Wednesday, March 8, 2017

BOOK NOOK: THE MAGICIAN'S ASSISTANT BY ANN PATCHETT

Gentle Readers . . . and Maxwell,

I have a great novel for you––one that made me sigh with delight when I finished it. It's The Magician's Assistant by Ann Patchett.



Pull a rabbit out of a hat? Parsifal and Sabine had far better tricks than that. The tape of their performance on The Tonight Show, hosted by Johnny Carson, proves their talent.

Now, though, the first words of the novel tell us

Parsifal is dead. That is the end of the story,

Of course, it's a beginning for his assistant and widow, Sabine, but she doesn't know it yet.

But when she reads Parsifal's will, Sabine learns that he left behind an illusion. His name and the story of his childhood are far different from what he told Sabine. Sabine leaves sunny Los Angeles for the harsh winter of Alliance, Nebraska, to find some magic of her own.

Ann Patchett conjures a story filled with her own tricks that inspire the reader to empathize with Sabine and the reality behind Parsifal's tricks.

The Magician's Assistant earns The Janie Junebug Seal of Highest Magical Approval.


Infinities of love,

Janie Junebug


38 comments:

  1. I would buy that book just for the cute bunny on the cover alone, and yes, you can take my Man Card, but it doesn't make it any less true.

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  2. It looks wonderful; I just bought it!!

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  3. I like Ann. I'll give this one a listen on Audible.

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  4. Oh, that does sound good! I'm putting it on my list!

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  5. Is this a true story or is the Johnny Carson tape made up? Sounds pretty good either way. ;)

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  6. I have not heard of this. It sounds lovely.

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  7. Besides the FABULOUS cover design, this story sounds like so much fun.
    Off to Amazon !

    cheers, parsnip

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    1. I've seen it with other cover designs that I like just as much.

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  8. That does sound good. I haven't read Ann Patchett for awhile. The last book of hers I read was The Patron Saint of Liars. That too was a good read. I will put this one on my list to get.

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    1. I like this one more than The Patron Saint of Liars. My favorite so far is Bel Canto.

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  9. I've read a few of her books. Lately I'm reading a copy of one of my late mother's favorite books, "The Good Earth."

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    1. It's been a long time since I read anything by Pearl S. Buck.

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  10. I think that book would make me cry. But I'll check it out.

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  11. I will add this to my never ending list of books I must read! It is hard work being a bookaholic :)

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  12. That sounds like fun! The first line works well for a little game my wife recently discovered. After the first sentence of any book, insert the following as the second: And then the murders began. So...

    Parsifal is dead. And then the murders began.

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    1. Anna Karenina...

      Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way. And then the murders began.

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    2. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. And then the murders began.

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  13. It looks and sounds like a good book. Hope there isn't any sad parts. I get too emotional. Thank you for sharing your recommendation. Hope you are doing well, Janie.

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    1. I am well. Thank you, Murees. Sabine is sad because Parsifal is dead, but it's a book that made me curious rather than sad.

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  14. Sounds like a story that might have a few twists.

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  15. Sounds super! Thanks. (As if I need much of a nudge to read another book...)

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  16. Well, I shall have to get this to read! I read AP's "Bel Canto" a couple of times, so I'm betting I'll really enjoy this! Thanks for the recommendation, JJ!

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    1. Bel Canto made me an Ann Patchett fan for life.

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  17. Sounds like a fun one. Thanks, Janie. I've never read Ann Patchett. I know, I know, what's wrong with me? That I cannot tell you.
    Love.

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    1. Too much time writing erotica leads to a lack of familiarity with Ann Patchett.

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  18. I see that she also wrote Bel Canto-I think I opened that book and promptly closed it deciding it might be too sad for me that day.I trust you though, and might give this one a try! ;)

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    1. I don't know why, but the sad parts in Ann Patchett's books don't make me depressed. They move me, but I don't cry. They move me in good ways.

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  19. this sounds like a book that I should read since I used to work on magic shows and spent time in the magic community. I'd be checking to see what the author got right.

    Arlee Bird
    Tossing It Out

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  20. Love her books and this one does sound magical. Will put it on my wishlist.

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