Customer Reviews

Third Wish

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

It took me a while to give this book a fair and considerate read. I have to admit that at first I really did not like it. I hated many of the character's names (and still do) and I had problems with the incomplete sentences and the unorthodox indentations. It can work when done correctly but I thought that the author was trying too hard to break the rules without having a reason to. Frankly, the whole book seemed pretentious and self-important. If it wasn't for the commitment that I made to truly review the book I would have given up on it half way through the first volume. However, as I stuck with it I began to be interested in some of the characters (I really liked India-What and cared about what she said). Still, I always felt like a lifelong carnivore sitting down to a gourmet vegan dinner. As good as it is I still crave butter and meat.

Third Wish has elements from several different books, the most obvious is Alice in Wonderland with it's nonsensical phrases and silly lines such as the Jumwillies or the unusual conversations. The Rabbit costumes and the rubber noses are just a few examples of the peculiar behavior of the characters in this book. Many of the conversations (O-K, most of them) where written in a style that I have never heard anyone use in real life. It could be that the author wished that people talked more like his characters than they do, I for one don't.

All of the attention to what I can only describe as "artifacts" (such as the unusual gifts that some of the characters send to each other) in the book really made me become more and more aware that this book is not written for someone like me, however I know of several people who would love it. Maybe someone who is into Deepak Chopra or other writers of new age spiritual thought would find this book deep and full of meaning. I am much too pragmatic for Third Wish, but it could possibly appeal to someone with more developed spiritual sensibilities than I. The author can cook, I just don't care for his type of food.

Out of respect for the author and for Amazon.com, I read the two volumes completely and listened to the CD all the way through. I am being generous in giving the story and the CD three stars. I couldn't get the point of "Third Wish" which is a story-within-a-story and eventually a play-within-a-story-within-a-story. As such, the novel is more than somewhat labyrinthine. It does have some philosophical gems embedded throughout--and these I valued. But I did experience sensory overload from all the content and was glad to have finally finished with the book--except for writing this review.

This story will take a lot of time for most people to read and assimilate all the content. Some parts of the novel flow faster than others; in other parts some of the characters can't seem to shut up. I did not like any of the characters named Alice nor Alice-Alice, or whatever. They cannot seem to decide who they are or who they want to be. The Alice persons seemed so scatterbrained that I lost interest in what I perceived as their phony-baloney actions. Seemed to me that so much of their behavior was just an act.

I liked Alex best of all. He seemed authentic. I could even visualize a person like Alex as being among my own friends. I also liked Kostas. Again, he seemed authentic.

Almost from the beginning, before I began to dislike the story, "Third Wish" reminded me of three very different types of books and/or authors that I enjoyed from earlier readings. The first that popped out at me were the Griffin and Sabine books. It seemed to me that Griffin and Sabine were witnesses to each other. The next that came to mind were those by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. His stories are certainly labyrinthine and fascinating. And finally, "Travels with Charlie: In Search of America," by Steinbeck. Charlie, the pet dog, was Steinbeck's witness in my opinion.

I found the CD boring: Guess I was looking for lively Zorba-the-Greek style music.

I did agree with the author's description of three wishes, since I have experienced what he describes. First: Make a wish. Second: Oh, boy! Wish gets granted! Third: Try to extricate yourself from the damage that has been done to your life by the wish having been granted.

To conclude on a lighter note, I really did chuckle at the definition of savoir-faire and e-mailed that definition to friends--who e-mailed back asking for the novel's title. Perhaps they will post more-positive reviews of "Third Wish."

Third Wish is a unique experience. The story is obviously a long one, but one that needs to have an audience. The accompanied music is very important to the story, as it shines a brighter light on the participating characters. I have thoroughly enjoyed the adventures of Max-Pol, Alex, Alice, Kostas and Wonko. The adventures of Dog and Alice-Alice were not as exciting to me, but of course I was missing my friends by the time we met. Since Third Wish is so unique to me, I really have nothing to compare it with, though I have read hundreds of books. Third Wish stands alone, not only as a story, but as an adventure. The adventure seems to be an external one, a record of trips and happenings. Along the way you realize that another adventure has already started in the readers mind. This journey is not into just the characters, but the world in which the characters exist. I had to remind myself that the adventures of the "Jumwillies" takes place in the present. The wonderful places and experiences they enjoy and share keep me thinking that they are living a thousand years ago. I yearned for the peaceful and fun trips they were having, as well as the silence that only a comfortable friend can provide during a visit. I would have enjoyed being a Jumwillie, sharing their laughter, stories, and emotions. I'm sure the Freudian experts would have a lot to say about the story within a story within a story. Of course, by doing so they would miss the entire point of Third Wish! For in the end, we are as readers only a witness.

Though we can share in the telling of the many stories that the novel reveals, we are reminded that we are not being witnessed ourselves. We are bound to the characters by their stories, but as we know, some secrets must not be told. Thus, we are left with only one truth...

Nobody knows what the Jumwillies know.

I would describe Third Wish as a journey into the intimate lives of characters that enjoy the simple pleasures that life can bring...though most of us do not see them. These characters however have conflicts and dilemmas along the way. Third Wish is, above all, a journey. A journey of history, friendship, laughter, love, peace, sadness, and finally understanding and acceptance.

Third Wish stands alone among the hundreds of books I have read. It is unique in many ways, and the level of intertwining of characters and stories is rare in my opinion.

To Mr. Fulghum, Thank you for the enlightenment, enjoyment, and your gift of many stories in Third Wish. I find myself thinking of taking a walk with a friend and playing my own version of left right surprise. I think of visiting Crete one day, and enjoying the simple pleasures that Alex and Max-Pol experienced. I think of the many simple pleasures that in a busy world are forgotten. The idea of retroactive wishes should not be taken lightly, and I hope to be reminded of them in the future.

Third Wish is a multi-genre reading and listening experience that operates and works on several different levels.

The book is a novel, and yet in reading it and listening to the accompanying music CD (original music by the way, tied specifically to points in the book) it also is a work that encompasses the culture, music, art, architecture and society of a Greek Island. Add to that, a very well written and introspective moving through the lives and relationships of the protagonists and you have a feast for the heart and intellect that is rarely seen in fictional literary works.

It may seem odd, but this reviewer found the experience more than a little reminiscent of the classical volumes of Will and Ariel Durant in some ways. See particularly The Story of Civilization, Vol II: The Life of Greece by Will Durant.

Of course those elements are not the primary focus, but the background information and research that went into this book represent a similar thoroughness and attention to detail that sets the tone and context of this work to a remarkable degree that I've never observed in a formal fictional genre.

Add to these elements, Fulgham's introspective and spiritual approach to the characters and relationships he builds upon and you have again, a very remarkable and unique book.

5 Stars. I recommend it heartily.

Bart Breen

The Third Wish is a uniquely imaginative reading experience, unlike any other. Delving into this adult fairy tale is a mind-blowing experience, since it awakens brainwaves long forgotten and engages the senses of imagination. A basic understanding of mythology is helpful in order to grasp the full concept however. I found the journey interesting, intelligent, unusual and intriguing to say the least. The characters are wonderful and will fascinate you throughout the entire series. I was drawn to the ever-changing Alice who has a way of mesmerizing us as she morphs from one interesting characteristic into another. Be forewarned, the experience of reading this saga will be a lengthy one, although it is one you can relish for years to come.

I would describe Third Wish as a tale of personal adventure and discovery, filled with interesting characters and a unique storyline. It's a book that a reader must pay attention to while being willing to delve into the inadequacies of one's own literary education to appreciate fully. It is a book to savor and linger within. Complete with a CD of music that is contained in the book we are allowed to hear the musical voice of the characters and this opens up a new way of relating to them.

I am reminded of a few books as I read Third Wish, mainly spiritual adventure sagas like "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho and "Siddhartha" by Hermann Hesse, with a touch of whimsy from "Alice in Wonderland" thrown in for good measure. Had I ever perfected my knowledge of Greek literature I imagine I would find similarities in these as well, much like a modern voyage towards finding oneself.

Fulghum's writing style is absolutely enthralling and the fact that he has taken my mind to places I never before thought I would be intrigued by deserves applause. The addition of music to the experience is like taking a reader's mind into a film setting without the help of actual video so the reader must rely heavily on one's own imagination; it's a brilliant concept of true delight!

Though I had no experience with Robert Fulghum's writings, I was excited to read the 900-page Third Wish after receiving Amazon's strong recommendation "based on books you've purchased that we feel are comparable to Third Wish". I tried repeatedly to get into this massive novel, giving it several hours of effort, but couldn't stay interested enough to make it past page 224. I enjoyed the first few chapters but soon tired of the slow, tedious pace and never developed an interest in any of the main characters. Fulghum spends verbose pages recounting Alex and Max's trivial discussions of Cretan trivia or the contents of packages mailed by Alice to Max. With several more attractive options on the shelf, picking up this book again grew tougher until I abandoned it completely. I also did not enjoy the accompanying CD of bland instrumental music. A paean to the author's part-time home of Crete, I would recommend this book to anyone with a passion for the island or planning a holiday there. I admire Fulghum's ambition in crafting such a massive tome but unfortunately would not recommend this to a friend.

As Alex Evans explains it, speaking of Edward Lear, "Lear was able to look at the world with open eyes and laugh at his preposterous place in it. He had the capacity to hold open house to all the characters on the stage of his inner life, and let them come and go at will. . . . Nonsense fills the void between what you want to say and what you can say. Mr. Lear was the master of this fine art."

Evans (real name Alexandros Evangelou Xenopouloudakis) is one of a triad of original characters whose goings and comings are central to Fulghum's ambitious two-volume work. The story begins with the mysteriously lovely Allyson Octavia Riley "who often tried out new names when she was traveling." A chance encounter with Max-Pol Millay, a medical doctor on his way to Crete after the death of his wife and unborn child, sets the story in motion. What Millay wants is a Witness, someone who is not a lover or even a chit-chatty friend, who will observe his life. He wants to know he is being known.

Enter Allyson, or Alice as she is called in the books, to whom Max-Pol sends journal entries, the "Cretan Chronicles" of his meetings with interesting people. Alice, living for a time in Paris, does not need to respond, but she does, with curious envelopes and little packages filled with any number of trinkets with resonance to Max-Pol's life. Max-Pol, somewhere in his 40s, also befriends Alex, a man still vital in his 70s or 80s, with whom he shares talk of philosophy, religion, and history.

Slowly, relationships among the three deepen, but that is not necessarily a good thing for Alice and Max-Pol; they both realize they can't be lovers. Alice spends several weeks with the older Alex and finds something that transcends simple love.

But there are strange turns ahead in the story, a kind of play within a play within a play. In Part Five, the real author of Third Wish, David Daniels Doggett, says to an actress playing Alice that "the whole novel is about surprise," and so it is. Max-Pol's "first wish was to have something end." His second is exile - "another life." The third is for a Witness, but as a character he little realizes the band of Witnesses ranged around him - the readers. The intricate story, replete with line drawings and a "music companion CD," integrates the author's love of words and lists and nonsense, to explore the nature of being human, finding oneself and learning that doing so means one must give oneself away.

It's a different kind of human story, not about love so much as what it means to be human, a story of three friends haunted by mystery. The reader becomes ravenous for the author to explain things, which he obliges, but slowly. Along the way are lessons in history, philosophy and religion, on art and Japanese tattoo that enrich the characters without slowing the story. It's a book of surprises.

The postmodern frame of the novel comes as a shock, though it helps explain the air of impending--not doom, exactly (though there is doom), but a kind of expectation that something beyond the comprehension of the three friends is about to be encountered.

The book is reminiscent of Atonement as well as Don Quixote. The Alice books (Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass are frequently invoked in the story, and the heroine is named Alice) play a role, as does the work of Edward Lear.

I'd ask the author how autobiographical the "author" (Doggett) is, and where the idea of wanting a Witness to one's life originated. I'd ask him his own religious views and the significance of Max-Pol's emergency baptism by a Greek Orthodox priest during Holy Week. A resurrection to new life? I'd tell the author that I appreciated his love of lists and wordplay, but that I found it difficult--since this is no ordinary love story--to engage viscerally with the characters. There were no tears on my part; should there have been?

I read about 15 books a month, you do the math; of various genres. But this was one of those books where I both wanted to keep reading and stop and the same time. I truly ingested and digested every chapter of this book. Incredible. I fell in love with the characters,,,,,,,,,in all their facets, the author and his uncanny ability to create such viable and exotic story lines and the art, history and poety of this book.
A MUST read,,,,,,and read again, I found myself making notes on his prose and insight repeatedly. More so than any other book I've read.
Perhaps a cult fashioned book, exploring the known and the unknown. The riddles of life and living and death and dying.
I'm hooked. I'd recommend it to any and all,,,,,,,,
Shelly Rollins

The boxed and weighty, two volume set of "Third Wish" by Robert Folghum fills out some of the short stories told in his book, "What on Earth Have I Done?: Stories, Observations, and Affirmations," and also sojourns on into new territory as well.

A "peculiar sojourn" is an apt description of this work.

I would like to believe that this epic, human, exploration of relationships and place is as much fact as it is fiction. My hope is that many of the characters are fictionally enhanced versions of real Folghum friends and acquaintances. By observing the weaving of their life's journeys to discover, I wished to also become fictionalized and perhaps reserve a table near-by to overhear a meeting of the Jumwillies.

The physical book and accompanying CD are a joy to hold. The double thick stock and variety of sparsely and lushly drawn illustrations make the reading experience well worth the weight of each volume.

This is not your typical Folghum tale. It is rich in detail and delicious in its intricacies.

If you have a fondness for peculiar people and circumstances, then you will find a banquet of possibilities that will be very satisfying for your reading consumption. Take your time and enjoy the journey, because even with both rather large volumes, alas the tale ends far too soon.

Well done Mr. Folghum! I've greatly enjoyed our time together and I am much richer for having "witnessed" your story.

Thank you.

Andy Dix,
Author/Motivational Speaker
"Life Matches: Fire Up Your Life!"
[...]

I had never read any works by Robert Fulghum before. I think I was put off by the titles: they sounded like vaguely new-age self-help pablum, and I had no time for that stuff. And when "The Third Wish" arrived, the author's name was simply "Fulghum". It seemed anonymous, unconnected.

The characters first drew me in. They were realistically enigmatic, if that makes sense. And Alice and Alex were drawn with the Richard Feynman "what do you care what other people think" attitude which compels attention. Max-Pol was less interesting, but essential: in spite of what he said, he was the witness, to both Alex and Alice: he was their audience, their motivator. In the fifth part, everything collapses on itself in simplification: Alex and Alice into Alice-Alice, Max-Pol into the author.

But it was not the characters which spoke to me most strongly. It was the words, and the places. And each seemed to have been chosen just for me, personally. It was quite uncanny, and emotionally startling.

Words first. As a small child, fifty years ago, my most cherished book was "The Complete Nonsense" of Edward Lear. I delighted in the absurdity, the playfulness, the exotic imagination, and the reassuring calm of his verse and stories. We begin to learn our language through nonsense and play, and English (and Irish!) writers have exploited the primal nature of word play for the last 150 years. Lear, of course, and also Lewis Carroll, whose characters and ideas lie just below the surface for much of the book and burst forth at the end.

Ah yes: that ending. "Jabberwocky". When my children were small, I would turn out the light and recite "Jabberwocky" in a suitably horrid and sepulchral voice. Every time I see my autistic grandson (too infrequently, alas), he and I curl up in a corner so that I can recite it to him - something I've done ever since he was 6 months old. These poems are enormously important to me, and encountering them in this book in this way was almost shocking. OK, everyone knows "Jabberwocky", but how many still think of Edward Lear?

Then place. Crete and Giverney are depicted with love and respect - homage, if you will. And Japan: well, I've always loved the country, and found myself comfortable in Alice's company. But then there's Oxford and Seattle. While I have never lived in Oxford, my mother has made her home there for the last 35 years, and I have come to think of it as the nearest thing to a place I can call home. And for the last two years, my address has been an apartment in Seattle. So I've strolled along the banks of the Cherwell, watched the narrow boats, supped ale in the pubs that Alex and Wonko frequent. I've walked the streets of Queen Anne, and had an espresso in the Caffe Ladro. I find myself seeing these places anew, through the eyes of the characters (and thus through the eyes of the author). It's weirdly unsettling. Too personal. Was this book written for me? A fantastic thought crosses my mind: that I might be a character in the "Third Wish" - or perhaps the book is an element in the unwritten story of my life. Entangled. Left, right, surprise.

OK, enough of this egotistical thinking. Back to the book.

How would I describe "Third Wish" to a friend? With great difficulty, as you may have gathered. It's unique - a horribly overused term, but literally true. It's a fictional, and metafictional, exploration of how one learns and understands ones life through interactions with others. Learning about art, and music, and history, and science, and work, and sacrifice. It's about trust, and loss.

Would I recommend this book to a friend? Unequivocally, yes. I would caution them to be prepared to invest some time for this book: I took two weeks over the first volume, simply because I couldn't absorb it any faster. (On the other hand, I read part five at a single sitting.) Several of my friends have expressed impatience with the fashion for metafiction; I would ask them to refrain from classifying "Third Wish" in any particular way. Structurally, this book works extraordinarily well.

Does "Third Wish" remind me of other books? Well, yes - but not because of similarity. It evokes strong feelings, which are associated with other books I've read, by Gerald Durrell, Graham Green, Kenneth Grahame... But "Third Wish" is "sui generis".

What would I like to ask the author? Apart from "how did you know all my personal buttons to push"?! I think I'd ask if "Third Wish" worked out the way he wanted: does he accept the "life sentence"? And I'd ask why he felt it important to include the music, and how he would like to weave the literary, visual and musical elements together if he could command technology to do his bidding?

What would I tell the author? Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. It's a wonderful book. And, in the spirit of "All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten" (which I've now started reading), I would encourage him to revisit "Third Wish" at some point, to add or change things without hesitation. It's a never-ending story.

One final, strange personal connection. When I was seven years old, I visited the Botanical Gardens at Kew in London. I was fascinated by the Ginkgo Tree, its status as a living fossil, and the unique shape of its leaves. My mother indulged me, and bought a ginkgo for me. I planted it in our small front garden, and cared for it until we moved away when I was 12. There are ginkgos on the streets of Seattle, and in the pages of "Third Wish". I find this delightful.