Colm Toibin: The Magician, Viking (Penguin Random House UK) 9780241004616,

 C format Trade paperback, publication date: September 23, 2021

 

To read a new novel by Colm Toibin is always a pleasure, (thank you PRH for the galley) I love his exquisite writing and story-telling. Add the subject of Thomas Mann to his upcoming novel, to publish in September, and you know you are in for a real treat.  

I have to confess I have a hard time reading Thomas Mann's novels although he is one of Germany’s literary greats and a Nobel laureate to top it off. "Buddenbrooks" is still one of the most well-known German classics.  However his very dysfunctional family history and his biography provide fascinating material for several novels.  “The Magician”, as Mann was called by his family members, was an absolute delight to read, loved it.

Colm Toibin’s biographical novel follows Thomas Mann’s actual life very closely; his homosexual tendencies and fantasies which he most probably never acted out provided him with material for his novels causing quite a stir when published.  His sexual preference did not keep him from marrying the much younger Katia Pringsheim who came from a very wealthy, cultured Jewish family in Munich, they had six children over the years and became one of Germany’s most fascinating literary families with Erika, Klaus and Golo Mann their most prominent, outspoken children. All six siblings lived lives which were overshadowed by their emotionally absent, famous father.  As a couple Katia and Thomas remained devoted to each other until his death. The rise of the Nazis forced them into exile several times, first Switzerland, later France and eventually the US where they settled and were given citizenship and then back again to Switzerland.

The novel is not only an extensive, captivating story of their family with Katia the absolute ruling matriarch but also an excellent synopsis of world and German politics during their life time which greatly affected their lives.   The novel centers around Thomas Mann and Colm Toibin’s imaginative dialogues and thoughts are probably very close to what actually happend.. I was often shocked how emotionally inept Mann reacted to all the pain and misery surrounding him, his life focused and devoted to writing predominently.  

“The magician” is definitely one of my favorite literary reads of the year.

 

Richard Osman:The Man who died twice, 9780241425435, C format paperback, September 2021, Penguin Random House UK 

The Thursday Murder Club  with the formidable silver locked gang of four are back :Elisabeth, Joyce, Ron, Ibrahim and their younger side kicks Chris, Donna and Bogdan.  The new sequel" The Man who died twice"  is releasing in September, I  am grateful for an early galley.   

Elisabeth's first husband, like her a former intelligence professional, makes an unexpected appearance begging for help. As it turns out, he has stolen extremely valuable diamonds from the mob and has a serious death thread hanging over his head. 

Richard Osman writes with the same humourous, funny tone I enjoyed so much in the first novel but perhaps the novelty has worn thin with the second, did not quite enjoy "The Man who died twice" as much as the first book. Still an entertaining, funny read  if you want to escape reality.