The internal critic says I can't possibly write about this book.
I had previously written about another one of Ann Patchett's books, Truth and Beauty, and had mentioned The Magician's Assistant in that post.
But I just reread this book and wanted to write about it. Hopefully I will live long so there will be many weeks to write about many different books. But for now, this week, it is Ann Patchett's The Magician's Assistant.
It is a beautiful book. The writing reminded me very much of Anne Tyler's work. There was a fairy tale sensibility to the story. There was a loveliness to the words. Things felt magical, always good when writing about magicians and their tricks. It is the work of a young writer in love with words. Words rush off the page. It is a book of grief, of loneliness, of feeling like there's really no one to talk to. It is a book of surprises. I don't even want to reveal any of the story, because that is a big part of the experience of reading this book. There are secrets to be uncovered, discoveries made. Some parts feel a little melodramatic. The ending is a bit of a thud. But it is the early work of a great writer. It promises wonderful things for the future. It is really fun to read.
