• The Magician's Assistant

  • By: Ann Patchett
  • Narrated by: Karen Ziemba
  • Length: 11 hrs and 9 mins
  • 3.9 out of 5 stars (2,344 ratings)

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The Magician's Assistant  By  cover art

The Magician's Assistant

By: Ann Patchett
Narrated by: Karen Ziemba
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Publisher's summary

When a gay Los Angeles magician named Parsifal dies suddenly, he leaves behind his heartbroken assistant, Sabine, and a secret past that leads her to Nebraska and a father she never knew he had.

©1997 Ann Patchett (P)2008 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

"The kindliness of The Magician's Assistant is beguiling, and Patchett is an adroit, graceful writer. . . she is especially practiced at the razzle-dazzle of odd juxtapositions." (New York Times Book Review)

"A saga of redemption tenderly and terrifically told." (Kirkus Reviews)

What listeners say about The Magician's Assistant

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    839
  • 4 Stars
    819
  • 3 Stars
    480
  • 2 Stars
    137
  • 1 Stars
    69
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    993
  • 4 Stars
    590
  • 3 Stars
    236
  • 2 Stars
    44
  • 1 Stars
    31
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    669
  • 4 Stars
    612
  • 3 Stars
    399
  • 2 Stars
    147
  • 1 Stars
    65

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent

I can't believe I have not read this book. Enjoyed the story and especially the very rich and complicated characters very much!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

interesting read

This isn't my usual genre, and I didn't expect it to end as it did.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Good points, bad points, but entertaining

An almost 4 star story, a 5 star performance, but a couple of issues I had brought it down to a 3.5 star rating. The most glaring issue, and I think least arguable, is that corny, distracting jazz music between sections. It's horrible! Worse, it's horribly comedic . All I can think of is Chevy Chase in a leisure suit trying to look cool. My other big issue is the ending. The last part of the book, starting with the wedding, seemed rushed and not as well thought out as the rest of the story. But, all in all, an entertaining book and a really good performance.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A wonderfully told story

The Magician's Assistant is an unusual look at the many layers of love and loss. The story pulls the listener or reader in at the open ending and holds tightly through its telling. What an uplifting tale!

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

what happened?

This was a decent book (nothing special) until the end. It seemed to me that the author got bored or tired of writing and so simply ended it. Disappointing...

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

80s news broadcast music ruins the audio experienc

The audio includes jarring, tinny music that plays over the transition between sections. This is so distracting.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Easy to listen to

Well written, excellent narrator. Story line okay- I love Ann Pachett, but this wasn't one of her best.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful story

Great, engaging, original story with charismatic characters. I really enjoyed listening to it. Excellent narration.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Human nature is magic

Another great Ann Patchett story with characters so believable and heartfelt. The shortcoming of the recording is the interstitial music. It’s so odd and jarring. At the end of each chapter, upbeat bebop plays even though the story is an introspective tale about dealing with the loss of a loved one. Sometimes the chapter ends really sad and then in comes the bebop, even playing over the voice of the narrator. Sounds like the production company never read the book or even a summary.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Very Enjoyable. Highly recommended.

The author tells a great story through excellent character development. The performance is engaging and holds your attention.

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