The Magician is one of the best books I've listened to all year. I've always been a fan of Thomas Mann and have read several of his books, but Toibin brings him to life in ways I never would have imagined possible. Can't recommend this book highly enough.

I enjoyed the story very much. The exploration of the author of Death in Venice exploring the life of the author aafter WWII and his immigration to America. I recommend this book for anyone looking for a different kind of story told by a narrator who enjoys getting each character right but able to read with prose and Grace.

I was very excited about reading this book and have been a fan of Colm Toibin's. I won't summarize the life of Thomas Mann here, but my reaction to the book is that Mann never comes to life. Much of the writing was elegant and some of the characters (particularly Mann's wife and a few of his children) were much more alive and interesting, but Mann himself seemed to be detached from so much of life. World War I passes so fast I wasn't sure I had the right war. No matter what's happening in the world, Mann is usually described as retreating to his study. Of course, what he produced while in the study was remarkable enough to win him a Nobel Prize. Your mileage may vary, but I kept waiting for a crescendo or two in this long book.