Reading up on Future Readings

I have been considering re-reading, or rather re-reading and finishing, The Chronicles of Narnia. I am not doing this purely for enjoyment and I sometimes wonder if I will enjoy them if I read them now. No friends, I am reading them in preparation for something I am highly anticipating this summer and that is the release of Lev Grossman's second book in The Magicians series: The Magician King.
            I picked up The Magicians on a whim when it came into my work. I had heard about it and the name stuck and I was pretty excited about the buzz about it being akin to Harry Potter. Of course, after reading it I found the only similarity to the Harry Potter books is that there is a school for magicians-there, that’s it nothing else is the same. The Magicians tell the story of Quentin. Who is dissatisfied with the real world and often escapes into a book series from his younger years called Fillory and Further. This series of books are reminiscent of real children’s fantasy: your Harry Potters and Chronicles (which is why I am reading them). His world is turned upside down when he stumbles upon his true reality. He is a magician and he will be going to school to learn how to wield his power.  However, what he finds there is not all that it seems and he will follow a destructive course of action that opens his eyes to something horrible.

                I was surprised by how much I loved this book. Grossman’s work is worded beautifully and well thought out. More than that it is an awesome examination of what high fantasy can do in a person’s life and how perception can be deceiving. I read it in a few days and passed I on to my brother who also read it quickly. I would recommend it not only to people who enjoy fantasy but also people who enjoy examinations of human emotion.