The Magic Christian (Terry Southern)
by Terry Southern

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Book Reviews of The Magic Christian (Terry Southern)

Book Review: This book isn't the usual 6-and-7--it's a 7 or 11all the way
Summary: 5 Stars

The action jets back and forth to Guy and his two aunts the fuzzy-brained Esther and the pert and serious Agnes, and a history of his antics, which is of course the core of the story.
As for the interludes with the aunts and Ginger Horton, the rational Guy, who doesn't seem to miss much, tries to remain aloof, saying the right words in an off-handed way, and really speaking when the subject turns towards anything relating to business.

The dog show involving the panther, the theatre where Guy shows a cheap foreign film instead of a musical, then reshowing the cheap film upside down, violating copyright laws by making his own film inserts in Mrs. Miniver and The Best Years Of Our Lives, the pygmy who became CEO of an accounting firm, and of course, the chaos that takes place aboard the Magic Christian vessel.

The Do-It-Yourself books are something that might actually catch on, assuming there isn't already something like that out on the market. Purists might cringe but that only proves the follies of being a hardcore devotee. The conventionally wise response is, "Hey, it's only a book," or "it's only a movie..." etc.

The healthy satire of the media that Guy promotes, where actors walk off the set after spouting off words saying "I pity the moron whose life is so empty he would look at this" could be used today. I don't watch any contemporary American TV programs and when I see previews or commercial spots for them, that's what I feel, to use the line from All Our Yesterdays: "Anyone who would allow this slobbering pomp and drivel to his home has less sense and taste than the beasts of the field!"

The humdrum of life should be interrupted by some of Grand's schemes. Smashing crackers on the sidewalk with a sledge, now that's something anyone can do, with a borrowed helmet and overalls. And remember, "It's technical."

At 147 pages, The Magic Christian should be a quick and fun read even for today's illiterati, assuming we can get them to turn off the Stupidbowl, Worm Series, or hide their PS2's.

Summary of The Magic Christian (Terry Southern)

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