47 pages 1 hour read

Ann Patchett

The Magician's Assistant

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1997

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Before You Read

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

In The Magician’s Assistant by Ann Patchett, the protagonist, Sabine, navigates grief and love after the death of her magician husband, Parsifal, who she later learns has hidden his true origins and surviving family in Nebraska. After inviting them to Los Angeles and subsequently traveling to Nebraska, Sabine uncovers painful family secrets while forging new connections, ultimately finding a renewed sense of self and belonging. The book includes descriptions of anti-gay bias, domestic violence, and physical abuse, and contains discussion of AIDS and its related social stigma.

Reviews & Readership

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Ann Patchett's The Magician's Assistant is widely praised for its lyrical prose and deeply emotional narrative. Reviewers appreciate its exploration of love, loss, and identity. However, some find the pacing slow and the plot occasionally predictable. Overall, it is celebrated for its rich character development and evocative storytelling.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Magician's Assistant?

Readers who enjoy The Magician's Assistant by Ann Patchett are often fans of magical realism and deeply emotional narratives. They might also appreciate books like The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern or Bel Canto by Ann Patchett, which delve into complex relationships and explore themes of love, loss, and self-discovery.

RecommendedReading Age

18+years

Book Details

Genre

Magical Realism

Topics

LGBTQ

Themes

Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Emotions/Behavior: Grief

Emotions/Behavior: Regret