The Magician's Book - contest -interview-review

The Magicians Book, A Skeptics Adventures in Narnia, by Laura Miller.

Once again thank you Miriam from Hachette for sending the book for review.

First of all:

We have some fun stuff going on with the Promo for this book. Check out this photo contest on flickr.

Secondly:

Check out the Live Interview with Laura Miller here:
DATE: 12/4/2008 10:00 AM PT (one hour)

Thirdly:
A Giveaway! Yep, Hachette is letting A Circle of Books host a giveaway.

Giveaway Details:

Please leave me a comment about my review by December 9th and you will be entered into a random drawing for a free copy of this book.
Open to US and Canada.
Must have an address (no P.O. box)
Please provide a way to contact you if you win!


My Review:

This book is a very in depth look into Laura Miller's long standing relationship with the Chronicles of Narnia. She explains her first reactions, her disappointments and then her reconciliation of the books to her own heart and soul.

It is a "deep" outstanding literary conversation. I have to say a few times I was like "what?" and I had to reread because for me at times it was a very academic read. I hate to say "over my head" because if I read carefully I was able to digest what is being conveyed. I am a firm believer that if you want to get something, just read slowly and aloud if necessary. I admire someone that can take their first reading experience and follow up with a complex and literary experience that can fill up a whole book.

She also ties in her disappointment with the Chronicles with her disappointment in some religious teaching in her life.

I thought this book was going to be a fictional story, so I had to readjust my thinking and brace myself for it. After that I realized that it is more of a literary commentary of books that I enjoyed as a child. There is no doubt that the author is committed to the topic and that she really writes from her heart and her experiences in life that connect to Narnia. And readers that have ever been captivated (obsessed) with a book will really be able to relate to Laura Miller's commitment in writing this book even if their view is different. I have a feeling that there will be varying views on this book.

I believe lovers of Narnia are going to really enjoy quotes and detailed writing from The Magician's Book. There is a lot of food for thought, plenty of issues to debate, and questions to ponder upon. There are a lot of notable quotes and thoughts in the book providing a sound foundation to the writing. But some might say it is over kill. What would I say? I would say it depends on my mood. After I got into it, I read a little each night, I could seriously appreciate the depth... but ask me if I am deep everyday....the answer is NOPE. The book is still by my bed with post it flags markers from my not so "deep" times.

I will also note that personally a few times in the book I felt the disappointment in the author's experience and it was sort of a bummer to me because her experience with Narnia as a "skeptic" was not my experience. My experience was always the surface value of the story. But I still enjoyed the book, the presentation and the academic presentation of opinion. Laura Miller presents a founded literary experience in this book.

Have some fun with the links to Facebook, Flickr, and the giveaway.