The Magus

“Though the Greek island that serves as the primary setting is fictional, I highly recommend The Magus. John Fowles’s writing is terrific.”

“"A fireworks exhibition of fantasy, sexual love and moral awareness" need I say more??? This book was recommended to me in 2020 by someone working at Greenlight Bookstore in Fort Greene (thank you, whoever you are!) and I read it in a week, hunched over on the back fire escape of my apartment in Bed-Stuy, with the hum of the generator below. The world was totally surreal, and maybe that's why I fell in love with this book, in which the protagonist is perpetually thrown off-balance by the strangeness of the world around him. It is largely set on a Greek island and it is sexy and weird and midcentury and I hope it holds up bc if not I'll be very sad!!! Whenever I meet ppl who also love this book, I feel like we're members of a secret society. Join! (Will update when I finish reread.)”