mirpanda277's review
4.0
A charming classic worthy of its reputation. As a child, I only read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, so all my opinions of the rest of the series come from my 24-year-old frame of reference.
There's much I love about this series, so much more I want to learn (e.g., literary analyses, iconography, symbolism), and some things I have problems with. Namely, the use and treatment of the Calormen people ("Calormen" ~ "colored men"--and women, coincidence?). It's a topic that made me feel uncomfortable while reading, and it's one I plan to understand better through secondary reading, preferably written by persons of color, both those who dislike and love this series.
I also still do not feel okay with the way Susan's story ends on the pages. I've heard an argument of explanation from Lewis enthusiasts, but I'm not satisfied. If it's just a matter of her losing or forgetting her childlike faith, and she's temporarily too focused on silly adolescent things, why is her femininity/sexuality so emphasized? I believe details matter.
The Magician's Nephew 3.5 (maybe) stars
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe 5 stars
The Horse and His Boy 3 stars
Prince Caspian 3.5 (maybe 4) stars
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader 4 stars
The Silver Chair 3.5 (maybe 4) stars
The Last Battle 3.5 (maybe 4) stars
There's much I love about this series, so much more I want to learn (e.g., literary analyses, iconography, symbolism), and some things I have problems with. Namely, the use and treatment of the Calormen people ("Calormen" ~ "colored men"--and women, coincidence?). It's a topic that made me feel uncomfortable while reading, and it's one I plan to understand better through secondary reading, preferably written by persons of color, both those who dislike and love this series.
I also still do not feel okay with the way Susan's story ends on the pages. I've heard an argument of explanation from Lewis enthusiasts, but I'm not satisfied. If it's just a matter of her losing or forgetting her childlike faith, and she's temporarily too focused on silly adolescent things, why is her femininity/sexuality so emphasized? I believe details matter.
The Magician's Nephew 3.5 (maybe) stars
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe 5 stars
The Horse and His Boy 3 stars
Prince Caspian 3.5 (maybe 4) stars
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader 4 stars
The Silver Chair 3.5 (maybe 4) stars
The Last Battle 3.5 (maybe 4) stars
sampena16's review
4.0
I loved these books when I was young. They had a way of fueling my mind, and now that I'm grown and have read other C.S. Lewis books, I want to read them again to see whether I can gain something else from them other than imagination and fantasy.
davidseverns's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Yup. Just yup.
carringtonshaw's review
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This will be less of a review and more fond reminiscences.
These will always be among my favorites, despite the relatively recent outrage over what happens to Susan. I remember watching the animated version of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe all the time on Disney as a kid, as well as the PBS specials, and being delighted when someone (I believe from our church) gave me the entire series as a gift one day, probably circa '91. I can't tell you how many times I read each and every book. I'll always fondly remember reading them to my little brother and buying him Turkish delight to taste while we were on The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, so he could try to understand what was so delicious that it would drive Edmund to betray his family. (To this day, neither one of us understands. Yuck!) My brother loved them as much as me, and I believe my sister does, too.
Lewis's narration speaks to me, and I would say has been an incredibly strong influence on my own writing "voice". I beat up my copies so terribly that I had to go seek out new, pristine copies with the beloved Chris van Allsburg covers on them (which are no longer in publication). Regardless of your feelings on religion and allegories thereof, these are still fun. I recently reread each one and loved them all over again--so full of often eerie magic and adventures. My favorite always has been, and I believe still is, The Magician's Nephew--I love the visits to Charn and The Wood Between the Worlds. So creepy and mysterious. But all the books are wonderful and I will love them forever.
These will always be among my favorites, despite the relatively recent outrage over what happens to Susan. I remember watching the animated version of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe all the time on Disney as a kid, as well as the PBS specials, and being delighted when someone (I believe from our church) gave me the entire series as a gift one day, probably circa '91. I can't tell you how many times I read each and every book. I'll always fondly remember reading them to my little brother and buying him Turkish delight to taste while we were on The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, so he could try to understand what was so delicious that it would drive Edmund to betray his family. (To this day, neither one of us understands. Yuck!) My brother loved them as much as me, and I believe my sister does, too.
Lewis's narration speaks to me, and I would say has been an incredibly strong influence on my own writing "voice". I beat up my copies so terribly that I had to go seek out new, pristine copies with the beloved Chris van Allsburg covers on them (which are no longer in publication). Regardless of your feelings on religion and allegories thereof, these are still fun. I recently reread each one and loved them all over again--so full of often eerie magic and adventures. My favorite always has been, and I believe still is, The Magician's Nephew--I love the visits to Charn and The Wood Between the Worlds. So creepy and mysterious. But all the books are wonderful and I will love them forever.
poisonblack's review
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
sugus_al_limone's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
under_the_radiant_stars's review against another edition
4.0
I was afraid of the religious connotation of this book, but I actually ended up enjoying it very much! It’s a book that both adults and children can enjoy with a positive and spiritual message which I think transcends the Christian ideology at its core. I loved the descriptions of Aslan, the lion, and the feelings that children feel when they are with him.
My favourite two were The Horse and His Boy and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, while The Last Battle broke me… still processing the grief of it all.
One thing that I didn’t like is how Susan is treated by the author as she grows up. She is presented in the first book as the mature older sister to Edmund and Lucy, trying to mediate between Peter and Edmund, in Prince Caspian too, but then further on she is said to not be a friend of Narnia anymore and, that is justified because of her desire to become an adult in the dating boys sense? Well, I didn’t really the seeds of it in the two books she appears in.
All in all it’s a really enjoyable cozy reading with nice plots and interesting characters. Not to mention that it’s a pillar of Children’s literature and I’d say fantasy too.
.
.
My favourite two were The Horse and His Boy and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, while The Last Battle broke me… still processing the grief of it all.
One thing that I didn’t like is how Susan is treated by the author as she grows up. She is presented in the first book as the mature older sister to Edmund and Lucy, trying to mediate between Peter and Edmund, in Prince Caspian too, but then further on she is said to not be a friend of Narnia anymore and, that is justified because of her desire to become an adult in the dating boys sense? Well, I didn’t really the seeds of it in the two books she appears in.
All in all it’s a really enjoyable cozy reading with nice plots and interesting characters. Not to mention that it’s a pillar of Children’s literature and I’d say fantasy too.
.
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hopeistryingtoread's review
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
noctisvirarium's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5