo]

Well I remember partaking of the occasional alcoholic beverage (or 2!) during my college days, but everything these kids did or said went against the grain with me. I'm honestly not sure why I kept reading part 1, but I did quite like the later parts.

[Dawn]

Don't get me wrong. I'm more than partial to a drink or two (or lots!) myself but this lot seem to be borderline alcoholics and I can't really see a reason for it in the story. It just seems a bit pointless.

[Bana AZ]

I heard a lot of bad things about this book and only a few good things (as a trilogy), and I can understand why a lot of people hate it. It is very hateable in this first part. I'm glad to see the encouragements that Part II will be better.

So far, Alice's story seems like the most interesting. I wonder if her being special for finding the place will be explored more.

[Margo]

Dawn wrote: "Don't get me wrong. I'm more than partial to a drink or two (or lots!) myself but this lot seem to be borderline alcoholics and I can't really see a reason for it in the story. It just seems a bit ..."

They seem self destrutive and nihilistic.

Ana I agree that Alice is the best of the bunch :-)

[Greg]

Ana A wrote: "I heard a lot of bad things about this book and only a few good things (as a trilogy), and I can understand why a lot of people hate it. It is very hateable in this first part. I'm glad to see the ..."

Ana, the first half of Part II is even worse; so don't give up in despair when you get to that point. It changes a lot about halfway through Part II.

[Bana AZ]

Good thing Part II's 4 chapters was super short compared to Part I's 14 chapters. I'm now in Part III and things are getting interesting. I can almost see the point to why Part I was so painful.

[Greg]

Ana A wrote: "Good thing Part II's 4 chapters was super short compared to Part I's 14 chapters. I'm now in Part III and things are getting interesting. I can almost see the point to why Part I was so painful."

I felt the same way Ana.

[Shawnie]

I'm around 30% in and bored of these characters. I'll continue (for the energy cell lol), but I should have read this before Long Way to a Small Angry Planet. This is a chore for me to sit through after the thoroughly engaging and lovable characters there.

[Shawnie]

Like you, Greg, I'm appalled at Quentin's lack of regard for his family... honestly, his lack of regard for anything.

[Greg]

Shawnie wrote: "Like you, Greg, I'm appalled at Quentin's lack of regard for his family... honestly, his lack of regard for anything."

Not the sort of person I'd want to be around in real life, that's for sure!

[Veronica]

Shawnie wrote: "I'm around 30% in and bored of these characters. I'll continue (for the energy cell lol), but I should have read this before Long Way to a Small Angry Planet. This is a chore for me to sit through ..."

LOL, I just commented on the Angry Planet thread that it's such a nice change to spend time with such lovable characters after enduring this annoying pack.

[Shawnie]

Veronica wrote: "Shawnie wrote: "I'm around 30% in and bored of these characters. I'll continue (for the energy cell lol), but I should have read this before Long Way to a Small Angry Planet. This is a chore for me..."

Yes! The difference is night and day.

[Carolyn]

So, I'm slowly making my way through the book. I am about 2 months before graduation...so this seems like the proper place to start commenting.

Unlike some other people here, I don't mind the characters. They have been selected because they are special. Of course they are self absorbed and not very likable, which makes them likable to me.

What I am struggling with is that there isn't any point to this book - at least not so far. What is the point of the school? Why are they being trained? Why is the use of magic important? Why do I care about all the possible variables in casting a spell? I got excited when the beast showed up...but then (*sigh*).

Perhaps the story picks up later on, but this all feels like background information to the actual book.

[Greg]

Carolyn wrote: "Perhaps the story picks up later on, but this all feels like background information to the actual book. ..."

It does Carolyn, but it takes quite a while - things started to pick up for me in the middle of part II.

[Bana AZ]

Carolyn wrote: "So, I'm slowly making my way through the book. I am about 2 months before graduation...so this seems like the proper place to start commenting.

Unlike some other people here, I don't mind the char..."

It's kind of like you're supposed to be bored to death because that's kind of what the characters are feeling too, although they cover it up with their snobbishness. Keep going, though. The second half is pretty good.