The Magicians

At this point in the novel, it's unclear whether Lev Grossman will choose to explore the personal growth of her characters. At page 47, this book just seems like Harry Potter with expletives. It's also interesting how Quentin periodically refers to Fillory. This sets up a timeline in the book where there are already childhood novels about Fillory, and then Q goes to magic school. Similarly, the Narnia books were written first in which a group of young children happen to go to a foreign magical place where they assist the good in claiming control from the White Witch just as the Chatwin kids go to fight the Watcher Woman and claim control of the lands. Harry Potter was written well after C. Lewis' novels... but this novel even references Harry Potter. How curious, why reference Harry Potter but not Narnia when the Fillory novels seem to practically be the Narnia trilogy. Anyone else think of Harry Potter 5th novel when he's all angsty when reading The Magicians? Litterally, these kids are depressed, self-loathing, blaming, competitive dolts. Why does Grossman choose to make Quentin so miserable? The back insinuates this is a "coming-of age" novel so how will Q change? Also, could he have shown a strong character growth with the character being happy? This novel makes me think of the Alchemist in which the character greatly differs from Q, but similarly grows into an adult. The difference is that the other boy is relatively happy his entire life. I found that that book was written to be read by younger as well, but that it wrestled with particularly hard concepts and came to resolutions chapter by chapter. Very useful if you read for introspection and inspiration. The Magicians however, takes the entire novel to really learn anything - but I guess that's how it actually happens. It takes a lot of time, a lot of mistakes and the looking back on everything to come to conclusions to face the future.