The Magician's Book: A Skeptic's Adventures in Narnia

by Laura Miller

Book Overview

THE MAGICIAN'S BOOK is the story of one reader's long, tumultuous relationship with C.S. Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia . As a child, Laura Miller read and re-read The Lion, the Witch and the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0316017639
• ISBN13: 9780316017633
• Release Date: December 2008
• Publisher: Little Brown and Company
• Length: 311 Pages
• Weight: 1.27 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.1" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

They Shaped Who We Are Today

Some might avoid this book when they consider it is written from a skeptic's point of view, and may include criticism of the much loved C. S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia. I thought I might find it offensive, too, but to the contrary, I found it to be quite insightful, thought-provoking, and inspirational. Laura Miller has put together a work of beauty, a feast of childhood memories. The Magician's Book has a spiritual quality--that mystic veil of childhood awareness, the ability to see and sense things adults have long forgotten. It returns us to the books we loved so long ago; and that child-spirit, the essence of something eternal, innocent, trusting, and beautiful. This is a book lover's book, reminding us of the precious volumes which shaped and formed, in large part, who we are today.

Nonbelievers love Narnia, too

In response to readers who feel that the author is negatively biased, I have to respectfully disagree. With the exception of the book's second section, the author doesn't aim to find fault with the Chronicles of Narnia. Personally, I read this book as a discussion on the captivating aspects of Lewis's books; however, as the subtitle suggests, the aspects praised here aren't related to the often-discussed Christian ones. There are plenty of nonbelievers who absolutely love the Chronicles of Narnia, and Laura Miller does a fantastic job of describing why.

Written as well as her subject

A study of C. S. Lewis' Narnia series from an intriguing perspective: that of a nonbeliever. Miller makes it clear in her prologue that she is enthusiastic about Lewis' work but remains unmoved by its Christian message. As a Christian myself, I was preparing for something that was perhaps bitter or deconstructionist, but it is neither. Like Lewis himself, Miller has a talent for presenting a complex subject in a concise and direct manner, well organized and reasoned without being dry. Miller reveals the influences that led to Narnia, from country Irish landscapes to the British Empire's encounter with the Middle and Far East, from boarding schools to medieval cosmology, from Norse gods to Greek heroes. One of the most fascinating chapters deals with the contrast between Tolkien's purist approach to language and culture, and Lewis' more inclusive patchwork: Anglo vs. Irish, Catholic vs. Protestant, one vs. many. She preserves the sense of wonder and mystery of her subject even while she examines its structure and origins, something which is difficult to do at all, let alone do well. I recommend this book highly to anyone who loves Narnia, and would encourage fellow Christians to read it as well. Much of what has been written about Narnia assumes that its magic is only window dressing for the Gospel message; Miller reveals its other richness.

Gorgeous meditation

This is a gorgeous meditation on one person's relationship with a book. It has all the intensity and perceptive observation that we'd expect from an essayist at the top of her form, combined with all the perspective and context that one of our more astute literary critics is known for. Highly recommended.

Bookish girls, unite!

Laura Miller has written a fascinating, wide-ranging, intensely readable book about C.S. Lewis, his land of Narnia, his friendship with J.R.R. Tolkien, the medieval world, and a host of related topics. Like (apparently) quite a number of us, Miller loved Narnia from the moment a teacher handed her a copy of "The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe." Miller was crushed when she learned that it was all a camouflaged version of Christianity, and turned away from the books. But she revisted them as an adult. She's still not a Christian, but she's rediscovered much of what she loved about the books -- and now, as a literary critic, she can do a better job of explaining that. Miller has given herself permission to roam far afield; most of her musings are is well worth reading. Fans of Narnia should enjoy "The Magician's Book."