Magnificent Obsession

I first became acquainted with this story in my Rock Hudson phase. The film was glossy, predictable, and gave him plenty of time to brood with that classy face of his. Jane Wyman was a little too old for him but it added validity to the relationship she had with Joyce and her first husband.

The original (this book) was better in several ways. Joyce was much less of a wannabe movie star, Tom existed for much more than legalities, and Nancy's devotion to the family made more sense.

But Helen! I never could quite believe she loved her first husband and that is crucial to the whole story.

Merrick was a little bit more human than in the movie and that I enjoyed. But they insisted on calling him Bobby... so I always thought of him as a child show more (when he's probably one of the more mature characters).

And there was no end to the ellipses. Granted, I have a certain fondness for them myself but not to that extent. They made the text seem disjointed. show less

Good novel of personal reform and spiritual power. I was quite involved with it when I read it back then. Maybe a little soap-opera-like but I loved the mystic or magical-seeming part.

If you like reading with a dictionary beside you then this book is for you. I think this sums up just what I was saying: "he was by no means an intellectual coxcomb or a solemn blatherskite with a fondness for big words and an itch to achieve the reputation as a savant. Phew.

Oh, and you'd have to like disjointed stories as well.

The Magnificent Obsession is a story written and published in 1929 about a man named Robert Merrick and his journey to becoming a doctor. Along with this is the real focus of the novel, the love story development.
I found the timeframe most interesting. Taking place almost a century ago, the setting is modern, but it really felt like a time-travel in that the customs and manners are so different from now. Cars are referred to as coupes, for example. Luncheons are prepared and served. And the freedom to be involved in another's personal affairs with no one knowing about it is surprisingly easy and unencumbered. Life changing decisions were made about some characters without them being aware of what was going on at all. I am old enough to show more realize times have changed over the last hundred years, but just how, so directly, gives pause to consider. It was a charming diversion for me. I am drawn to think that novels I might read now or in the future could possibly be kept within this time frame. I don't know how to describe the ambience I found there. It had the feeling of twilight in the evening, where everything looks and feels strangely unreal, yet you know it is real.
This novel was made into a movie and then remade again in the 50's. Also written by this author are two that are probably more familiar through Hollywood's accomplishments: The Robe and The Big Fisherman.
It was a different way of envisioning what I read,, a very enjoyable experience. I would recommend this to those who like a good story with an old romantic movie flavor. It's a light, relaxing read that doesn't require much at all from it's reader yet is very satisfying. show less

This is an excellent book, and well worth reading more than once. It is an incredible story of the search for forgiveness, and the giving of it. The characters are believable, the emotion is raw. This is one of those books that changed my life.

I really liked the first half and I was willing to follow along with his beliefs and overlook the bad aspects of this novel, but when he started trying to pass his beliefs off as science I gave up.

If you like reading with a dictionary beside you then this book is for you. I think this sums up just what I was saying: "he was by no means an intellectual coxcomb or a solemn blatherskite with a fondness for big words and an itch to achieve the reputation as a savant. Phew.
Oh, and you'd have to like disjointed stories as well.