ABANDONED. Novel with fantasy edge to it plot was quite abstract but revolved around a young man, his girlfriend/wife, and a man he refers to as a wizard who he visits I think in London . Spoilers ahead.

[Alex]

About 8 years ago I read a book that I randomly picked up in a library. I have no idea of it's title or author, and only remember vague plot points, so I hope someone can help as I've lay awake for the last hour racking my brain!

The plot was quite abstract but revolved around a young man, his girlfriend/wife, and a man he refers to as a wizard who he visits I think in London? I remember being unclear as to how magical this man was but there was some kind of apprentice relationship to them, and they had a history that at leaat implied they used to do magic?

The other key thing I remember is that the novel would jump to another reality that the couple would tell eachother stories about. The main reason I'm trying to remember in fact, was that
...SPOILERS...

there was a particularly poignant section where the wife is ill and dying, and the main character has constructed these stories for her to kind of distract her, but she is becoming more and more drawn into the fantaay rather than reality, and clinging to life through pain because she doesn't want to let him down.

Anyway, I may be remembering incorrectly, but I believe this was fairly modern or at least 20th century, and I'm certain this was not just a weird fever dream I had once! Please help

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Alex, are you still looking for this or did you find it?

[[deleted user]]

Has strong similarity to elements of "Mr. Norrell and Jonathan Strange", by Susanna Clarke

[Kris]

No response, moving to Abandoned folder.

Alex (OP) was last active on the site in January 2018.