SPEAKING ABOUT A NOVEL: THIS ROUGH MAGIC

1.      What was the novel about?

“This rough Magic” is an adapted version of the original novel with the same title written in 1964 by Mary Stewart. The novel is set in the Greek island of Corfu and tells the adventures that Lucy Waring lives when she goes there for holidays. There are some murders that she helps to investigate with other people in the island and also there is a love story.

2.      What do you think about the novel?

I think This Rough Magic is an enjoyable book. It had suspense and romance which I really love in a novel. Reading this novel was a good experience because it is not too long and it is not very difficult to understand. Mary Stewart described the beautiful nature of the Greek island of Corfu with so much detail that made me want to book a flight there to go swimming and relaxing with dolphins and handsome Greek man. I would recommend reading this novel This Rough Magic to everybody.

3.      What would you change about the novel or the plot?

I wouldn’t change any part of the novel because I think it has a great story. What I would have like to have is a longer story, especially in the romantic part. Maybe I should have chosen the original version instead of the adapted version.

4.      What about the author?

Mary Stewart, whose real name was Florence Elinor, was born in 1916 in the UK. She is a well-known and popular novelist whose novels have been bestsellers in many countries. Several of her books are set in Greece because it is a country that she knew very well and loved a lot. Her fame was due to her “Merlin Trilogy” which her first volume was “The crystal cave”, written in 1970.

5.      Why did you choose this novel and what is for the next term?

I had bought this novel two years ago when I had the purpose of taking the First Certificate in English exam. The official Cambridge website recommended this novel among others books and I chose this one. In the end I didn’t take the Cambridge exam because it was too difficult for me but I read the novel I really enjoyed it.

For the next term I am going to read a bestseller called “Wonder” written by R.J.Palacios. A good friend of mine recommended me this novel because it is easy to understand and because it is a lovely story. 

6.      What was the most interesting moment in the plot for you and why?

The most interesting moment for me is the end of the story because Lucy appears as a heroine to help to catch the murderer. I also like the end because the love story finishes with a proposal of marriage.

7.      What can you tell me about the characters?

My favourite character is the main character Lucy Waring who tells the story in the book. She is intelligent, brave and an animal lover because there are some scenes involving a dolphin who becomes important for her.