This month im pleased to welcome you to the discussion for the magicians lie by greer macallister. The action of the magicians lie alternates between a single night in 1905, with arden imprisoned by officer holt, and the story of her life that arden is telling him, which ranges over a number of years. One night in waterloo, iowa, with young policeman virgil holt watching from the audience, she swaps her trademark saw for a fire ax. The magicians lie is a rich tale of heartstopping plot turns, glittering prose, and a cast of complex, compelling characters. A female illusionist is questioned about a murder in macallisters debut, set at the turn of the 20th century. When ardens husband is found lifeless beneath the stage later. The magicians lie greer macallister, 2015 sourcebooks 320 pp. Mitchell gave a strange introduction promoting automatic writing the stories anthologized included the infinite worlds of maybe by lester del rey, a horse for running buffalo, adapted by frank adamson from a story by madeline freeman. Greer macallister the amazing arden is the most famous female illusionist of her day, renowned for her notorious trick of sawing a man in half on stage. The novel the magicians lie by greer macallister tells the story of a female illusionist who falls under suspicion for murder when her husband. Erika robuck, author of call me zelda and fallen beauty the magicians lie is riveting, compelling, beautiful, frightening, evocative and above all magical. The magicians lie by greer macallister published by sourcebooks landmark on january th 2015 genres. The magicians lie was a thrilling book about a female illusionist, who is well known for her trick of sawing a man in half.
Because the weather outside is frightful, and an engrossing, fastpaced novel is so delightful. In the magicians lie, ardens story is a pleasure to read, especially because the reader, just like virgil holt in the story, is caught up in wondering how much she. In the magicians lie, greer macallister has created a rich tapestry of mystery, magic, and lost love. If you are the publisher or author of this book and feel that. The magician s lie by greer macallister is a spellbinding tale. With each twist and turn, i found myself more drawn into the world of the amazing arden. One night in waterloo, iowa, the amazing arden, one of the first american female illusionists, mesmerizes her audience with the classic saw. I really only picked up this book to see how redundant the title was. Greer macallister handles the reader with the command and brilliance of a world class ringmaster. The magicians lie book club guide ideas a note to the book club leader. The magician s lie is a rich tale of heartstopping plot turns, glittering prose, and a cast of complex, compelling characters. At the pinnacle of her career, an early 20thcentury magician known as. Magicians lie by tradeillusion, fantasy, carefully drawn scenarios with precisely chosen wordsso ill admit. Janesville, iowa, police officer virgil holt worries that an injury could mean the end of his law enforcement career, but a stroke of luck offers hope.
Chapter 1 takes place in waterloo, iowa, on july 23 1905 at six o clock in the evening. Nancy simpsonbrice, book vault the magicians lie is riveting, compelling, beautiful, frightening, evocative, and above all magical. The magicians story is one of heartbreak and the unexpected and when curtain fell, i had my mouth open and shock etched on my face. Water for elephants meets the night circus in the magicians lie, a novel in which the countrys most notorious female illusionist stands accused of her husbands murder and she has only one night to convince a smalltown policeman of her innocence. I enjoyed the questioning and trying to get into a world of magic was no easy feat. Would you consider the audio edition of the magicians lie to be better than the print version. The book starts with one of ardens most amazing illusions followed by a murder, and from that moment on, the reader is mesmerized by the amazing ardens magical tale. January, 2015 set in the early 20th century, poet greer macallisters haunting first novel is a compelling mystery. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the magician s lie.
Thriftbooks sells millions of used books at the lowest everyday prices. Praise for the magicians lie will surely capture the imagination of all readers waiting impatiently for the next water for elephants. Will a magician ever reveal her secrets even when her lifes at stake. The amazing arden is the most notorious female illusionist of her day, renowned for sawing a man in half. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The amazing arden is the most famous female illusionist of her day, renowned for her notorious trick of sawing a man in half on stage. I was first drawn to this book because it was pitched as a cross between water for elephants, which i really enjoyed, and the night circus, one of my absolute favorite books. By the end, the reader is left wondering what is real and what is illusion. The magicians lie is a mesmerizing novel of illusion, secrets, and suspense.
Did you find one storyline more intriguing than the other. I originally ran into this strange, twisted little book with its crimson cover stained by the innocence of a hidden dove and was transfixed by book of the month club guest judge whoopi goldbergs remark on the book. Water for elephants meets the night circus in the magicians lie, a debut novel in which the countrys most notorious female illusionist stands accused of her. The amazing arden is the most famous female illusionist of her day. The magicians lie is the story of the amazing arden, caught and interrogated by a young policeman on.
By turning a spotlight on travelling magicians at the turn of the twentieth century america, and then by making the central protagonist a young woman, the magicians lie by greer macallister has crafted a unique story. But, as readers know, outlandish is a magicians goto tactic. The magician s lie is a mesmerizing novel of illusion, secrets, and suspense. Whatever you believe at the end, the journey will have been well worth it, for the magicians lie is high entertainment. Greer macallister a debut novel in which the countrys most notorious female illusionist stands accused of her husbands murderand she has only one night to convince a smalltown policeman of her innocence. The magicians lie by greer macallister is a spellbinding.
Holt meanwhile was an interesting character whose story weaved into that of the magicians. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. Suspense, magic, romance, mystery and memorable characters are just a few of the elements found in greer macallisters masterful debut novel the magicians lie. The magicians lie audiobook greer macallister audible. Welcome to the belated october event of the peanut blossom book club for recovering readers.
Water for elephants meets the night circus in the magicians lie, a debut novel in which the countrys most notorious female illusionist stands accused of her husbands murder and she has only one night to convince a smalltown policeman of her innocence. The magicians lie tells the story of arden the amazing, a professional magician performing around the united states in the early twentieth century and one night in a town called janesville, iowa, when arden is interrogated by a police officer called virgil holt who believes she is guilty of. The magicians lie greer macallister brazos bookstore. This wellpaced, evocative, and adventurous historical novel from macallister, a poet and short story writer, chronicles the career of americas. The magician s lie tells the story of arden the amazing, a professional magician performing around the united states in the early twentieth century and one night in a town called janesville, iowa, when arden is interrogated by a police officer called virgil holt who believes she is guilty of. The magicians lie a usa today bestseller a wellpaced, evocative, and adventurous historical novel. Bring the magicians lie to life for your book club. Is it a new version of the illusion, or an alltooreal murder. This is an independent addition to the magicians lie, meant to enhance your experience of the original book. And as ada, aka arden, talks deep into the early morning hours, the reader cant help but wonder if the magician is telling the truth or if its all a fantastically woven lie.
The magic lie is a cbc television anthology from 1977 to 1979. One night in waterloo, iowa, with young policeman virgil holt watching. If you have not yet bought the original copy, make sure to purchase it before buying this unofficial summary from abookaday. I was enthralled by ardens life, rising as a lovable innocent young girl endowed with artistic gift and her relentless determination to be in the ranks of famous magicians at the turn of the century. Annie philbrick, bank square books, mystic ct like her heroine the amazing arden, greer macallister has created a blend of magic that is sure to delight her audience. Water for elephants meets the night circus in the magicians lie, a debut novel in. I need to thank my bitter skepticism for leading me to this fabulous historical fictionmysteryromance. The magicians lie, by greer macallister the magicians lie, by greer macallister. Water for elephants meets the night circus in the magicians lie, a debut novel in which the countrys most notorious female illusionist stands accused of her husbands murder and she has only one night to. For a book with an illusionist at its heart and lie in the title, adas.
Listen to magicians lie audiobook by greer macallister. One night in waterloo, iowa, with young policeman virgil holt. Water for elephants meets the night circus in the magicians lie, a debut novel in which the countrys most notorious female illusionist stands accused of her husbands murder. One night, with policeman virgil holt in the audience, she swaps her saw for a fire ax. We personally assess every books quality and offer rare, outofprint treasures. The magicians lie by greer macallister book of the month. Raised in the midwest, greer macallister is a novelist, poet, short story writer, and playwright who earned her mfa in creative writing from american university. About the book water for elephants meets the night circus in the magicians lie, a debut novel in which the countrys most notorious female illusionist stands accused of her husbands murder and she has only one night to convince a smalltown policeman of her innocence. Allison pataki, new york times bestselling author of the traitors wife greer macallisters novel will surely capture the imagination of all readers. This quote from jane austens sanditon is rightly placed on the opening page of greer macallisters excellent novel of. The magicians lie by greer macallister is a spellbinding tale. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the magicians lie. The magician s lie, by greer macallister is my latest read, and i loved it.
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