The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis is truly a remarkable work. In this story, Queen Lucy's words hold great significance. “Yes,” said Queen Lucy. “In our world too, a stable once had something inside it that was bigger than our whole world.” This statement not only adds a touch of mystery and wonder but also makes the readers think about the deeper meanings and possibilities within the story. The idea that something so ordinary as a stable could contain something of such vast magnitude is both captivating and thought-provoking. It shows the author's ability to create a world that is full of surprises and unexpected twists. My review of this amazing novel can be found at http://100greatestnovelsofalltimeques.... It is definitely a must-read for all those who love adventure, fantasy, and a good story that can transport them to another world.

Back in the early 70s, I had the wonderful fortune of coming across this remarkable series through the very first book to be written, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. (Below, I quote a significant portion of my review of that book, insofar as it pertains to the entire series). Subsequently, I uncovered the entire series, and in the 90s, I read it aloud to my wife, who loved it just as much as I did. We didn't read it in this omnibus edition, but rather as individual books. For a long time, I had the intention of eventually reviewing each book separately. However, given the series' numerous commonalities, I decided that reviewing it as a single entity would be more practical.

It's important to note that this omnibus volume lists the seven books of the series in their internal chronological order, commencing with The Magician's Nephew, which details Aslan's creation of Narnia. This is the order in which Lewis himself recommended they be read. Barb and I, on the other hand, read and experienced the series in the order in which the books were written. Lewis fans often engage in lively debates about which order is preferable, and I can see the merits of both sides. Generally speaking, my inclination is to read a series in internal chronological order. But the way we read this particular one perhaps offers a greater sense of resonance in the later books, as certain mysteries that were initially puzzling gradually fall into place.

Most people are aware that C. S. Lewis was a highly effective Christian nonfiction apologist, employing the tools of reason and logic to construct a philosophical case for the Christian faith. However, he ultimately became convinced that an even more potent form of apologetic could be achieved through the "truth of art," the instinctive and emotional appeal that stories exert - especially those kinds of stories that draw upon the deep, mythical archetypes of fantasy to shed light on the real universe. The Chronicles of Narnia, his classic fantasy series, was the result of this discovery. Set in Narnia, a magical land whose world exists in another universe, where magic is real and time operates differently than it does here, and where Christ is incarnate as the great talking lion Aslan, the first book of the series presents one of the most powerful symbolic literary representations of the Christian gospel ever penned. Although the intended audience, in Lewis' mind, was children (as evidenced by his various direct addresses to the readers as the author), there is nothing condescendingly "juvenile" about the quality of the writing. It can be wholeheartedly appreciated by anyone who has a passion for tales of imagination and adventure, fantasy and wonder. And the truths contained within, like those in Jesus' parables, are simple enough to speak to children yet profound enough to challenge adults.

The Christian message is an integral part of all the books in the Narnia series. We all respond to fiction, in part, based on how we feel about the message(s) it conveys, and this is entirely appropriate. So, readers whose view of Christianity, or of religion in general, is highly negative could hardly be expected to offer unqualified praise for the Narnia series. (The converse, of course, holds true for books like the His Dark Materials series by Philip Pullman, who openly aspires to be the "anti-Lewis;" it's not surprising that his work is less favored by readers who hold a very negative view of militant atheism.) This is a subjective assessment, and as such, it is quite fair. However, some other criticisms of Lewis' series are intended to be more objective and can be debated objectively. (This discussion may contain some "spoilers.")

One reviewer contends that the series "has no real conflicts" because Aslan has the ability to exercise miraculous power to resolve them. But if this were the case, then the theistic view of real life would also imply that it has no real conflicts, since God, too, has miraculous power to resolve them. However, no theists that I'm aware of, least of all Lewis (as his other writings clearly indicate), view real life in this manner. As his writings on miracles make plain, he believed that God can intervene in the natural order miraculously - but doesn't do so very often. This is because intervening on a large scale would nullify the predictability of natural law (and leave us unable to recognize a miracle when one actually occurred!). And, very importantly, God does not make people's choices for them; they exercise free will, which means that their choices have meaningful consequences - whether good or bad. So, in Narnia, as in the real world, Aslan doesn't intervene frequently; and most readers can observe a great deal of conflict. Bad things happen, and they aren't always deserved; evil isn't automatically and immediately punished; and good characters suffer and inevitably die, some long before their time. And characters experience a great deal of internal conflict as they struggle to determine the right course of action - or whether or not to do what they believe is right when all the rewards seem to be attainable by doing wrong. In one of the books, Eustace is indeed transformed back from a dragon to a boy - but only after he learns a valuable lesson about the importance of human friendship, and this is no easy feat for him. And in the first book, while it's true that Aslan will be resurrected after sacrificing his life for Edmund, his death is still an extremely harrowing experience that he endures for someone whose well-being, from a coldly objective perspective, means nothing to him. Most of us would not be willing to undergo such an experience, even with the assurance of resurrection.

Like most non-vegetarians, Lewis believed that the consumption of meat is appropriate when the meat comes from a non-rational, nonthinking creature; eating a being who can speak is considered cannibalism, regardless of what that being looks like. Whether or not one views this as a significant distinction, or how significant it is perceived to be, is a matter of personal opinion; but it is indeed a genuine distinction between humans and, for example, cattle.

Perhaps the most significant criticism leveled against this series is the accusation of ethnocentrism and racism in the portrayal of the Calormen. The Calormen are described as being darker in color than the Narnians; their culture differs from that of the Narnians; and their government is a despotic empire that desires to add Narnia to its territory. (Neither Narnian nor Calormen culture is identical to any culture in our world, although, like all fantasy writers, Lewis uses the cultures of this world as a sort of grab-bag from which he can select various features. Calormen is mostly desert, but its polity is much more Turkish than "Arab-like," and the idolatrous cult of Tash does not resemble Islam.) Some readers assume that any mention of dark skin necessarily implies that the people so depicted are racially inferior; that race and culture are one and the same, with the former dictating the characteristics of the latter, and that the nature of a government reflects the nature of a people; and that if Narnia and Calormen's governments tend to be hostile and suspicious towards each other, then everything Narnian must be good and everything Calormen must be evil. However, there are good reasons to believe that Lewis did not share these assumptions, nor did he intend to convey them.

Two of the most sympathetic and positively portrayed characters in the series are the Calormenes Aravis and Emeth. Aravis is a strong, courageous, and capable heroine; she ultimately marries Prince Cor, and their son grows up to be Archenland's greatest king. And Emeth (whose name, not coincidentally, means "truth" in Hebrew) is warmly welcomed by Aslan into heaven, having clearly demonstrated his moral worth. This strongly suggests that Lewis judges, and wants his readers to judge, the Calormenes "not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character." It's also worth noting that in That Hideous Strength, a character named Lord Feverstone advocates the "liquidation of the backward races" - but he is a spokesman for the decidedly unpleasant N.I.C.E., whose social program represents everything that Lewis detested.

In the latter novel, towards the end, Lewis presents a theory of human cultures in which all of them, at their best and truest, are unique and distinct embodiments of moral and social truth, creating a kind of truly multicultural mosaic in which the differences are respected and appreciated. This idea is mirrored in The Last Battle, where Aslan's true country is composed of the Platonic ideal of every created country - including Calormen, where Lucy catches a glimpse of the towers of the true Tashbaan. So, Calormen's cultural differences from Narnia can be seen in this light - there is no reason to assume that Lewis' view of "shoes turned up at the toe, scimitars, suffixed phrases of praise, 'son-of' lineage declarations" was "unfavorable." These elements can be found in the Bible (a book that Lewis surely held in high regard!), and some of his writings suggest that he had a certain fondness for stately formal courtesy in social interactions. He favorably contrasts the Calormen oral story-telling tradition with English teaching practices; and while Calormen culture is described as "cruel" in one instance (which, Lewis would argue, is a distortion caused by sin), it is also described as "wise." Finally, King Miraz and his cronies - who are all white - are not regarded as any more benevolent than the Calormen Tisroc and his sycophants; the actions of both are due, not to race and nationality, but to the common experience of human fallenness.

This is毫无疑问 one of my all-time favorite fantasy series. I would highly recommend it to any readers who have an appreciation for imaginative literature, and I firmly believe that most would find it both incredibly entertaining and deeply thought-provoking.

Overall, I would rate this book 3 stars.

Here are my specific ratings and reviews for each story. At first, I was skeptical about reading the book in chronological order instead of publication order. However, looking back, it works well both ways. I also had some initial difficulties with the writing style, but I quickly got used to it. Thanks to C.S. Lewis, the world of Narnia is well-written and detailed. I can say that I liked the introduction of every story. But, personally, I didn't find it extremely appealing as a whole. Nevertheless, this book will surely be a treasure for someone else, just not for me. I liked it, but I wasn't too crazy about it.

The Magician’s Nephew: 5 stars. I would definitely like to reread this story in the near future. The plot is so original! I enjoyed every moment of it. Learning about the backstory and how Narnia was created was very interesting to me. Although many people didn't like the connections with Christianity, I found it quite creative. There were several metaphors between Adam, Eve, and the tree of wisdom. Digory and Uncle Andrew were my favorite characters, even though the uncle seemed quite cynical at times. My favorite moment was the fight at the lamp post and how they escaped. One quote that stood out to me was: “What you see and what you hear depends a great deal on where you are standing. It also depends on what sort of person you are.”

The Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe: 4 stars. I liked these characters, and they engaged me throughout the whole story. My favorite characters were the two youngest ones, Lucy and Edmund. They always seemed to have something going on. There was also more human and animal interaction in this story than in the previous one, which was interesting to read about. Again, there are several religious metaphors present in this story. It was pleasurable to read and see all the symbolism. We also get to see more of the magical world of Narnia in this story, which is exciting. I had a great time reading this story!

The Horse and His Boy: 2 stars. This story started off interestingly, but I wasn't so captivated by the 4 main characters. The concept is good, but it just didn't appeal to me. The desert scene felt eternal and unexciting. I didn't hate it, but I can't say I liked it either. It was just okay. Compared to how great the previous two stories were, this one wasn't on that level.

Prince Caspian: 3 stars. In this story, we are introduced to Prince Caspian, and I must say he was a well-written character. The backstory about him and finding out how he commences his journey is interesting. I seem to enjoy the introductions of each story quite a lot, and this one was one of my favorites.

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader: 3 stars. My favorite part of this story was the involvement of the new character Eustace. Even though he was portrayed negatively at first, it was interesting to see how he slowly changed. The dragon scene was enjoyable for me. I'm not a big fan of all the other scenes; they weren't bad, but just not mind-blowing.

The Silver Chair: 2 stars. The beginning of the novel was fun, when Eustace and Jill embark on their new adventure. They are sent on a mission, and we read about their journey. However, I found many parts to be dull. This story didn't have much of an impact on me.

The Last Battle: 2 stars. This story ends the series of The Chronicles of Narnia. There were several parallels to heaven, and at first, these religious metaphors didn't bother me much in the previous stories. But I just didn't like how they were used here. It felt like one part of the novel dealt with adventure while the other part dealt with religion/god/creation themes.

5 stars - Dutch hardcover

The book "The Complete Chronicles of Narnia" is an absolute must-read for both fantasy enthusiasts and young adult lovers. It is a classic fantasy tale with a Christian undertone. For instance, Aslan represents Jesus Christ. In this magnificent edition, all seven parts of the series are bundled together.

For over 50 years, the land of Narnia has captivated readers, like me and my daughters. I have read the book multiple times. As always, it remains a delight to read these books. It provides me with an outlet from the real world. I can happily immerse myself in the world of Narnia.

The characters are so strong and full of depth. The message is so profound, much more than what you usually see in children's/young adult books. It is a so-called crossover. This book not only appeals to the younger generation but also has the power to touch the hearts of adults. It takes you on a magical journey filled with adventure, courage, and love. The beautiful illustrations in the hardcover edition add an extra charm to the story, making it even more enjoyable to read. Whether you are a long-time fan of Narnia or new to this wonderful world, this book is sure to leave you spellbound.

I admit it. I only approached this book because of the release of the film (and then, given the disappointment of the reading, I refused to watch it).

And I was even ashamed because C. S. Lewis is one of the fathers of fantasy and I had always ignored him! What can I say? I would have been better off following my instinct!

This book is banal, heavy, slow and no, it failed to conquer me, not at all!

The hateful protagonists and the overly simple narration, instead of enchanting me, only irritated me!

Perhaps (and not even that much) suitable for a very young audience.

The only positive side: it perfectly induces sleep!

XD

Every book is a masterpiece.

I find myself enjoying them again and again.

There is something truly special about these literary works.

One aspect that makes them great is the presence of Christian symbols.

These symbols add depth and meaning to the stories.

They can be found in the themes, characters, and plotlines.

For example, a character's journey might parallel that of Jesus Christ.

Or a particular object might represent a religious concept.

The use of Christian symbols allows the reader to explore and reflect on their own faith.

It also provides a connection to a larger cultural and historical context.

Whether you are a devout Christian or simply interested in literature, these symbols enhance the reading experience.

They make the books more than just entertainment; they become a source of inspiration and enlightenment.

So, the next time you pick up a book, look for the Christian symbols and see how they contribute to the overall masterpiece.

A mostly well-written, very imaginative, thoroughly enjoyable read.

The narration is warm and witty, captivating the reader from the start. The protagonists are well developed and likable, yet not perfect. They have flaws that add depth to the stories, making them more relatable.

The settings are vivid and fantastic, transporting the reader to a world full of wonder. Remember those loony one-footed invisible things that hop around? And the ending, when the boat sails over that undersea city and then into the clouds at the edge of the world? It's truly a magical experience.

I'm always annoyed when people confound the quality of this series as literature with the quality of the worldview it allegedly expounds. The literary world is not a neo-Stalinist monolith where the only legitimate art is that which edifies us by propounding a correct ethical system. It's just a story, and a good one at that.

Furthermore, as an atheist, I think the religious content of the novels is overstated. Even if it isn't, it doesn't detract from the novels one whit. The books really don't have any more to do with Christianity in particular than does any other story with a character who gives up his life to save others.

As for the Calormen, I think it's highly possible that the garb was just supposed to convey the exotic. This particular nation just happens to be bad in the world of the book. Everything is not a political statement. The good faun from LW&W is not a statement about how pagan nature religions are good; likewise, I just don't see that the bad Calormen are necessarily a statement about how the people who once wore curly-toed shoes in the real world are bad.

In sum, it's a good story, and even if all the criticisms of the book - it's racist, it's Christian, etc. - are true, it's still a good story. If all I ever read were wholesome books explicitly conveying a wonderful worldview, I would be bored as hell.

Done reading THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA. This edition I own contains the seven unabridged books arranged in chronological order.

Author's Writing Style: 5 stars!!! It is ideally written for children in third-person POV in past tenses. The written narration is easy to read and understand. However, the small font size can be a bit of a torture to the eyes, especially for those who are sleep-deprived. The pacing is fast, not wasting time on excessive descriptions. This keeps the story moving forward and engages the reader's attention.

Character/s Development: 3 stars!!! Aslan is my number one favorite character. I love the idea that everyone respects and fears him due to his reputation. He receives more page time in The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - the second book in the series. We get to see how he submits himself to vulnerability and then bounces back after being bullied. Edmund also makes a mark on me. In Books 4, 5 and 7, he proves himself to be special after betraying his siblings due to Turkish Delight. His character development shows growth and redemption.

Plot: 3 stars!!! I commend the series for having a different plot in every book. Although the main characters are children, it doesn't follow a strict and predictable formula. For example, Book 2 - The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe and Book 3 - The Horse & His Boy tell different inspiring stories with distinct plot qualities. Book 3 is my top favorite in terms of plot as it delivers, connects, and finishes strong. However, I am a bit disappointed with the "travel for a rescue mission plot" in Book 5 - The Voyage of The Dawn Treader as it reminds me of the plot used in Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson & The Olympians. The ending in Book 7 - The Last Battle gives me a real good punch and makes me need a moment to ponder about it.

When the tendrils of the past wrap themselves around my present, I often find myself looking back with a sense of nostalgic anticipation towards my most beloved reads.

Opening a well-worn spine, I allow my mind to take flight on the dog-eared pages, journeying towards those made-up worlds that seem far more tangible and real than the one I currently inhabit.

Narnia is without a doubt one of these special places. It serves as a sweet escape from the harsh reality that surrounds us, a much-needed respite from the mundane and ordinary.

It is a literary masterpiece that has the power to transport me out of the here and now, into a realm of magic, adventure, and wonder.

Every time I pick up a Narnia book, I am immediately drawn in by the vivid descriptions, the engaging characters, and the captivating storylines.

It is a world that I can lose myself in for hours on end, forgetting about all of my troubles and worries.

Narnia will always hold a special place in my heart, and I will continue to return to it time and time again, eager to experience its magic once more.

Fair Warning:

I am reading (in some cases, rereading) this as an adult, one who is most decidedly Not Christian, and somewhat against religious children's books. If that doesn't describe you, your mileage will obviously vary. The following is very very long, as I sum up each book. Spoilers aplenty.

After seeing the new Prince Caspian movie this summer, I decided that, as a fan of both classic children’s literature and fantasy literature, I should really take another look at The Chronicles of Narnia. As a child, I read what I considered to be “the good ones” of this series (Lion/Wardrobe, Caspian, Dawn Treader, Silver Chair) although the little I remember is mostly from the BBC TV specials.

Overall opinion: Any book with the default plot of “kids fall into fantasy world, proceed to defeat evil” is going to have at least some fans in the legions of kids who wish they could do just that. I enjoyed the ones I read as a child. Reading as an adult, the writing is weak, the characters thin, and the plots even thinner.

The more of these I read, the more I couldn’t stand the writing style. Sometimes speaking directly to the reader works, but most of the time here, I just find it hugely patronizing and distracting. The first time Lewis reminds his readers that it is "foolish" to shut oneself into a wardrobe, it's cute. The 5th time? Less so.

Now, I’m going to sum up what I liked and didn’t like in each book. (Also note, these books are really short! Around 110 pgs each in this edition.)

The Magician’s Nephew:

Had some very pretty parts. The beginning was interesting, but this book seemed to do its level best to demystify the later adventures, and make all the magic more like science. This is not inherently a bad thing, but it felt out of tone with the books which were written earlier, but come chronologically later.

Best: The descriptions of the wood between the worlds, and Aslan sings the world into being.

Worst: Shoehorned in references to Lion/Witch/etc, making that book less cool.

Most Annoying Jesus-the-Lion Moment: Actually not awful, despite the whole creating out of the void and all.

Score: 2 stars

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe:

Classic. When I read this as a child, I completely missed the whole “Jesus” thing. What surprised me on rereading was that they spend, pretty much, one single day in Narnia before they fix everything. That’s kinda silly in my book.

Best: Lucy and Mr. Tumnus, Edmund and the White Queen. Santa brings them weapons.

Worst: And then, we won the battle... Lewis starts a grand tradition for him of all major action taking place ‘offstage’.

Most Annoying Jesus-the-Lion Moment: You know what? After reading some of the later ones, I’m behind Jesus-the-Lion on this one.

Score: 3 stars

The Horse and His Boy:

And now, suddenly, we’re in the Arabian Knights. But no one who lives in Arabian Nights world is nice and kind and good like the people of Narnia... Eesh. I’m also confused, at this point, why there are huge human countries just off the borders of Narnia. I never got that implication that they were there before...Even the Telmarines in Prince Caspian are given a special explanation for how there happen to be Humans in Narnia. Note that this one was written fifth, after Lion, Caspian, Dawn Treader, and Silver Chair.

Best: Shasta and company sneaking into/around the big city is pretty well done.

Worst: Not only is the person who doesn’t treat you well not your father, you’re a prince! Yay! Not a surprise, and not interesting.

Most Annoying Jesus-the-Lion Moment: Throughout, Aslan "secretly" helps them escape to Narnia by scaring them, appearing as a friendly cat, etc. A pretty wussy power set, overall. This is the Son of the Emperor-etc-whatever? What, do your powers only work in Narnia, all of a sudden? Ironically, this is almost more annoying than his super mega powers in other books.

Score: 1 star

Prince Caspian:

Okay, first off, all the cool scenes in the movie? Not here. Most of the lame scenes in the movie? Also not here. Clearly it was adapted in the loosest sense. Caspian spends his time joyously capering with the good folk of Narnia, and then they get in trouble, and call some kids. Kids bring Aslan, he fixes it. Huh.

Best: Peter’s hysterically funny letter to Miraz. Seriously. And mice who kill soldiers. They’re cool.

Worst (Sort of): Downright weirdest part is that when the Earth kids finally get to Caspian, where he’s fighting off armies and such, the boys get to go help fight. Not that it makes a huge difference, since Aslan sends the trees to scare the Telmarines away "almost before the Old Narnians had really warmed to their work". The girls, on the other hand, get to take a nap, and then dance with Aslan and Bacchus and his Maenads (Wha-Huh?!?) all over Narnia, freeing people to be happy, and turning nasty little boys into pigs and nasty men into trees and such. I kid you not. One little girl is brave enough not to run away and "The Maenads…whirled her around in a merry dance, and helped her take off some of the unnecessary and uncomfortable clothes that she was wearing." I could not make this up.

Most Annoying Jesus-the-Lion Moment: Subtext of the Lucy/Aslan scene is basically the same as the movie: If you really trusted/believed, you wouldn’t care what your family thinks, you’d trust me... Creepy...

Score: 3 stars

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader:

I have fond memories of this one, but it was awful. Like Gulliver’s travels, but with Jesus. They go to an island and get into trouble due to a magical thingy. Aslan bails them out. Rinse. Repeat. Oh, and then they sail to the end of the world.

Best: Lucy and the Magician’s book. A pretty decent scene, if somewhat overly moralizing.

Worst: Whole thing deadly dull. No Plot.

Most Annoying Jesus-the-Lion Moment: All of them.

Score: 1 star

The Silver Chair:

Lovely after the dreck that was the Dawn Treader. Aslan gives two kids a quest, they mess up some, but mostly get out of it on their own, overall a good solid adventure story.

Best: Adventure in the Giant’s House. Predictable, but good. Scene with the ensorcelled Prince. Jill and Eustace terrorize their school bullies with swords.

Worst: Almost anytime Aslan butts in. He’s out of tone in this one. Happily, he’s barely in it.

Most Annoying Jesus-the-Lion Moment: See above.

Score: 3 stars

The Last Battle:

This was just... odd. I already had heard the plot, but it was just weird. An Ape sets up a false Idol Aslan to make himself rich and important, the Arabian folks we last saw in Horse and His Boy show up to conquer Narnia with the Ape’s help, the King totally fails to stop them, and then Aslan shows up to end the world. It was just... that. Also King Tirian has a very special relationship with a unicorn, and as a side note, all the characters are dead and in joint Earth/Narnia Heaven. Whatever.

Best: King Tirian and Eustace and Jill sneaking around the countryside.

Worst: The number of things in this book described as indescribable was pretty annoying. Also, Susan can’t go to joint Earth/Narnia Heaven because she grew up and likes boys. I can understand that with Neverland, but really, now.

Most Annoying Jesus-the-Lion Moment: Aslan has a heart to heart with an Arabian, I mean Calormene, and is told that all the good stuff he (and anyone) ever did in the name of his Calormene god was actually done for Aslan, and all the bad stuff for his god. Oh dear.

Score: 1 star (Not actively bad, just dull)

Conclusion:

Even trying to put aside the heavy handed preachifying, I probably wouldn’t read these again, or give them to my hypothetical future kids. Maybe Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe. Only, however, along with books I prefer, like The Wind in the Willows (better talking animals), Peter Pan (better plot, characters, and themes) and The Just So Stories (better use of narration).

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe—2024 Reread

Returning to this story is always a pleasure. It feels as if it has been with me my entire life. Discussing it in class for a couple of hours was truly wonderful. We especially focused on distinguishing allegory (which this book isn't) from archetypes (which it makes extravagant use of). Reading it shortly after looking at An Experiment in Criticism and Tolkien's "On Fairy-stories" revealed many connections that might not have been evident otherwise.

Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia—2024 Reread

This collected volume loses points for not including the subtitle of this book. Also, the publisher's insistence on arranging Narnia by story chronology rather than original publication order is a drawback. The Pevensies' return to Narnia is intense. In the first book, they had some choice about entering Narnia, but in the second, Narnia forcibly pulls them in. Prince Caspian also suggests the possibility of a Pevensie dying in Narnia, leaving a mystery about what would happen to them in their own world. While The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe felt inevitable and "safe," the sequel makes Narnian adventures more dangerous. After discussing this in class, I've continued to think about nostalgia. The Pevensies are presented with a heavy weight of nostalgia, but Lewis shows them quickly understanding the current situation and selflessly making way for the new age to flourish.

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader—2024 Reread

This was one of the best class discussions I've had. I found a question that brought out elements of the book none of us had considered before. It was so fruitful and intriguing that I'm saving it for an article I hope to write soon. There's so much to ponder in this story.

The Silver Chair—2024 Reread

I see this as the closest Lewis came to crafting the perfect fairy tale. The characters and narrative are more focused than in other Narnia stories. Beneath the fairy-tale delight, there are some dark story elements, such as the murder of Ramandu's daughter and a years-long enchantment. The Lady of the Green Kirtle is one of Lewis's most frightening nemeses, as she tries to lull the protagonists into a peaceful stupor of denying reality. Puddleglum's heroism shines through when he puts out the witch's fire, vanquishing the enemy and preventing the world from becoming blind to reality.

The Horse and His Boy—2024 Reread

Throughout this story, the primary enemy is pride. Each character has the opportunity to know themselves more truly by shedding their pride. My favorite character is Bree, who is oblivious to his ridiculousness but eager to do the right thing. The scariest part for me is when the characters become lost in a big, unfamiliar city. Shasta is amazing for successfully navigating that situation.

The Magician’s Nephew—2024 Reread

The creation story of Narnia raises interesting theological questions. What is broken in Narnia at the beginning, and what is the pathway to restoration? This leads to a reconsideration of Aslan's sacrifice in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. We need to discuss what that action primarily addressed for the healing of Narnia. There's a lot to talk about, especially in a classroom of theologically minded students.

The Last Battle—2024 Reread

I'm increasingly annoyed by the publisher's decision to publish the Narnia books in story-chronology order. It's especially because of the final two books. Reading the end of The Magician’s Nephew and then turning the page to read the opening of The Last Battle is deeply poignant. You miss that if you read The Magician’s Nephew at the start of the series. I believe it makes perfect sense to read the creation and end of Narnia at the end of the series, as Lewis wrote them. In class, we discussed "The Susan Question," which I believe brings grand depth to Narnia. I admire Lewis's ability to create characters with the freedom to make their own choices.

Yes, indeed! When I was a child, I had a profound love for this series. Among them, my absolute favorite was The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. I firmly believe that it was not only the most popular one but also an incredibly outstanding piece of work.

It was truly captivating and engaging from start to finish. The story took me on a magical adventure that I will never forget.

If you are in search of something that you can quickly pick up and read within a short period, I would most definitely recommend these books. They are like little treasures waiting to be discovered on the shelf. Each one offers a unique and enchanting experience that is sure to delight readers of all ages. So, go ahead and give them a try! You won't be disappointed.