Book Seven

4/10/2008 – The Magician’s Assistant by Ann Patchett *

Why: April pick for Stillwater Book Club. Suggested by Christine Hurley. Voted in by all because of Ann Patchett’s history of good writing (Bel Canto, Truth & Beauty, etc.)
First Impressions: I knew that this would be an easy book to read. I thought the writing was a bit chick-lity. I didn’t understand the characters or feel attached to them. Parsifal & Phan – a gay magician and his mate, along with Parsifal’s wife Sabine. I just could not relate It all seemed a bit fantasy like to me.
Emotions felt: Not many. I wasn’t surprised by the plot development like others have said they were. I knew that Sabine and Kitty were going to end up having a relationship. It didn’t seem that implausible to me that Parsifal would have killed his father. I was frustrated by the character of Sabine and why she had given up so much for this family and not developed her own character. The first half of the book in LA is good but the last half is entirely predictable. Easily read, but not much gained in the reading
Any Remaining Questions: Wondering if Sabine & Kitty’s relationship was emotional or physical and whether they remained in LA? Page 154 when Dot talks about how she admires Sabine for not having children? “The way they break your heart.” Really?
Quote: pg. 167 “Sabine in Los Angeles, where everything in the world was available to her, peaches in January, a symphony orchestra, the Pacific Ocean” I love the way she writes peaches in January. It’s the reason I want to move to San Francisco. Pg. 281 when Sabine is asking her mother about her past. “I want to know everything.” I can relate to Sabine’s loss and feeling like she needs to know every last detail because life is precious and you want to drink every last drop.
Who Would Like This Book: people who like Jodi Picoult. Not bad, just not good.