Upon perusing the selection of books, the initial allure of the novel's premise captivated my curiosity. However, as I delved into its pages, I found that despite the book's inherent appeal, it struggled to maintain my interest. It's important to note that this lack of engagement wasn't due to any shortcomings on the part of the book itself; rather, it was a wholly subjective experience. The writing style, although skillfully executed, did not align with my personal preferences, contributing to a disconnect between the narrative and my own literary inclinations.

I think this is an amusing and well written story, a sort of homage to A Congregacy of Dunces.
The plot and the characters are well developed and I liked the story.
I think that the author has potential and will surely deliver other entertaining story.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

If I had the technological capacity to understand and analyse seismic shifts in energy, my reaction to realising something was going to happen to the city would be a lot more alarmist. But when your title character is named Merlin, it’s almost expected that something about him would be a little off.

An eccentric Houston native, old-money-borne Merlin McNaughton spends his days analysing data readings from his house-turned-observatory while navigating his upper class neighbourhood into his handmade tin foil hat. However, his days of reading energy readings come to a halt when McNaughton’s riches — which come from oil stocks — dry up and he is forced to take on a 9-to-5 job in a blimp base for an advertising company.

McNaughton, who not only stands out because of his tin foil conspiracies but also his weight and appetite, now has to navigate everyday life as a working class and “normal” citizen. While exploring his new life, McNaughton realises from his woowoo technology that a gigantic energy shift is going to hit the Earth and that he has to stop it somehow.

I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy of Merlin of the Magnolias from the publishers and just like any other person, I’m a fan of the occasional conspiracy theory. Coupled with the underdog trope, Merlin of the Magnolias seemed to be right up my alley. An eccentric man who supposedly sees things that no one else does has a chance to save the world from almost other-worldly energy and all the while learns how to be a better person? Yes please.

But sadly, that’s not what really Merlin of the Magnolias is at all. While I did like McNaughton — he does fit the gentle giant trope — and found him endearing, the book doesn’t live up to its promises.

The premise of Merlin of the Magnolias was supposed to be around the dangerous energy changes the world was going to experience. McNaughton makes his discovery early on in the novel, right around the time he makes the shift to a “working class’ life. However, the tension for the dangerous 2012-esque apocalypse only starts to build after the thirtieth chapter or so. Up until then, any of McNaughton’s discoveries from his data are quickly pushed aside by another plot point. These plot moments never really have time to take root and develop the fear.

So what about McNaughton himself? If the sci-fi element falls short, what about the character development aspect? Well, even at the end, it doesn’t feel like McNaughton ever actually learns any morals. He doesn’t change emotionally, he doesn’t develop further in his arc except maybe to grow a little closer to his existing friends. Not to say McNaughton had to change his personality for the world, but usually there’s a compromise on both ends; both the world and McNaughton should adjust for each other but in this case, the world just moves on.

Merlin of the Magnolias is also filled with so much purple prose; in one chapter, when Landry introduces a new character, his one paragraph about the character’s green thumb could have easily been an one-liner. In another chapter, there’s a brief description of McNaughton having an orgasm, and — written in the purple prose style — it was disturbing enough I wanted to submit it to the Bad Sex Awards. Please never describe ejaculations as “venusian” because I might never want to have sex again.

The other issue is around how Landry describes McNaughton’s weight and eating habits. Because of the purple prose, I couldn’t decide if Landry was making fun of McNaughton and his own obliviousness around his weight. In multiple chapters, when McNaughton goes to try something new, other characters will exchange side-eyes at him. When McNaughton is introduced to someone new, their first comment is always on his size.

Regardless, Merlin of the Magnolias is funny in a very dry, witty way. McNaughton has such a simple view of the world that even the worst things that happen to him have their silver linings. He never really gets fully knocked down, he’s always ready to get back on his feet and keep moving forward with his tin-foiled interests. There’s a little bit of a Merlin in all of us.

The side characters are also so sweet and steal the scene whenever they appear in the novel. The people McNaughton chooses to surround himself with are kind and wise, and love him fully in his eccentrities. They call him gently out on his bullshit, and find ways to support him without ever having to actually say anything. There’s an unspoken camaraderie between them, even if they’re only friends by proxy.

Merlin of the Magnolias is definitely a book for those who are in the mood for something a little softer and sweeter and maybe a little sci-fi lite. Even though it was not my personal cup of tea, it was definitely worth the read. So keep this book on your list for 2021 releases.

I could not help but compare Merlin of the Magnolias with Confederacy of Dunces. And could not help but see in Merlin the person of Ignatius. Merlin and his story have too much alike with CoD to ignore.

Both Merlin and Ignatius are immense in size and hirsute. Both are well educated and the language each speaks are similarly elevated. Both are eccentric. Both have a fascination with Fortuna, the goddess of fortune. Each plays an antique musical instrument. Each is a voracious eater. Each character is forced to find employment due to financial difficulties. In each story there is a breakup of an illegal sex operation. And both Merlin and Ignatius end up romantically involved.

In matters of fact and appearance both are quite similar. Their situations are similar. The actions of the novels are similar. Yet as regards aspects of character and motivations for actions they are as night and day.

Ignatius demurs while Merlin is demure. It is the “e” that defines Merlin’s differences of character: engergetic, engaged, enterprising, enthusiastic, and efficient. All things that Ignatius is not.

While Ignatius has an inflated sense of self, Merlin has a poor sense of self. Yet, Merlin is quite self-sufficient. Merlin is a doer, and a capable and competent doer at that. Merlin is friendly to others and engages them amiably. He has friends. He accepts people for who they are and not how he would wish them to be. He has purpose and wants to become better and do good. All these characteristics are alien to Ignatius.

Even in something as simple as dress there are differences. Well-dressed, Merlin enjoys matching his clothing to the day and mood. Ignatius seems to have a single ensemble.

Merlin grows and changes throughout gaining a sense of himself as an adult in a real world. Ignatius remains the same till the bitter end. And even though both have a romantic ending. In the end Ignatius finds romance to escape, Merlin finds it to fully engage.

These profound differences of character also shape the reading of the novels.

Merlin of the Magnolias stands in opposition to Confederacy of Dunces. While I struggled with CoD I found myself interested and wanting more of Merlin of the Magnolias. It has likeable characters, engaging story-line, and uplifting ending. Though each is an episodic adventure, Merlin of the Magnolias maintains an optimism throughout. It entertains hope. It shows a character growing into the world and becoming a part of it. It beckoned me.

While these comments above represent a comparative study that would fall apart if imagined, just in case the connection is lost, Landry himself, towards the end of the book, inserts Ignatius into his story, however briefly.

Though not a perfect novel Merlin of the Magnolias kept me reading. I wanted to move through the book and discover how all the parts fell into place and to watch who Merlin was becoming. However, I wished the language were not as adjectivally driven as it was. And though it was good to see those expectations of Merlin (because of how he is perceived) shattered, it seemed that it - computers, fishing, flying, design - all came too easily to him.

At the end of Confederacy of Dunces, Ignatius has failed to change. According to his mother, “You learnt everything, Ignatius, except how to be a human being.” Merlin on the other hand has become fully engaged and fully human.

An amazing story of the coming of age of a man who is better known as the neighborhood eccentric.

Merlin is a man who's hunger for fine eats and runic lay lines, is equaled only by his massive breadth. An outsider to the town of Bayou Bays, Merlin lives in his observatory alone, conducting research on auric fields that drift in and out of the Houston city limits. Funded by stocks left behind for him from a deceased relative, Merlin seems contented with life taking his studious observations. Then he realizes that a massive negative energy vortex is going to come down on his home and all of the people in the town he has grown up in.

Merlin must persist with his endeavors of attempting to combat the giant negativity vortex, all the while, dealing with failing finances, a man with a peculiar name that has it out for Merlin, and dealing with a mysterious Egger that keeps defacing his precious home.

Travel along with Merlin as this most unlikely hero, learns to navigate life and relationships the only way a truly reclusive introvert might. Journey with him through his triumphs, defeats, and as he makes unlikely new friends along his joinery to save his fellow Houstonians. A colorful cast of characters, with even more colorful names, are sure to have you turning page after page of this heart warming tale.