3.5
Anatomy of a Miracle
ByPublisher Description
“Funny, bighearted...Miles specializes in giving fully rounded humanity to characters who might elsewhere be treated as stock figures...pitch-perfect.”
— New York Times Book Review
"Miles is a writer so virtuosic that readers will feel themselves becoming better, more observant people from reading him."
— Los Angeles Review of Books
A profound new novel about a paralyzed young man’s unexplainable recovery—a stunning exploration of faith, science, mystery, and the meaning of life
Rendered paraplegic after a traumatic event four years ago, Cameron Harris has been living his new existence alongside his sister, Tanya, in their battered Biloxi, Mississippi neighborhood where only half the houses made it through Katrina. One stiflingly hot August afternoon, as Cameron sits waiting for Tanya during their daily run to the Biz-E-Bee convenience store, he suddenly and inexplicably rises up and out of his wheelchair.
In the aftermath of this “miracle,” Cameron finds himself a celebrity at the center of a contentious debate about what’s taken place. And when scientists, journalists, and a Vatican investigator start digging, Cameron’s deepest secrets—the key to his injury, to his identity, and, in some eyes, to the nature of his recovery—become increasingly endangered. Was Cameron’s recovery a genuine miracle, or a medical breakthrough? And, finding himself transformed into a symbol, how can he hope to retain his humanity?
Brilliantly written as closely observed journalistic reportage and filtered through a wide lens that encompasses the vibrant characters affected by Cameron’s story, Anatomy of a Miracle will be read, championed, and celebrated as a powerful story of our time, and the work of a true literary master.
— New York Times Book Review
"Miles is a writer so virtuosic that readers will feel themselves becoming better, more observant people from reading him."
— Los Angeles Review of Books
A profound new novel about a paralyzed young man’s unexplainable recovery—a stunning exploration of faith, science, mystery, and the meaning of life
Rendered paraplegic after a traumatic event four years ago, Cameron Harris has been living his new existence alongside his sister, Tanya, in their battered Biloxi, Mississippi neighborhood where only half the houses made it through Katrina. One stiflingly hot August afternoon, as Cameron sits waiting for Tanya during their daily run to the Biz-E-Bee convenience store, he suddenly and inexplicably rises up and out of his wheelchair.
In the aftermath of this “miracle,” Cameron finds himself a celebrity at the center of a contentious debate about what’s taken place. And when scientists, journalists, and a Vatican investigator start digging, Cameron’s deepest secrets—the key to his injury, to his identity, and, in some eyes, to the nature of his recovery—become increasingly endangered. Was Cameron’s recovery a genuine miracle, or a medical breakthrough? And, finding himself transformed into a symbol, how can he hope to retain his humanity?
Brilliantly written as closely observed journalistic reportage and filtered through a wide lens that encompasses the vibrant characters affected by Cameron’s story, Anatomy of a Miracle will be read, championed, and celebrated as a powerful story of our time, and the work of a true literary master.
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Meet readers like you in the Fable For You feed, designed to build bookish communitiesAnatomy of a Miracle Reviews
3.5
“Anatomy of a Miracle is one of those novels that sneaks up on you. At first, it feels like a simple premise—a paralyzed man named Cameron suddenly stands up outside a convenience store, seemingly healed, with no explanation. But what follows is anything but simple. Jonathan Miles takes that one miraculous moment and unpacks it with depth, compassion, and a sharp eye for the complexities of faith, science, identity, and the stories we tell ourselves.
The structure of the book, written in the style of a journalistic investigation, is clever and surprisingly effective. It gives the novel a sense of realism that makes you question, just for a second, whether what you’re reading might be based on a true story. And all the characters involved in this story—especially Cameron and his sister, Tanya—are rendered with such nuance that their pain, confusion, and quiet resilience feel deeply human.
What I appreciated most was how the novel doesn’t take sides. Is it a miracle? A medical anomaly? Something else entirely? Miles leaves space for ambiguity in a way that feels honest, and the book becomes as much about belief and doubt as it is about healing. It asks big questions but never forces tidy answers.
That said, the prose can be *dense* at times. There are passages where the writing veers into overly detailed digressions—beautifully written, yes, but sometimes so heavy they bog down the pacing. I found myself occasionally wishing the narrative would move along instead of lingering so long in exposition.
Still, the emotional payoff is absolutely worth it. Anatomy of a Miracle is a thought-provoking, moving story that stays with you. It’s about what we choose to believe, how we cope with the unexplainable, and what happens when the world tries to make sense of something that might not have a neat explanation. A little slow in places, but ultimately a powerful and rewarding read.”
About Jonathan Miles
JONATHAN MILES is the author of the novels Dear American Airlines and Want Not, both New York Times Notable Books. He is a former columnist for the New York Times, has served as a Contributing Editor to magazines ranging from Details to Field & Stream, and his journalism has been frequently anthologized in Best American Sports Writing and Best American Crime Writing. He is also the author of a book on fish and game cookery, The Wild Chef, and competed in the Dakar Rally, an off-road race through Africa.
Other books by Jonathan Miles
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