Weaving together her own life as a reader and clive staples lewiss life as, among other things, a reader, a writer, a christian, a veteran of world war i, a friend to j. Nov 25, 2008 the magicians book is the story of one readers long, tumultuous relationship with c. It tells the story of quentin coldwater, a young man who discovers and attends a secret college of magic in new york. Lewis narnia as a childand then felt betrayed and duped when, as a teen, she realized that the stories she adored could be read as christian allegories. I was intrigued into reading laura millers the magicians book. Raised in a large catholic family in california, she found a new world inside that novel and its six companions. Articles by laura miller slate journalist muck rack.
The novel received critical acclaim, and was followed by the magician king in 2011 and 2014s the magicians land. I loved the narnia books as a kid, but felt rather betrayed when i learned they were generally seen as blatant christian propaganda. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The best bits of miller s study develop an idea of the narnia books as a sort of sketchmap of the strange mind and preoccupations of a man who, whatever else he was, was certainly a passionate. Enchanted by narnias fantastic world as a child, prominent critic laura miller returns to the series as an adult to uncover the source of these small books mysterious power by looking at their creator, clive staples lewis.
Winter my friends ask me if i am happy to be back in new york city. Critic laura miller, who writes about literature for publications like salon and the new york times, discovered that the hard way. The magicians book, by laura miller the new york times. The magicians book by laura miller collected miscellany. The magicians book by laura miller little, brown and company.
One is being reminded of exactly how blissful it felt to be a child in the thrall of a book. A skeptics adventures in narnia, laura miller explores her responses to the chronicles of narnia as a child enthusiast, a maturing apostate and an adult. A skeptics adventures in narnia because my own experience was similar to hers. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. The magicians book paperback december 2, 2009 by laura miller author. Lewis given a copy of the lion the witch and the wardrobe by a school teacher she dove in an entered a new world. The magicians book is the story of one readers long, tumultuous relationship with c. Enchanted by its fantastic world as a child, prominent critic laura miller returns to the series as an adult to uncover the source of these small books mysterious. Its the first book by the cofounder of, laura miller, who continues to write extensively about books for salon and other magazines. A skeptics adventures in narnia is a combination of reading memoir, biography and literary criticism in which laura miller recounts her childhood passion for c. Laura miller claims that narnia is her favourite book and isnt even able to understand that it is not only an allegory. The chronicles are merely a religious allegory and about as interesting to the nonbeliever as a cruise ship sales brochure is to a man determined never to leave dry land.
She also tackles lewiss christian themes and his perceived racism, sexism, and elitism headon, writing. Dec 02, 2009 the magicians book is the story of one readers long, tumultuous relationship with c. More exactly, it is a series of familiar essays the chapters are partially independent discussions. I have read and reread this series more times than i.
The heart of the book is in the firstperson passages where miller recalls longing to both be and befriend lucy pevensie and extols narnias shining wonders. The other is watching miller find her way back to narnia as an. The magicians book, lauramiller shop online for books. Confessions of a comma queen, which i begin reading when ice is still collecting on the east river. In the magician s book, an attractive stew of biography, critical analysis, readers notes, and fan mail, critic and writer laura miller details her lifelong love affair with the seven novels that make up c. Conversational, embracing, and casually erudite, laura miller s superb long essay is the kind that comes along too rarely, a foray into the garden of one book that opens to the whole world of reading, becoming in the process a subtle readers memoir, and manifesto. The magicians is a new adult fantasy novel by the american author lev grossman, published in 2009 by viking press. I was intrigued into reading laura miller s the magicians book. Laura millers most popular book is the magicians book. Laura miller s book is a wellwritten, extended familiar essay in its discussion of lewiss narnia books, with many related materials.
The magician s book is the story of one readers long, tumultuous relationship with c. Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders. Laura miller has 41 books on goodreads with 8558 ratings. Laura miller the magicians book 1st edition 1st printing ebay. I had a voyage of the dawn treader cake for my sixth birthdayand i still have my coverless copy. Conversational, embracing, and casually erudite, laura millers superb long essay is the kind that comes along too rarely, a foray into the garden of one book that opens to the whole world of reading, becoming in the process a subtle readers memoir, and manifesto. Enchanted by narnias fantastic world as a child, prominent critic laura miller returns to the series as an adult to uncover the source of these small books. She is a cofounder of, where she is currently a staff writer, and is the editor of the readers guide to contemporary authors. Romances with books can be just as rocky as the human variety. The magicians book by laura miller the readers advisor. The magicians book, lauramiller shop online for books in. At which point, though it hadnt been obvious at all to me when i read them or, rather, had them read to me. The good condit skeptics miller, narnia, in adventures laura laura adventures in magicians skeptics miller, condit a narnia, the book.
The magicians book a skeptics adventures in narnia by laura miller. Tolkien and the partner of a woman 20 years his senior, miller illuminates not only the chronicles of narnia, but the nature of reading itself. Lewiss sevenvolume chronicles of narnia and they are legion will find much to enjoy in this unusual book of literary commentary. The magicians book by laura miller things mean a lot. As a child, laura miller read and reread the lion, the witch and the wardrobe and its sequels countless times, and wanted nothing more that to find her own way to narnia. A skeptics adventures in narnia reprint by miller, laura isbn.
A skeptics adventures in narnia by laura miller at indigo. The chronicles of narnia is a beloved classic of fantasy literature. Aug 11, 20 the magicians book by laura miller posted on august 11, 20 by kerrynwh a very readable and enjoyable reflection on reading in general and the chronicles of narnia in particular. A skeptics adventures in narnia by laura millerjenny turner finds love and longing in one critics study of. Laura miller can trace her own bespellment to a particular book, and even a particular moment. Then comes this sickening new idea, that the narnia of all that has gone before is only a shadow of a copy of something in aslans real world, a platonic paradise, as laura miller puts it. Laura miller the magicians book 1st edition 1st printing. I worked with mary for five years at the new yorker, deciphering her handwriting on proofs at all hours during my interminable years on the night shift. Laura miller is a literary critic who was raised a catholic in the california desert and studied literature at the university of california at berkeley.
Laura miller examines how the chronicles of narnia shaped her imagination. She is a cofounder of, where she is currently a staff writer and is the editor of the readers guide to contemporary authors. Laura miller s most popular book is the magicians book. A skeptics adventures in narnia the emerald city book. As an adult skeptic not in sympathy with the christian themes in the chronicles, miller returns to examine them with a critical eye. Millers book about reading reawakened the joy that reading narnia as a child brought me. This book is for anyone who loved narnia as a child and was horrified. Lewis the chronicles of narnia, her disappointment and sense of betrayal when she became aware of the christian symbolism behind the series, and finally. Lewis is much like that of laura miller, which she describes in the magicians book. Enchanted by its fantastic world as a child, prominent critic laura miller returns to the series as an adult to uncover the source of these small books mysterious power by looking at their creator, clive staples lewis. Her reluctant reconciliation with lewiss and narnias imperfections never quite manages to be convincing, but anyone who has endured exile from narnia will recognize and appreciate many.