Customer Reviews

The Cure

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Marais' deeply witty, intelligent, philosophical novel The Cure is not made for readers who have a sensitive stomach; although it begins with a light, humorous series of mini adventures, it ends with a plunge into the deep black sea: the search for truth is not an easy search, Marais seems to be underlining. What Robert Holsen, the protagonist, is searching for ultimately mirrors what we are all searching for: meaning to our petty, routine existences.

Robert finds himself in a little village in Germany, feeding on his desire to discover new frontiers; little does he know what he is getting into when he begins to drink the famous Wiesbaden waters. As his thirst for this water grows, it seems his thirst for the Unknown grows too; yet as Carlos Castaneda would say, the Unknown only leads to madness, thus people should stick to their side of the world to remain sane.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Marais' novel; having never read him before, one should know that Marais' archeological past creeps up in many eloquent descriptive passages. He often describes with clear and vivid words the world around him, and brings into this world a very pleasing and aesthetic quality. His characters are other worldly, often causing us to laugh hysterically or swallow with difficulty. For those searching for the Fountain of Youth, perhaps Marais' philosophies are the portal to a new understanding of the term "Everlasting life".

"The Cure," entertains the ageless question "why am I here, and what is my purpose?" A question many ask themselves, and very few are ever able to answer. The story is one of self discovery..of fleeing your everyday world for someplace new, in an attempt to put your own life into some sort of perspective.

The plot is simple: Robert, the main character, is disappointed in what his university filled life has to offer him, so he leaves. Cutting all ties with those people and things who no longer bring any sort of fulfillment, he finds himself in a spa town in Germany. From here we follow Robert on his somewhat painful, often mysterious voyage towards self discovery.

Anthony Marais has produced a brilliant novel here..its something anyone can relate to. The characters are entertaining and have witty dialogues, and Marais has intelligent views on life and human nature.

I'm not sure what else to write here..I don't want to tell all about the story, as it really is one that everyone needs to read and appreciate for themselves. If you know anything about personal journeys, or just want to read about one, this is your book.

I stumbled upon Anthony Marais' book while I was walking around in a town called Wiesbaden, in Germany. I read the last page first, as is my custom, flipped through it a little bit, and decided to buy it. I'm glad I did. I found the book to be thoroughly enjoyable, and completely entertaining. I appreciated the author's toungue-in-cheek sense of humor, his insights into human nature, and his interpretation of life. I recommend this book to anyone who knows about personal journeys into oneself, or to anyone who wants to read about one.

I have, since reading the book, handed my copy to friends for them to read.

In his debut novel, Anthony Marais - author of "The Xenophobe's Guide to the Californians" - follows the story of an American (Robert) who is disappointed in how little university and science can offer, and sets out for Germany in his search for meaning in life. He settles down in Wiesbaden, a picturesque spa near the Rhine.

It is easy to identify with Robert, a young adult who is lost in the world. Steadily he explores his new environment, and the reader witnesses how he makes friends and finds his way around. He gets to know Petra and Jürgen who both share his critical view on things. Jürgen also takes Robert to "Käfer's," a rather exotic bar where he is introduced to Herr Eberhard: an extrovert of profound knowledge and wisdom, who is able to hold Robert under his spell when discussing the healing effect of Wiesbaden's natural springs and also explores all kinds of interesting views and theories about philosophical matters.

It becomes clear that Robert is on an internal journey guided by the fatherly figure Herr Eberhard. In the fourth part "Rubedo" (red/rebirth--the last phase of an alchemical transformation) Robert finally achieves self-knowledge and peace in his soul. However, it remains subject to the reader which of the events in the end actually happened "in reality" or in Robert's mind.

Marais' style is straightforward and picture-evoking, "It was a morning the working world would never know: an unearthly atmosphere created by the absence of people", is one of my favourite lines. After having read the book I feel like I know Wiesbaden, with its handsome streets and different fountains. Moreover, the book is a gentle reminder that in a world full of options and possibilities we should listen to our heart more often when making a decision - like Robert. A wonderful and inspirational novel!

This is an intriguing novel about one man's slow seduction into the occult. Robert Holsen fled academic problems in America for a prolonged sabbatical in a German spa town. He quickly develops a taste for the curative spa waters, an act that draws the attention of one of the town's more mysterious characters. As Robert attempts to learn more about both his strange new acquaintance and the true properties of the water, he is drawn down a cryptic path he feels compelled to follow despite his own better judgment.

Like many who find themselves fascinated by phenomenon that seems to exist beyond the edge of accepted reality, Robert is adrift in his life. His aimless uncertainty contrasts nicely with orderly, predictable precision of everyday German life; Marais has a particularly good feel for the culture of Robert's adopted home and the quirks of its inhabitants. This is an elegant, Old World portrait of the swirling dangers that can confront those who dare to peek beneath the cobblestones of conventional life.

Marais' "The Cure" is an elegantly erudite novel with compelling prose. It recounts a man's mental journey, far from home; Robert has distanced himself from California and unusual academic troubles. Seeking the cure to his life so far, he has moved to Kochbrunnen, Wiesbaden, Germany, long known for its curative waters--which at first he just dabbles with. Slowly, though, the waters become the driving force of his existence.

Marais begins the novel with Robert waking from a tortured and confused dream, about which the reader is given much detail, though it's difficult to piece together. It comes across as a real dream, in that there are elements of truth but not everything is as it appears, or even relevant. The narrative slips from the dream into introducing us to Robert's existence; and we follow Robert around town for most of the rest of the book.

His life is both patterned and chaotic, having few constraints on it. Robert walks the town, sits in cafes, and talks with friends, occasionally making new ones. Amidst this, there is the water--and transformation. He's induced to wonder about the reality of everything, and begins to consider as possible things far from the norm. While this could be a very juvenile story, Anthony Marais has put a lot of thought and polish into the introspection and the interactions, and even when not novel they ring true, and human.

As we approach the inevitable conclusion, we're dropped, one by one, into the heads of his friends and acquaintances--to separate us from the reality of his dream and, I think, to draw out the suspense of things. The answer at the end--or rather the perhaps necessary lack of one--left me somewhat disappointed: I'd followed the quest faithfully and wanted some other truth than what we're given.

Reading the author notes that came with the book, I understood what he was going for and did gain a greater appreciation for it. I almost wish the notes were printed as an afterward, more integral to the work itself, but then, I perhaps could have done with an annotated version from the get-go. Still, the story is engaging, whether or not one fully notices and understands the meaning of the elements involved. And in all, it's a beautiful book and fodder for thought and conversation.

There is a mood and scope that reminds me somewhat of The Illuminatus Trilogy. But everything in "The Cure" is more personal, and seems far more reasonable, and reasoned, until we ourselves are steeped in full-blown delirium and wonder where (or whether) we lost our way. Of course, it's easy to blame the water.

Marais captures the question all adults ponder,"what is life about and what is my purpose?" "The Cure" keeps the reader captivated and curious to learn life's lesson. Drinking the water is quite complex and Marais sends a powerful message to the curious and adventure seeking reader. I highly recommend "The Cure".

THE CURE by Anthony Marais is a thought provoking and imaginative tale of a young man who leaves the familiar, severing ties to home, friends and goals that no longer bring fulfillment.

His searching and drinking of the magical waters of the unknown leads to a very mysterious voyage.

Who among us hasn't fought the battle against losing heart, love and our ultimate interest in soldiering on, longing to just chuck it all and take off? Robert Holsen does just that, walking away from university only to find a deeper loneliness and frustration. Then of course the fun begins and before it's done, brushes the edge of paranoia and madness. We are after all, creatures of our minds and, conveniently or not, they travel with us, even to Germany and the spa city of Wiesbaden. Anthony Marais' handsomely drawn novel elegantly captures the fine line we all walk between reality and madness. It's a great read.

Anthony Marais brilliantly describes the awkwardness and humor of culture clash, the loneliness of running away, and the pitfalls of too much thinking. Robert is a character one wants to embrace yet slap - all at the same time.