I must say that I do not understand how so many people can read this series in the 21st century without knowing beforehand that it is an overt religious allegory. I knew as much years ago just from the plot of the animated movie, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.

Not wishing to read that kind of book is perfectly understandable, but to then hate read the whole thing and rate it lowly because of being so thick with Christian undertones is beyond my comprehension. However, to each their own. Read what you want, rate it how you feel.

My thoughts: Reading this series as an omnibus was a JOURNEY. As a child, I saw the animated movie adaptation of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and loved it. I watched it every time that I caught it on TV. Later, in 5th grade my ELA teacher assigned us to read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe for class, and the book was great. I always figured one day I would read the full series, and I'm very glad I read all the stories together.

The edition I have includes pictures throughout the book and maps for most of the stories, which I love as a fantasy reader. It also has all the books in chronological order as Lewis wished for people to read them after The Magician's Nephew was published.

The Magician's Nephew excited me as I learned the origins of many elements in the second story I already knew well and loved, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. The Horse and His Boy informed me that the Pevensie children return to Narnia and will likely be recurring characters. What I like most about that one is exploring more of the world outside Narnia itself.

Prince Caspian is a good story with stories within it about the goings-on of Narnia since earlier events, but for some reason it felt quick and a little forgettable. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is easily my favorite (aside from the most well-known story with the wardrobe), because I love a quest type story with various adventures involved.

Having not read the premise for any story before opening the omnibus, The Silver Chair was most surprising with the title meaning being tied to something so specific in the story. Besides Prince Caspian, I felt The Silver Chair was most predictable in pieces.

The final story, The Last Battle, threw me for a loop. Its ending reminds me a bit of the ending for Lord of the Rings in a bittersweet way. Riding off with elves felt comforting in LOTR; killing off the ENTIRE CAST, save for Susan (with scarce explanation) felt disconcerting and like a betrayal and is what keeps me from giving the omnibus 5 stars. I expected a heartfelt goodbye, yet I received a beautiful, heavenly Narnia courtesy of a TRAIN WRECK?! What? Why, Lewis? I'm sure Aslan would have a wise way to answer that.

Great high fantasy with Christian connections for any age to enjoy, comparable to a lighter in tone LOTR. Beware of violence and expect much magic.

Added note: I loved the fourth wall breaks throughout the book. Those made me feel like someone was truly telling me a story.

These are truly the best series of books ever. I had the pleasure of reading them all when I was a preteen, and it was such a wonderful experience. The stories were so engaging and full of adventure that I couldn't put them down. And then, as an adult, I decided to pick them up again, and I was amazed at how much I still loved them. The characters were just as vivid and the plots just as exciting as they were when I was younger.

I highly recommend this series to anyone, regardless of age. Whether you're a child looking for a great adventure or an adult looking to relive some childhood memories, these books are sure to delight. So go ahead and give them a try. I promise you won't be disappointed.

I am Caspian, and I can't wait for you to discover the magic of these books for yourself.

The Magician's Nephew and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe initially seemed to deserve a 2.5-star rating based on my enjoyment. However, as I delved deeper, it first became boring and rambled on. Then, it took a turn for the worse with sexist, overly religious, and racist undertones.

My childhood instincts were spot-on. I absolutely hated being compelled to watch episodes from the TV series in elementary school, and I could never understand why. (After all, adult me enjoyed Disney's 2005 remake.) It turns out that even young me couldn't tolerate the paper-thin, brainwashing religious "metaphors" and "allegories."

People comparing him to Tolkien? That's a big yikes. Lewis' world-building, storytelling, and structure are both subpar and all over the place, especially when compared to Tolkien. (Though it is somewhat decent for kids' literature, minus the inelegant attempts at brainwashing.)

All in all, I've wasted over 700 pages worth of time that I'll never get back.

Oh, and the ending was both extremely dark and a total cop-out.

THE MAGICIAN'S NEPHEW
I read this on 10 October 2017 and gave it five stars. It is tied with LWW as my favorite of the series. I absolutely loved this peek into Digory's childhood. It was so fascinating to see how he came to be involved in the magical world of Narnia. The story had a wonderful sense of adventure and mystery that kept me hooked from start to finish.

THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE
I read this on 29 November 2017 and also gave it five stars. I would've sworn I'd read this years ago, but perhaps I only had memories of our school librarian reading it to my class in elementary school. Revisiting this classic was such a treat. The characters and the world of Narnia came alive in my imagination once again.

THE HORSE AND HIS BOY
I read this on 28 December 2017 and gave it three stars. It was a short excursion into the lives of other inhabitants of Narnia. I liked Bree and Shasta, but the story didn't quite have the same magic for me as some of the others in the series.

PRINCE CASPIAN
I read this on 10 January 2018 and gave it four stars. It is my second-favorite after The Magician's Nephew and LWW, and I have to give some thanks to Ben Barnes in the movie for adding to my enjoyment. The story had an exciting plot and some great character development.

VOYAGE OF THE DAWN TREADER
I read this on 20 January 2018 and gave it four stars. Eustace wasn't my favorite character, but I loved Caspian and Reepicheep. The adventure on the high seas was full of excitement and danger, and the ending was quite satisfying.

THE SILVER CHAIR
I read this on 30 January 2018 and gave it three stars. I definitely warmed up to Eustace more in this one, although Caspian's storyline made it unexpectedly sad. The story had some good moments, but it didn't quite measure up to some of the others in the series for me.

THE LAST BATTLE
I read this on 10 March 2018 and gave it two and a half stars. In my opinion, it wasn't the best way to end a classic kids' series. As with Dawn Treader, it was very abrupt and extremely on-the-nose with regard to the overtly Christian allegory. This book alone made me glad Pullman's HIS DARK MATERIALS series exists, whether as a rebuttal of Narnia or not.

And for all the gatekeepers on Amazon saying the series ought to ONLY be read in publication order because that's how TRUE Narnia fans know it to be: y'all can fuck off.

I tend to have a profound aversion to books that are thinly-veiled allegories. However, this particular one merits a level of vitriol that very few books manage to evoke in me. I truly despise this series with a passion. It is incredibly sexist and racist.

In one instance, Susan is cast out of paradise simply because she experiences sexual growth (and develops an interest in "nylons and lipstick"), which is an inevitable and natural step in most people's lives and something that should be celebrated, not punished.

In some of the other books, Lewis demonizes and stereotypes characters who are clearly Middle Eastern, dismissing their god as evil and malignant.

Then, the series concludes with the dreadful death of all the children, after which they ascend into some Platonic Narnia. It is creepily disturbing and sends the message to children that death is preferable to life. Lewis subscribes to a type of Christianity that terrifies me and then disguises it in allegory and presents it to children. This underhanded attempt at ideology-pushing is truly despicable, especially when the ideology demonizes girl children for the simple act of growing up.

  The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe:

5/5 stars
This classic tale takes readers on an enchanting adventure. The four Pevensie children discover a magical world through a wardrobe. The story is filled with excitement, danger, and the power of good versus evil. C.S. Lewis's vivid imagination brings Narnia to life, making it a must-read for all ages.



  



See my review here!





  Prince Caspian:

4/5 stars
In this installment, the Pevensie children are called back to Narnia to help Prince Caspian. The story is full of action and adventure as they fight to restore the rightful king to the throne. Lewis's writing is engaging and the characters are well-developed.



  



See my review here!





  The Voyage of the Dawn Treader:

5/5 stars
The third book in the series follows Edmund, Lucy, and their cousin Eustace on a magical voyage. They encounter strange islands, talking animals, and face many challenges along the way. This book is a thrilling adventure that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.



  



See my review here!





  The Silver Chair:

4/5 stars
Jill and Eustace are sent on a quest to find the missing Prince Rilian in this exciting adventure. They must face many dangers and overcome their own fears to succeed. The story is filled with mystery and magic, and Lewis's descriptions of the underground world are vivid and imaginative.



  



See my review here!





  The Horse and His Boy:

3/5 stars
This book tells the story of Shasta, a young boy who escapes slavery with his talking horse, Bree. They embark on a journey to Narnia, where they become involved in a war between the Calormenes and the Narnians. While the story has its exciting moments, it doesn't quite reach the same level as some of the other books in the series.



  



See my review here!





  The Magician's Nephew:

4/5 stars
This prequel to the series tells the story of how Narnia was created. Digory and Polly are two children who accidentally discover a way into other worlds and end up in Narnia. The book is full of interesting characters and magical adventures, and it provides a fascinating backstory to the rest of the series.



  



See my review here!





  The Last Battle:

3/5 stars
The final book in the series brings the story of Narnia to a close. As the end of the world approaches, the characters must face their greatest challenges yet. While the book has some powerful moments, it also feels a bit rushed in places. Overall, it's a fitting conclusion to the series, but not one of the strongest entries.



  



See my review here!

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by CS Lewis is an outstanding book within his Chronicles of Narnia series.

This series vividly portrays Christianity through a variety of fantasy creatures. For example, God is depicted as a talking Lion. It's truly a wonderful series.

After reading this book, what child hasn't climbed into a closet and explored the back corners, hoping to discover an entrance to a new and exciting world? I, for one, used to sit in a closet with the door closed and a flashlight, reading my favorite books from this series, imagining that one day a door would open and transport me to another realm.

Certainly, the white witch is my favorite character. I've always been drawn to the bad ones. The Lion, Aslan, is also a remarkable character. However, I must admit that knowing he was an analogy for God slightly changed my perspective on the story and left me a bit disappointed. He seemed a bit cheesy or perhaps typical is a more accurate description. Which is why I almost wish I hadn't known the true meaning of the books until after I had read them.

In any event, the stories were excellent, with the first one being the best. (As the children grow older, you always lose a little of their naiveté.) But the movies also did justice to the books. Reading them again as an adult, I found myself a little bored, but still overall enchanted with the series.

The next movie is set to be released soon, and I can only hope they will continue to make such incredible movies. I highly recommend this series and consider it a classic.

ClassicsDefined.com

As a pre-teen or young teen, I made the decision not to read these books because I thought they had an excessive amount of magic. Yes, those who know me well might be in shock! I felt that they weren't Christian enough for my liking. However, now I have come to love them. Let's cue the quotes.

"But it is not, as some people think, an allegory" (“Letter to Sophia Storr,” in The Collected Letters of C.S. Lewis, vol 3, 1113).

"You are mistaken when you think that everything in the books ‘represents’ something in this world. Things do that in The Pilgrim’s Progress but I’m not writing in that way" (Walter Hooper, Literary Criticism, 426).

According to Lewis, an allegory is “a composition (whether pictorial or literary) in which immaterial realities are represented by feigned physical objects, e.g. a pictured Cupid allegorically represents erotic love (which in reality is an experience, not an object occupying a given area of space) or, in Bunyan, a giant represents Despair” (“Letter to Mrs. Hook,” in The Collected Letters of C.S. Lewis, vol 3).

Nevertheless, just because they aren't Christian allegories doesn't mean they lack all Christian meaning. Instead of an allegory, Lewis refers to the books as a "supposal".

"I did not say to myself ‘Let us represent Jesus as He really is in our world by a Lion in Narnia’: I said ‘Let us suppose that there were a land like Narnia and that the Son of God, as He became a Man in our world, became a Lion there, and then imagine what would have happened.’ If you think about it, you will see that it is quite a different thing." (Walter Hooper, Literary Criticism, 426)

"If Aslan represented the immaterial Deity, he would be an allegorical figure. In reality however he is an invention giving an imaginary answer to the question, ‘What might Christ become like if there really were a world like Narnia and He chose to be incarnate and die and rise again in that world as He actually has done in ours." (“Letter to Mrs. Hook”)

Personally, I much prefer this view of the Narnia series over the allegorical view. It is completely different from other allegories I have read, such as Hinds' Feet on High Places and The Pilgrim's Progress. There are several elements in the books that don't function as allegory, including Aslan representing different aspects of the Christian God but not the trinity, the existence of multiple other worlds, the various ways of accessing and leaving Narnia, the presence of mythical creatures, and even Father Christmas. In conclusion, I prefer to view these books as fantasy stories with Christian elements rather than as allegories. I love these books, as does my husband. We even have an audio book version that we used to listen to frequently, although unfortunately, we have fallen out of the habit. No doubt, we will read these books to our children or simply play the audio version for them, hoping to pass on our love for the series.

I have completely lost count of the number of times I have read this series. It was my absolute favorite during my childhood, and even now, I still find great pleasure in getting lost within the enchanting world of Narnia.

It is truly a delight to revisit the characters once again. I continue to hold a special fondness for Peter and Lucy. There is just something about Lucy - the way she manages to retain her childlike sense of wonder is truly captivating.

I also have a soft spot for the characters from the first book, Diggory and Poppy.

Regarding the ending of the last book in this series, I'm not entirely certain how many of the new generation would be receptive to or approve of it. I know that as a child, I was perfectly content with the ending in the last book. However, times have changed, and perhaps the sensibilities of the younger generation have as well.

Nonetheless, the magic and charm of the Narnia series will always remain dear to my heart.

I can't believe four years have passed since I last read the Narnia series! During this time, my husband and I named our dog Pevensie. He truly embodies the adventurous spirit and mischief of his namesakes. I also put up a sign on our guest room door that says "Spare Oom." Alas, we don't have a War Drobe yet, but I'm always on the lookout while thrifting.

Anyway, I've reviewed all seven books individually before, but this time I wanted to share some overall thoughts from my latest read-through. First of all, Lucy! She is the kindred spirit to me among all fictional heroines. I sometimes forget that she's fictional and I'm real. Jill Pole also doesn't get enough love. She's a wonderful character to read about when you're feeling "beastly," as she would say.

Another thing that struck me is the motherly aspects of Aslan. I'm pretty sure they're inspired by Lewis's memories of his mother, although they could also be interpreted as fatherly. I don't have any evidence to back this up, but it's just a feeling I have. The world-building in Narnia, while perhaps not up to Tolkien's standards, still makes sense. I like that Mrs. Beaver has a sewing machine and that there's a Gregorian calendar. It all adds to the charm of the story.

In addition, I've always loved sea voyages and underground sojourns in the Narnia series, even though I usually don't care for them in other books. The scenes in "Dawn Treader" and "Silver Chair" are some of my favorites and have been my whole life. I can't explain why, but they just have a special appeal to me. Lewis's use of Austen's free indirect discourse in the Narnia books is also splendid. It works so well in children's literature.
Finally, that scene in "Dawn Treader" with Lucy and the fish-herdess is something I want to think about on my deathbed. It captures a deep truth that I can't quite put into words. This was my first time reading through the lovely hardcover box set that my husband gave me. It was precious to make new reading memories with these beautiful editions. I love used books and paperbacks, but some books in my library need to last longer. Maybe it's time to give the box set of LOTR with color illustrations by Alan Lee another read.

Edizione in tre volumi.

1º volume (letto dal 13 al 26 Gennaio 2017)

• Il nipote del mago ★★★½

In this book (sixth in publication order, but actually conceived as a prequel to the adventures of Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy), C.S. Lewis takes us for the first time into the kingdom of Narnia, through the magic of two rings forged by a reckless magician. Thrown into a parallel world, two children - Polly and Diggory - will be the first to meet the powerful Aslan but will also be responsible for awakening the evil Queen Jadis.

• Il leone, la strega e l'armadio. ★★★★½

I am pleasantly surprised by this book: everything, from the arrival in Narnia through the wardrobe, to the meeting of Lucy and her brothers with the various creatures, good and bad, of that magical world, really fascinates me. I can't wait to continue reading the other volumes!

2º volume (letto dal 09 al 13 Febbraio 2017)

• Il cavallo e il ragazzo. ★★★★

• Il Principe Caspian ★★★★

Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy are suddenly called back to Narnia after a long time by the sound of the magical horn. Calling for their help is the young Caspian, the legitimate heir to the throne of Narnia who must defend himself against his evil uncle, King Miraz, the usurper, who wants him dead. Thanks to the advice of the wise Cornelius (perhaps my favorite character, along with the mouse Reepicheep), they will all fight together in an epic adventure, to bring peace to the lands of Narnia and make this place return to its former glory. Adventurous, magical, fun, after "Il leone, la strega e l'armadio" it is the chapter that I have liked the most so far.

3º volume (letto dal 14 al 18 Luglio 2017)

- Il Viaggio Del Veliero ★★½ This story of the sea adventures of Caspian, Lucy and Edmund did not particularly excite me. Aboard the Veliero dell'alba, the company wanders in search of the faithful of the king of Narnia who were driven out by the evil King Midaz. Sailing the seas and exploring islands inhabited by strange characters, the protagonists will reach the beginning of the End of the World (a place from which it is said that the mythical lion Aslan comes) and will have to choose whether to continue towards this legendary destination or not. Perhaps, the nicest note is that of the unpleasant cousin Eustace, while the most original part is the meeting with Ramandu.

- La sedia d'argento ★★ Honestly, it seems to me that the saga loses its charm, book by book. In this one, I particularly felt the lack of those who for me remain the real child protagonists. Jill is a character that I did not particularly like and Eustace was more likable when he was unpleasant. Only the marshwiggle Puddleglum! The adventure experienced by the children, moreover, at times seemed to me not very linear, until it came to life in the Underworld. A tour in the land of Bism I would have gladly done, however; it seemed promising...可惜!

- L'ultima battaglia ★½ concludes - badly - I'm sorry to say, the Narnia cycle with a hodgepodge of characters who return from the previous books. Among other things, I found the choice to translate the names of the two animal protagonists Shift and Puzzle, which have become Change and Enigma, particularly irritating! If, up to this point, the underlying but widespread Christian morality of C.S. Lewis had not particularly bothered me, well, here the stage collapses.

I am still happy to have read it, because the first books deserve it, but it leaves a bitter taste in my mouth because I expected to find in Narnia a magical world, with magical atmospheres like those that came out of Tolkien's pen, while it seemed to me that the seven books are only a set of unconnected fairy tales and not very harmonious as a whole. Final grade: ★★★

A Timeless Classic: The Chronicles of Narnia

The Chronicles of Narnia is a truly timeless classic that has the power to captivate readers of all ages. This remarkable series, which consists of seven books, takes readers on an enchanting journey to the magical land of Narnia. Here, they are introduced to a cast of unforgettable characters, witness epic battles, and learn profound moral lessons.

One of the most outstanding features of this series is C.S. Lewis's masterful storytelling. Each book is filled with rich and detailed descriptions that bring the imaginative world of Narnia to life. The settings are so vivid that readers can almost picture themselves walking through the snowy landscapes or exploring the ancient castles. The characters, from the noble and majestic Aslan to the brave and resourceful Pevensie siblings, are incredibly well-developed and relatable. Their individual personalities and growth throughout the series make their adventures all the more engaging and compelling.

The themes explored in The Chronicles of Narnia are both profound and relevant. The battle between good and evil is a central theme, as is the importance of courage and redemption. These themes are woven seamlessly into the narrative, adding depth and meaning to the exciting adventures. While some aspects of the series may seem a bit dated in today's modern world, the overall message and charm remain as strong as ever.

However, it should be noted that the pacing of the series can be a bit uneven at times. Some books may grip readers from start to finish, while others may feel a bit slower or less engaging. Despite this minor flaw, The Chronicles of Narnia is still a must-read for anyone who loves fantasy and adventure. It is a series that not only entertains but also inspires and teaches valuable life lessons.

Overall, The Chronicles of Narnia rightfully deserves its place as a beloved classic. It has stood the test of time and continues to charm and delight readers young and old. I highly recommend this series to anyone looking for a magical and unforgettable reading experience.