Customer Reviews

Magician: Stories

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4 star:		(0)
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These stories are deceptively complex and strange. They seem, on the surface, to be almost ordinary, but they turn in ways you cannot anticipate. It's not until you've finished the story that you begin to understand the remarkable experience you've just had. I really love this book.

There's really no better word to describe these stories. Turchi has the extraordinary ability to lead the reader in one direction, only hinting at the true significance, until the end where you just have to sit back, drink a cup of coffee, and reflect on the flow, pacing, and characterization that foreshadowed the conclusion of each fantastic tale. Each story is about people we relate to, about situations we understand, and yet they are filled with illusions and trickery, aptly enhancing the collection's title and the uniqueness Turchi offers to the short story genre.

The writing itself is well thought out and satisfying, but hard to place. It's intelligent and timeless like Hemingway, but crisper like Capote, and much more modern, like a Koontz or somebody. Additionally, at nearly 20 years old, I was surprised by how relevant this collection was. The characters aren't running around with cell phones, but other than that they are the same people I know today, they share similar feelings and emotions as myself and people I know. They even seem trendy at times! You understand them, and for this collection, it's important.

Overall, I can't go on enough how much I enjoyed reading these short stories. "Alligator" was my personal favorite of the bunch, but "Everything I Need" "False Spring" and "Restless Sleep" were close follow-ups and all were enjoyable in some way. Short, sweet, and artistic, reading these stories remind us why not so long ago it was books that inspired us and were the topic of discussion as opposed to internet and the movies. Much to the dismay of my friends, I found myself spouting on and on about "Alligator" and how shocked I was at the end. Maybe my friends would be less annoyed with me had they read it, too.