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The story is not as gory as his usual offerings, however it is one of those stories, which plays tricks on your mind - in a sort of ‘Blair Witch Project’ sort of way.
It is about a young couple, wanting to move away from the city, Mike is a session musician and has lived ... Read review
A cottage was found in the heart of the forest. It was charming maybe, a little run-down, ... more
but so peaceful - a magical haven for creativity and love. But the cottage had an alternative side - the bad magic. What happened there was horrendous beyond beli...
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1-5 of 12 reviews of The Magic Cottage - James Herbert
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Let your imagination take you there
Advantages: spooky and full of suspense, not his usual gore Disadvantages: ends too soon, i read it forever.
“A cottage was found in the heart of the forest. It was charming maybe, a little run-down, but so peaceful - a magical haven for creativity and love. But the cottage had an alternative side - the bad magic. What happened there was horrendous beyond belief.” - Is the Amazon.co.uk synopsis of the story.
James Herbert is by far my favourite author and this is by far my favourite book!! I have recently purchased a new copy ... ...do tend to read in the bath so my books all have the potential of a soaking.
The story is not as gory as his usual offerings, however it is one of those stories, which plays tricks on your mind - in a sort of ‘Blair Witch Project’ sort of way.
It is about a young couple, wanting to move away from the city, Mike is a session musician and has lived in the city all his life (so is very unsure about country life) ... more
“A cottage was found in the heart of the forest. It was charming maybe, a little run-down, but so peaceful - a magical haven for creativity and love. But the cottage had an alternative side - the bad magic. What happened there was horrendous beyond belief.” - Is the Amazon.co.uk synopsis of the story.
James Herbert is by far my favourite author and this is by far my favourite book!! I have recently purchased a new copy as my old one fell apart – I had read it too often, and do tend to read in the bath so my books all have the potential of a soaking.
The story is not as gory as his usual offerings, however it is one of those stories, which plays tricks on your mind - in a sort of ‘Blair Witch Project’ sort of way.
It is about a young couple, wanting to move away from the city, Mike is a session musician and has lived in the city all his life (so is very unsure about country life) and Midge (her real name is Margaret) is an artist, she illustrates children’s books and was brought up the countryside, she wants to return to country life and all its tranquility and artistic motivation. Midge has a robust, female agent, who wears brogues and looks very manly. Mike dislikes her at the start of the story – but will he owe her his life by the end?
They have been searching the small ads for quite sometime for a place to live, when they spy an advert for a little cottage. They take a weekend away to go and visit it. To Midge the cottage is perfect. In the middle of nowhere, a car journey to the nearest village, surrounded by woods, peaceful and romantic.
Mike, the city boy, is very unsure but as they look around the cottage Midge starts to persuade him, she sees all the good things and he sees all the bad. He spots that the lintel across the range is cracked right through, there is damp and the kitchen taps don’t work.
However, they soon make an offer and send workmen in before them to set right all the problems. When they go to move in, the day goes well, even the workmen tell them that the bill won’t be as much as they thought as they could not find anything really wrong with house. Mike remembers the huge, dangerous crack in the lintel, which now appears to have healed on it’s own, then with the excitement of the move, he forgets all about it…
The cottage is surrounded by tame birds and wildlife, including a large squirrel, who they name Rumbo. They feed him and he visits the house, chattering to them.
As the book progresses, the wildlife starts to dwindle, Rumbo soon won’t enter the house, and they find baby birds dead on the step…
The moment of Mike hearing the strange noises up in the loft is full of suspense (I won’t say what they are) Midge’s artwork goes from strength to strength – then one of her pictures is mysteriously defaced, did Mike do it? Why would he do such a thing?
And just who is Mycroft, and his followers who live in the big house through the woods? Does Mycroft want the cottage? Or just it’s occupants? Mike is not a man who will follow cults or even delve into his own psyche, Midge on the other hand, has buried stuff from her childhood deep within, and is very much open to getting in touch with her inner child, and slaying her own demons. Mycroft realizes he has a potential convert…Except he doesn’t bank on Mike and his strong love for Midge.
The story builds, through your own imagination, so I believe very much, that you get out of the book what you put in. I re-read the book as I moved into my own little cottage in the middle of nowhere (am I mad?!?!) I have an interest in psychology and the occult, and think all those things added together made the book an excellent read for myself.
I hope I have managed to whet your appetite without spoiling the book too much. My intention was not to tell any part of the story really as you need to get each event in order to get the total spooky effect.
Let your imagination run riot – light candles and turn out the lights when you read it – in the house alone.
Advantages: good storyline easy to read without getting lost, lots of detail Disadvantages: If you are thinking of a bedtime read, think again..youll be there all night
Do you remember the first time you brought your own house? Can you remember what drew you to the house? Was it the number? The Garden? Or was just a gut feeling about the place? Did you fall in love with the atmosphere of the house? Or was it all pre destined? And what as all this got to do with the Magic Cottage by James Herbert? Midge and Mike lived in London and were wanting to move either to the outskirts of London or into the countryside. Midge ... ...leapt out at midge in the national paper. Granmary, the quaint, charming cottage stood out like a fire in the paper, so much so that they had to so and see it. The cottage was set in a small forest, not far from a small village in the New Forest. This fairy tale cottage had characteristics of its own but was very, very unusual. It was a round house. The front facing of the house was square but from one side to the back was round. Built on three levels ...
chrissiepops 28.06.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Magic Cottage - James Herbert
Advantages: Interesting .... ish Disadvantages: Not very scary or fast paced
...to it which is probably the reason why, despite its lack of a real scare factor it does keep you engrossed till the end. This though isn’t because the story is that exciting or dramatic its simply because once you’ve started you just want to know what is actually going on and how does it end.
The story itself centres around a cottage in the countryside and 2 main characters, who, after looking for a retreat from the big city life chance upon what ... ...and in fact for the first few weeks everything is indeed idyllic with only the occasional “unusual” incident to worry about. These doubts mean nothing at the time but later when the real story starts they come to realise their significance.
James Herbert does do a good job (as is always the case) of introducing and thereafter building up the characters so that you feel as if you know them personally. In this case however I think he probably goes ...
Mickm9 20.12.2000 (17.12.2000)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Magic Cottage - James Herbert
Advantages: It's By James Herbert Disadvantages: Quite Frustrating
...well, telling you all about the 2 main characters, Mike and Midge (her real name is Margaret). They both live in the 'big city' but want a slower paced life in the countryside to help with their work. Mike is a musician and Midge is an artist.
After a lot of searching they finally agree on a beautiful, yet rundown cottage in the middle of nowhere. On first viewings of the cottage Mike finds an awful lot wrong with it and gets the builders in, but ... ...animals that like to visit the 'magic' cottage, there are two main characters here also, a little bird and a little squirrel (Rumbo), there are various other animals who also like to visit.
As the story proceeds we learn more about Mike and Midge's relationship and how their talents flourish while living in the cottage, paintings coming to life, music flowing beautifully, etc. There is however something in the attic, but I will not spoil this for ...
purplifried 02.01.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of The Magic Cottage - James Herbert
Advantages: Pure fantasy, real magic Disadvantages: far too short
The Magic Cottage is my personal favourite book by James Herbert. It is an extremely atmospheric story featuring a cottage deep in the heart of a forest.
James Herbert is said to be the master of the genre, and only Stephen King overtakes him in the publication of new novels. James Herbert has written many other novels; some have been made into films. Other novels written by James Herbert include: The Rats, Lair, Domain, The Fog, The Survivor and ... ...of the book, Mike and Midge, going to view the Magic Cottage (called Gramarye in the story). At first, Mike is apprehensive about the move into such an isolated cottage; Midge’s enthusiasm soon wins him over. Soon after moving in however, strange things start to happen: animals pay unusual visits, bats appear from nowhere and peculiar magical things occur. This is all very bizarre for the new residents of the Magic Cottage but they soon find ...
TOLDYOU 16.09.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of The Magic Cottage - James Herbert
Advantages: A brilliant example of Herbert at his best Disadvantages: Some may not the lack of gore
...Gramarye, a little cottage in the English countryside, it is as if a spell had been cast upon them. Granmarye is everything they ever dreamed, and they thrive in its atmosphere. everything is perfect, never more romantic. It seems as if the house has an energy of its own. It is truly a dream come true. Midge and Mike find out about Granmarye's former owner, and thing start to get interesting. They soon discover that a strange cult lives not far from ... ...friendly? A shift in the atmosphere in the cottage takes place. As you get into the book creepy and weird things begin to occur in the cottage. A change is beginning to take place, Midge's and Mike's Dream starts to become a nightmare
. This was the first James herbert book I read, I have since read all his books, and wait eagerly for the next. I recently re-read the Magic Cottage and forgot just how it grips hold of you. Its a very well written ...
fairymist 04.08.2006
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Advantages: Plenty of twists and turns, and surprises. An easy imaginable place. Disadvantages: Very Similar too many of his others novels.
Having read ALL of JamesHerberts Books. The Ghosts of Sleath was a very good read but not unlike his others works.
If you enjoyed The MagicCottage, Once and Nobody True then you'll love it! Its not quite as fast and compelling to read as '48. But it takes the place of the awful films they put on now adays.
The story continues from JamesHerberts 'The Haunted'.
It takes the Story of David Ash a Psychical reserchers on from his meeting at Edbrook house, and how his story continues. The nightmares and atmosphere thats he feels again rises for him to find the turth once again for the village of Sleath.
When David Ash Arrives at the village of Sleath and automatically feels the burden that holds this Village, the truth evades him, and sends me all over the village looking for the Truth. With shocking accidents as the villagers are ...
Three new James Herbert backlist titles Creed, the Magic Cottage and Shrine join the other audio titles already available. 'We thought we'd found our haven, a cottage deep in the heart of the forest. Quaint, charming, maybe a little run-down, but so peaceful. The woodland animals and birds couldn't have been more neighbourly. That was the first part of the Magic. Midge's painting and my music soared to new heights of creativity. That was another part of the Magic. Our sensing, our feelings, our love for each other - well, that became the supreme Magic. But the cottage had an alternative side. The Bad Magic. What happened to us there was horrendous beyond belief. The miracles, the healings, the crazy sect who wanted our home for themselves, the hideous creatures that crawled from the nether regions, and the bats - Oh God, the bats! Even now those terrible things seem impossible to me. Yet they happened...'
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