Magic Tricks

First impression:
HORRIBLY written. Sometimes it takes genuine effort to actually figure what he's saying. Mostly, these problems could have been remedied by a good copy editor, but sometimes he's just not communicating clearly. It really seems like what I was reading wasn't the final draft. Maybe not the first draft, but probably the second. I wouldn't be surprised if Jermay wrote the essays and chapters then proof-read them once and handed them in to be published, expecting there to be some sort of editing process and then there wasn't. I mean there are errors a basic spell-checker ought to pick up. Ironically, Jermay spends the first little part of the book emphasizing clarity of presentation while it is difficult to follow what he is trying to communicate.

But, don't let this turn you off, the material that you find later on is worth well more than the asking price of the book. I really haven't enjoyed watching any of Jermay's presentations at penguinmagic.com and I own E.I. and I think that it's not really super great, but when I got to "Touching on Hoy," in 3510, Luke Jermay became one of my heroes.

When it comes to knowledge and understanding of magic and mentalism, Luke Jermay is in a league almost all his own. He puts this knowledge to good use and it shows in "Touching on Hoy."

Second Impression (How did I ever live without Touching on Hoy?):
Let me give you the basic effect. Three spectators are seated on stage and one is asked to think of shape, another thinks of a date, and the third spectator thinks of a name. These really are free choices. You then say a shape, date, and name and the spectators confirm that you are correct.

THE CLINCHER: At no point before you make your prediction/guess/reading do the spectators write down or say what they were thinking of. They really merely think of it. If you want to, you can even have a fourth spectator make the prediction and baffle the audience as the spectators confirm the prediction/guess/whatever is correct.

The method is devious and I love it.

There is a lot more material in the book and it's all quite good. I may not (okay definitely won't) perform everything in it, but I wouldn't consider anything in the book "throw-away material." Luke Jermay deals with instant stooging and other methods of audience manipulation that left me slack-jawed.

I will say, however, that this is not an introduction to Mentalism. A general understanding of the genre/art is expected and 'basics'/'classics' are referenced in it that are assumed to be understood. For example, if it were a book on card magic, it would assume you know what an Ambitious Card Routine is or what Out of this World is without explanation.

Jermay provides references and gives credit thoroughly. He is definitely not trying to boost his own ego and has really tipped his hat on some amazing work-horse pieces.

Overall 9/10. Having the best material I've come across in quite some time, I'd love to give it a perfect 10, but the writing is just so poor I had to take a point off and I was tempted to take off two.

GET IT!