David Bremner reviewed The Magician by W. Somerset Maugham
It grew on me.
4 stars
'I don't know. I have always kept an open mind. There was much to be said on both sides.' Dr Porhoët, supporting character and expert on the occult.
This book achieved something like "suspension of belief", since I was not sure if the lead character was merely charismatic in some weird culty way, or possessed of occult powers until very late in the book.
It took me while to warm to the book. The beautiful young girl engaged to marry her guardian starts things off on a bit of an icky footing, and those are supposed to the the non-creepy characters. It also focuses a lot on youth and beauty in a way that feels quite shallow.