A Maggot

What I love about John Fowles' books is the fact that you never quite know what the story is about until you finish the whole book. As is the case with 'A Maggot'. When I brought the book I didnt know that it would lead me to where is has and thats exactly what you want from books.The other thing I love about John Fowles' writing is it is very intelligent, interesting and insightful . I learnt, imagined and questioned many things while reading this book. I brought this book because I read a review that said something like 'it is the most bizarre book I have ever read'. I dont think it was intended as a compliment but having read that sentence and some of his other works I was sold.If you like John Fowles' other books you will like this one

A strength and weakness of Fowles is he is very much of his time.This allows us insights into the people and relationships of the 50s-70s, as if they were behind glass in a museum.The problem with this book is the vapid pseudo-intellectual nonsense that passes for middle class conversation kills the book. At least it did for this reader, who is really fond of Fowles other works.

This novel held me gripped for half its length. It then started to move into realms of religious discussion and debate, and a central event which is portrayed in many ways, perhaps finally and most satisfyingly in realistic mode (as at the end of The Magus, there is a realistic - albeit unlikely - explanation for all that has happened). The second part of the novel had some interest - but much less, for me, than the opening half.This novel gives us much that is familiar from other novels of John Fowles. Very different perspectives and colourations on life, such as are found in The Collector. A set of events that is unlikely and apparently magical from the standpoint of the central protagonist (as in the The Magus). Multiple stories and indetermination of 'what happened' (as in the French Lieutenant's Woman). All are also present in the much lighter - and very enjoyable - Mantissa.But whereas the first two novels are, for me, unqualified masterpieces, this is sometimes gripping and sometimes, as I've just, just quite interesting. Not then the place to start in reading Fowles. But not unrewarding.

I really didn't like this book. I thought that I liked John Fowles from reading him in my youth, so I decided to download this ebook. All I would say is that there is an underlying good story, but you need a lot of perseverance to get to the good bits. Mostly its hard-to-decipher-18th century speak which just drones on and on without much apparent purpose. Tedious! I persevered to the end, but I was glad when it was finished!

JF on form at the beginning of 1985. A surprising collision of genres. Some history. Some etymology. A detective story told through the witness statements of protagonists reluctantly describing the incomprehensible. A message.