The Magus by John Fowles: Greek Rituals, Salads & Mystery

Every culture has its own way of questioning reality. The western world speaks of a great illusion, like a mind trick played to all of us, and usually does not offer solutions or positive perspectives to this hypothesis. The eastern world has always made a distinction between the spirit and the material world, speaking of interconnectedness in terms of energy, as everything being one, and the illusion of separation. You might condense it to the same idea of being tricked into believing what you see, or you might choose to transcend it as a wave of energy and not care if the sky is really blue or not, as long as the perception of colour makes you happy.

Have I confused you ? Well, that’s nothing compared to the novel I’m bringing to you today. John Fowles has written one of the most confusing stories I have ever read, and still manages to keep the reader hooked until the end. Welcome to another dimension. The Magus.

The story in one phrase :  On a small greek island, in the middle of the Aegean Sea, an English teacher meets a mysterious and wealthy Greek intellectual, fascinating at first, but rapidly embarking him in a psychological game, with no winners of loosers. 

How does it make me feel : Confused and thirsty… Even the memory of the book is envelopped in a crushing heat, a blinding sun light, and a feeling of utter bewilderment. Half way through the novel, I feel like the only way I can enjoy it is by letting go…

Top 3 details

Exceptional sense of suspense. There is no need to sing the praises of an already world famous writer. And still, I wish to leave here a trace of my admiration, for this is not usually the kind of novel I turn to. John Fowles has a sense of the crescendo that I find mesmerising. Not to mention the structrure of the plot, to sustain this slow and steady mystery.
The fascination of culture. I was born in 1927, the only-child of middle-class parents. I was sent to a public school, I wasted two years doing my national service, I went to Oxford, and there I began to discover I was not the person I wanted to be. I had long before made the discovery that I lacked the parents and ancestors I needed. So when a young man with high aspirations meets an intellingent, charming, mysterious man, that offers stimulating conversation in an idyllic scenery, the fascination overpowers reason. A situation that occurs more often than we think, in friendships, in romantic relationships…
The art of lying. Don’t get me wrong, lying is bad. But some people know how to lie with such precision and research, it seems not only true but convincingly undeniable. Such is the case in the novel, and I find it interesting to observe, as usual, not being directly involved in the story, so as to learn to identify great deceivers in every day life. Mastering the art of lying while staying honest, now that is a challenge !

My favourite character : Difficult to choose, as the book only has only 3 main characters, and honestly, non of them impress me to the point that I could call them favourite… One is foolish and clueless, the other is weak and easily manipulated, and the third one, while impressive in his intelligence, has a shadow of evil in every phrase or action. So for once, allow me the Joker card, and I shall choose John Fowles as my favourite identity in this whole scenario. His vision of the plot, the details and the gradual suspense in conducting us to the end, are actually quite remarcable. And to think it was a first novel…

Yin/Yang : I would say it is a Yang novel, living in a delusion of a Yin intention… The Godgame started by Conchis, no matter the final goal, is intrusive and mentally violent at times, with a strong disruptive energy. A Yang illusion…

Favourite Quote : 
“The human race is unimportant. It is the self that must not be betrayed.”
“I suppose one could say that Hitler didn’t betray his self.”
“You are right. He did not. But millions of Germans did betray their selves. That was the tragedy. Not that one man had the courage to be evil. But that millions had not the courage to be good.”

Life Lesson : Choose your mentors carefully… we live in a society that values knowledge above kindness, and competition above empathy. I do not think one, or the other, are the solution, by themselves. Can we really ignore a toxic personality, only because we value its knowledge or talent ? A question to ask ourselves before we put any one person on a pedestal…

Why you should read it : As an adventure thriller, or as a cautionary story, you should read The Magus for its power to completely occupy your mind. And for the Greek background of course. But I would’t take it to the beach, instead, read it at home, when you miss summer and you want to bring the beach to you…

The Ritual

The Magus is not a sunny happy book, the subjects debated are deep and the mystery is sometimes heavy. But the beautiful thing about John Fowles’ writing is that he manages to describe a general scenery that is quite pleasant. After all these years, I still think of it as a greek infused summer moment. So let’s get into the atmosphere with some well picked rituals.

The perfume of summer

Every woman has a scent that reminds her of summer. Even the classic, faithful to one fragrance for lifetime, type of woman, likes to indulge in a summer treat for the senses. And it is well known that a classic perfume with a high acohol content can cause pigmentation under heavy sunlight. So my choice for an instant moment on a Greek island, is the Karma body mist by Rituals. It has the freshness of white tea and the depth of holy lotus, to transport you into crystal clear waters, and give you a moment of summer, all year long. The alcohol free formula is safe for your hair as well, so you can have a whiff of that island every time you move. This is not a perfume I would wear all year round, but it certainly is the scent that transports me instantly to a sunny beach.

A Greek salad with a twist

One of the most memorable sensation that the novel imprinted in my mind, is the constant, suffocating heat. So you cannot dream of anything better than a fresh salad to munch on in the shade, and enjoy the crisp delight. And who can say greek salad without feta cheese. Today, I decided to mix sweet and savoury, and pair the strong-headed feta, with some watermelon.On a bed of peppery roquette, treated with the respect of some olive oil and cream of balsamic vinegar, I place the watermelon cubes, fresh from the fridge. Then, the moment of tactile pleasure arrives, as I crumble the feta cheese with my fingers, straight onto the salad. It falls in heavy white lumps, the essence of the Greek spirit, a condiment, a full meal, a cheese from the Greek Gods, the perfect companion of rich black olives, fruit of the burning sun. The combination is simply exquisite, a salad to satisfy your appetite, to quench your thirst and to bring Greece a little closer to home. Once you finish eating, you are ready to get back to the novel and find out more of the thrilling plot.

The beauty ritual of a Greek Goddess

When it comes to skincare, I have tested many trends and brands. And while I find home-made cosmetics to be an instantly gratifying project, not all products are equal to their store-bought equivalents. So while I keep getting my serums and creams in French pharmacies, I like to play around with home made face masks every once in a while, because nothing says at-home-spa better than a face mask.
The yoghurt mask has been around for centuries, so we tend to lose sight of its benefits with time. But what better opportunity than reading a novel set in Greece, to test out a greek yoghurt face mask. The lactic acid naturally present in yoghurt helps to gently exfoliate the skin, and to better hold on to moisture afterwards. I mix in some colloidal oatmeal, but you can simply grind some oat flakes in your food processor. It is one of the most soothing ingredients for an type of skin. Add a teaspoon of honey for extra hydration and antibacterial properties, and you’re set. Spread it generously over your face and neck (the greek yoghurt is thicker so it will not drip as much), and lie down for 15 minutes, with your eyes closed, while you listen to the cicadas outside, and the distant music of an island tavern…

For some, Greece is familiar territory, last year’s holiday and the best calamari they ever had. For others, it is a mirage, constructed from books, pictures and sounds, some culinary discoveries made in distant lands, and the idea they have of Greek culture from music, mythology and an innate curiosity. It is more research than experience, but a tribute nontheless to this ancient culture. I hope you have enjoyed these few greek inspired rituals, and that they will make your summer evenings more pleasant.

Until next time, enjoy your reading and your rituals !

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