The Prestige by Christopher Priest
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Book Reviews of The Prestige
Book Review: Magical Story
Summary: 4 Stars
Monday, January 01, 2007
"The Prestige" by Christopher Priest, ©1995
I was impressed by the style of this book. It was arranged in a sort of odd way, though, on reflection, it really was a good way to present the material.
The story was of a newspaperman being sent out out on an 'human interest' story, finding that the story was a red herring to gets him out to see this Lady. She and he had not known each other before, except for a brief afternoon, when he was too little to remember it, and she was not much older. Both of their grandfathers were magicians in the late 1800's through the early 1900's. There was bit of misunderstanding, a lot of rivalry and bad blood between these two magicians. At first the one is the hero, or good magician and the other is the bad guy. Then, as his side is told, you realize there were some good reasons for the bad guy's actions. Anyone would have felt that way. It gets to be a rather fanciful way of dealing with transportation and transformation.
In the end the 'human interest' was the newspaperman, himself.
Book Review: It's a very unique book, exciting, with passion...
Summary: 4 Stars
This book is about two early 20th Century Magicians who have a dangerous rivalry with one another. The book is dark, but the two characters sway from being evil-natured, to showing some compassion at times. The character of Nicola Tesla (not one of the main characters) is very interesting, and he was a real historic inventor, and figure of the time, his portrayal in this book makes me want to study up on him! Christiopher Priest came up with a pretty original structure to the book, instead of having traditional chapters, the book consists of the diaries of each of the two main characters, and it tells the story from each man's very personal perspective. I found this very interesting because it's a different approach, and Priest really illustrates the unbelievable passion each magician has toward his craft, and toward seeking revenge on his enemy. The book is good, and the movie is even better, yes, this is one of those cases that the film tops the book, but I recommend both!Book Review: More about the spirit than the movie version
Summary: 4 Stars
I saw the movie version first, which is a stunning work of cinema by director Christopher Nolan, and that led me back to the source material by Christopher Priest. This novel is an engaging bit of storytelling even though most will agree it meanders when compared with the movie. Studying them together is a good master's class on the differences between the mediums.
The story of The Prestige is the story of the rivalry between two magicians, Borden and Angier, obsessed with the craft, and their journal entries often serve as the narration. The book has more room to explore and frame the story around the family legacies of the two men, and it also dives deeply into the turn-of-the-century interest in spiritism, which is absent from the film.
Book Review: The movie is not the book.
Summary: 4 Stars
I saw the movie, which led me to read the book. I liked the movie as a movie, but felt that the book was much better. I couldn't put it down. There was a lot of poetic license in the movie, which didn't bother me as long as I separated the movie from the book. I gave it 4 stars, because I was disappointed in the ending. I was left with numerous questions which were not answered.
I went back and watched the movie again after finishing the book. Many of the things made more sense to me then, things that I missed the first and second viewings.
The book is an exciting read. I recommend it.
Book Review: Kept me going . . .
Summary: 4 Stars
so I had to finish it quickly!
Usually books that are un-put-down-able get five stars, but I didn't quite get that nineteenth century feel to the book that I thought. Also I didn't quite understand the ending.
Some readers might figure it out before the book gives the secret(s) away, but I didn't.
Now I can't wait to see the movie!