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crloken's review
4.0
Oftentimes feels somewhat perfunctory as though McGrath had a couple Lewis essays and was talked into expanding it into a book. There are bits though where he becomes passionate and the whole thing comes alive. At one point McGrath investigates the time of year Lewis converted in an almost Sherlockian manner, which oddly becomes the highlight of the whole endeavor. That all being said, it is a breezy and entertaining biography.
mepitts's review
4.0
Strong with a few challenges. On the plus side, it was thoughtful and dispassionate, generating several new and in some cases startling insights. On the downside, the analysis of the Chronicle of Narnia demonstrated a “literary geekiness” that seemed to lose the main thread of the narrative and sent me flipping to the next chapter. That said, I liked and would recommend this book.
lenavanausdle's review
4.0
I enjoyed this book, you can find my detailed review here: http://www.ucg.org/book-review/book-review-c-s-lewis-life-eccentric-genius-reluctant-prophet/
thegeekishbrunette's review
5.0
I enjoyed listening to the life of one of my favorite authors. I also learned some things I didn't know.
caleb9cccf's review
4.0
I heard McGrath give a talk on C S Lewis as a Christian academic at the Christian postgraduate conference in 2010, and he said that he was working on a biography of Lewis, so I was looking forward to reading it from then on. He doesn't disappoint with this very readable and engaging account of C S Lewis's life.
McGrath makes rather heavy weather of redating C S Lewis's conversion. It's nice to get the date right, but it doesn't really add up to much more than just fact-checking. McGrath doesn't really need this "new" fact to justify another biography of Lewis. That this biography is timely, insightful and a good balance of being sympathetic yet critical is more than enough reason for McGrath to write it, and for anyone interested in C S Lewis to read it.
McGrath makes rather heavy weather of redating C S Lewis's conversion. It's nice to get the date right, but it doesn't really add up to much more than just fact-checking. McGrath doesn't really need this "new" fact to justify another biography of Lewis. That this biography is timely, insightful and a good balance of being sympathetic yet critical is more than enough reason for McGrath to write it, and for anyone interested in C S Lewis to read it.
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