I just finished reading The Prestige by Christopher Priest. 
Let me start off by explaining why I picked this book to read. To be completely honest, I wanted to read the book before I saw the movie. About a month ago, I saw a trailer on Geekdrome for The Prestige. The problem with seeing a trailer on Geekdrome, is that you cannot hear it, due to the too guys talking about it. I stopped Geekdrome and downloaded the trailer. That day I ordered the book from Amazon. I have a bad habit of wanting to read a book before I see a movie. For some reason I cannot do it the other way round. Now, I had not seen the trailer for a few weeks, when I started the book, unfortunately I had see advertisements for a similar looking film called the Illusionist starring Ed Norton. Thus in reading the book, I was constantly imagining Ed Norton as one of the characters, even though the part is played by Hugh Jackman in the film. But I digress…
The Prestige is an interesting book. It is all about magicians at the turn of the 20th century, but it never gives away any magical secrets. That was not the reason I was reading it, I wanted a good story. I was not disappointed. I enjoyed the book thoroughly, but I will admit that in the end, I felt like there should have been more. The story is in a general sense about a feud between two families, and about how it starts with two stage magicians in the late 1800s. Most of the story takes place in the late 1800s, and is told from the point of view of both magicians via memoirs. Not wanting to reveal too much, I will say that the story is compelling, but in some parts it could get bogged down.
I recommend reading it, I don’t think you will be disappointed.
After I finished the book, I went back and re watched the trailer for the movie. Already I’m seeing some differences in betwixt the novel and film. The film still looks good, but it also looks like it has been “hollywoodized”. Regardless, I think the movie will be good. I hope I can come back in a month or so when the movie is out and vindicate myself. Knowing my luck though… 
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