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sburchart's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Violence
Moderate: Animal cruelty and War
Minor: Racial slurs and Racism
brogan7's review against another edition
adventurous
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
2.5
The reason I read this book was because of the opening pages, depicting a relationship between a narcissist (monkey) and his henchman (a donkey). I wanted to know how that played out; what the donkey learned; whether he withstood the persuasions of someone who wasn't a friend at all...but none of that was delivered in the book.
(Eventually I kept reading because I also wanted to know if the animals discovered the monkey's ruse of pretending Aslan had returned.)
But overall, pfff. A strange monotheistic tale of the glory of death, what a curious religion Christianity is!
Also, who could fail to notice the Calormenes are all "dark" (as well as evil)...
(Eventually I kept reading because I also wanted to know if the animals discovered the monkey's ruse of pretending Aslan had returned.)
But overall, pfff. A strange monotheistic tale of the glory of death, what a curious religion Christianity is!
Also, who could fail to notice the Calormenes are all "dark" (as well as evil)...
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, and War
abitterknitter's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Slavery, Violence, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and War
sleepy_giraffe's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Violence, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Slavery
bgick's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Grief, and War
lizziaha's review against another edition
1.0
It’s been said before but truly I could not focus on anything except the BLATANT racism in this book, ft. our beloved heroes doing blackface, “darkies” (lewis’s word, not mine) worshipping a god that is revealed to be a demon, and an evil ape (really the racist symbolism is so transparent) creating a fake Aslan for his own gain. I see what c.s. lewis is doing, and it infuriates me. As someone who was raised Christian, i found the rhetoric in this book deeply distasteful. Being intimately familiar with Christian beliefs, i just can’t stop thinking about how this book could be so much better. The ending felt like the biggest cop out ever, the end of the world of narnia felt rushed and also i felt like it wasn’t a true representation of biblical end times. And don’t even get me started on Susan 😤
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Islamophobia, and Murder
Moderate: Animal death, Violence, Xenophobia, and War
fragrant_stars's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Definitely a darker tone than the earlier books... as an adult, it's a little uncomfortable to read the racism and xenophobia in these books-- I don't believe CS Lewis had any malicious intent when he wrote these tropes, but.. you know. Still uncomfortable. All in all though, I think it was a decent wrapup to the Narnia series, and I'm happy I was able to enjoy these books as a young child.
BTW Susan didn't enter Aslan's kingdom in the end because she was.... you know..... still alive......... Smartassery aside it's very clear in-text that Susan doesn't go to Aslan's kingdom because she doesn't really want to go. She doesn't even believe it exists. She's so obsessed with being a part of the Grown Up Club that she's too proud to believe in fairytales. It's not about the lipsticks nylons and boys. CS Lewis himself says that he thinks that it's not too late for Susan to grow up and realise it's okay to indulge in "silly" and "childish" things and come back to Narnia again someday.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and War
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Confinement, Death, Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, Car accident, and Death of parent
cubbykay's review against another edition
1.5
It's really hard to sell Christianity when you're THIS racist. Using Lewis's own words against him, nothing vile or hurtful can be done in Aslan's name. So the disgusting slurs he wrote into this book must have been made in the name of Tash.
There are many reunions in this book, and they're all wonderful. Unfortunately, there are so many characters crammed in near the end that everyone's going to be disappointed that their favorites get so few lines. The new characters weren't that great either.
Susan's exclusion feels cheap. The reason is purely to extend the analogy, not to enrich the story; and the excuse feels misogynistic.
Also, they died?? That's the only way they could stay in Narnia? We all know Lucy would stay in a heartbeat, but what if Edmund had a life and plans to get back to? Well you bloody don't have a choice now! It's treated as entirely good news. Aslan's out here like, hey guess what you're dead now so you can party with me for forever! Woohoo! The end, roll credits.
Lewis had to massively retconn to pull this stunt. One mystery that always intrigued me reading through the series is, who is the narrator? The easy answer is Lewis himself, but the unamed voice could also be a character. Either way, the writer is part of the story. This is evident in Dawntreader, when he speaks of Lucy telling him about her experience at the Magician's mansion. And in that, he mentions that she still thinks about that story she read and wishes to read again. But she's dead now, and since Narnia is an extension of heaven now, did the writer die and get brought back to life just to finish the chronicle?
Narnia shouldn't end. Obviously the series has to end somehow, and Lewis was obviously planning this when he wrote Magician's Nephew, but I'm reminded of a quote I once heard that I wish I could find again. It was along the lines of, nothing should ever change in the Hundred Acre Wood; Pooh and friends should always be there just as you left them.
Good doggos though.
There are many reunions in this book, and they're all wonderful. Unfortunately, there are so many characters crammed in near the end that everyone's going to be disappointed that their favorites get so few lines. The new characters weren't that great either.
Also, they died?? That's the only way they could stay in Narnia? We all know Lucy would stay in a heartbeat, but what if Edmund had a life and plans to get back to? Well you bloody don't have a choice now! It's treated as entirely good news. Aslan's out here like, hey guess what you're dead now so you can party with me for forever! Woohoo! The end, roll credits.
Lewis had to massively retconn to pull this stunt. One mystery that always intrigued me reading through the series is, who is the narrator? The easy answer is Lewis himself, but the unamed voice could also be a character. Either way, the writer is part of the story. This is evident in Dawntreader, when he speaks of Lucy telling him about her experience at the Magician's mansion. And in that, he mentions that she still thinks about that story she read and wishes to read again. But she's dead now, and since Narnia is an extension of heaven now, did the writer die and get brought back to life just to finish the chronicle?
Narnia shouldn't end. Obviously the series has to end somehow, and Lewis was obviously planning this when he wrote Magician's Nephew, but I'm reminded of a quote I once heard that I wish I could find again. It was along the lines of, nothing should ever change in the Hundred Acre Wood; Pooh and friends should always be there just as you left them.
Good doggos though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Death, Violence, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Misogyny and Sexism
auntiejamie's review
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Read this book as a kid and decided to revisit it. Big mistake. Lewis lets his casual racism and misogyny fly. It's awful. There's a part of me that wishes I hadn't reread the book so I could hold all the good memories in my mind.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny and Racism
Minor: Slavery, Torture, Violence, and War
morgcxn's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Violence, Religious bigotry, Toxic friendship, and War