Scan barcode
abby_can_read's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
🎧
I enjoyed this book than I expected. This book introduced new characters and I wasn't sure what to think about them. The characters were good, the plot was decent, and the pacing alright.
I enjoyed this book than I expected. This book introduced new characters and I wasn't sure what to think about them. The characters were good, the plot was decent, and the pacing alright.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery
Moderate: Violence, Animal cruelty, and Bullying
Minor: Body shaming, Ableism, and Animal death
lizziaha's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
I think that Jill and Eustace are the most likable protagonists of the series (even though homegirl is an attempted murderer). And Puddlegum makes for a fun quest companion with his dreary outlook. I’m not sure how the reading experience is for everyone, but as someone who was raised Christian, I do find Lewis’s reimagining of biblical events to be funny. Most entertaining propaganda ever.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism
Minor: Bullying
cubbykay's review against another edition
adventurous
2.5
Aslan really was at peak assery in this book. He's far too punishing and sets them up to fail. And before you say, yeah but everything worked out the way it was divinely meant to, know that I don't care and I don't want to hear it. It's stupid. Eustace and Jill's banter is good, but they're also insufferable sometimes and can be ignorant and negligent to a point that is not entertainable in a dramatic irony sense.
Lewis's own narrative was also pretty obnoxious. He switches between empowering and belittling women with confounding irregularity. There's some fatphobia and his constant shade throwing on modern schooling is very boomer mentality. "How could they not be teaching the bible or showing the girls how to curtsy grumble grumble."
The feast with the gentle giants was the first interesting thing that happened in the book, and while I can enjoy dark twists, it felt too far for a children's book.
Puddle-Glum and the villian kind of save the story. They are a joy and well written.
But my final gripe with this book is how Caspian waited his whole life to see our world and all he gets is 5 minutes? And it's spent terrorizing school children? I'd have some strong words with Aslan after that. At least let the man try a pizza or see a movie or something. I was mad for him.
Lewis's own narrative was also pretty obnoxious. He switches between empowering and belittling women with confounding irregularity. There's some fatphobia and his constant shade throwing on modern schooling is very boomer mentality. "How could they not be teaching the bible or showing the girls how to curtsy grumble grumble."
The feast with the gentle giants was the first interesting thing that happened in the book, and while I can enjoy dark twists, it felt too far for a children's book.
Puddle-Glum and the villian kind of save the story. They are a joy and well written.
But my final gripe with this book is
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Fatphobia, Cannibalism, and Misogyny
Minor: Animal death, Animal cruelty, and Bullying
annaofjesup's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, Gaslighting, Blood, and Death of parent
Minor: Bullying, Grief, Sexism, and War
clevermird's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The Chronicles of Narnia are wrapping up!
The Silver Chair is, depending on if you go by publication or in-universe chronological order, either the fourth or the sixth book in C.S. Lewis' children's fantasy series. This book was my second favorite of the Chronicles as a child, but while it's still a fun, engaging read, I don't think it holds up quite as well as some of the others.
Our perspective character is Jill Pole, an acquaintance of Eustace Clarence Scrubb (from Voyage of the Dawn Treader). While running from bullies at their dysfunctional school, they stumble their way through a back door and into Narnia, where Eustace promptly falls off a cliff and Jill is given a list of directions that will guide them to the missing heir to the Narnian throne.
Jill is an interesting contrast to the Pevensie sisters, as she reacts more like I think the average child would be when thrown into another world - confused, uncomfortable, homesick, but still also able to be sucked into the excitement at times.
I think the biggest downside for this one, the one that's kept it from being quite as much of a "love" as it was when I was a kid, is how simplistic the plot is. Not that there's nothing below the surface. The Christian messages aren't quite as blatant compared to some of the other books, but the story is still an allegory for faith and obedience despite a lack of clear understanding, and as an adult I now recognize the references to Plato's Allegory of the Cave in the climax as well. But much of the story is simply following Aslan's directions and going from point A to point B, and it doesn't have quite the wonder of some of the other books.
Overall, a solid children's adventure story with a bit to chew on for adults as well, but not quite the masterpiece that some of the other books in the series are.
The Silver Chair is, depending on if you go by publication or in-universe chronological order, either the fourth or the sixth book in C.S. Lewis' children's fantasy series. This book was my second favorite of the Chronicles as a child, but while it's still a fun, engaging read, I don't think it holds up quite as well as some of the others.
Our perspective character is Jill Pole, an acquaintance of Eustace Clarence Scrubb (from Voyage of the Dawn Treader). While running from bullies at their dysfunctional school, they stumble their way through a back door and into Narnia, where Eustace promptly falls off a cliff and Jill is given a list of directions that will guide them to the missing heir to the Narnian throne.
Jill is an interesting contrast to the Pevensie sisters, as she reacts more like I think the average child would be when thrown into another world - confused, uncomfortable, homesick, but still also able to be sucked into the excitement at times.
I think the biggest downside for this one, the one that's kept it from being quite as much of a "love" as it was when I was a kid, is how simplistic the plot is. Not that there's nothing below the surface. The Christian messages aren't quite as blatant compared to some of the other books, but the story is still an allegory for faith and obedience despite a lack of clear understanding, and as an adult I now recognize the references to Plato's Allegory of the Cave in the climax as well. But much of the story is simply following Aslan's directions and going from point A to point B, and it doesn't have quite the wonder of some of the other books.
Overall, a solid children's adventure story with a bit to chew on for adults as well, but not quite the masterpiece that some of the other books in the series are.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Bullying, Gaslighting, and Kidnapping
Minor: Slavery, Violence, Cannibalism, and Death of parent
esme_may's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
The best of these I’ve read so far. Much better plotted than The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, with fun new characters and a unique swampy setting compared to the others
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Body shaming, Misogyny, Bullying, Murder, Sexism, and Slavery
sarah_speaks's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting
Moderate: Sexism and Violence
Minor: Bullying, Death, and Death of parent
solouncapitulomas's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
as predicted i did not enjoy this book as much as the previous ones, it's going downhill from here apparently, i did not like Jill and Eustace even tho he is not that bad i don't like him (and this coming from someone that loves Edmund) i miss the Pevensies sm; my Lucy and Peter more than the others. there's only three books lefts and i will endure them.
i was listening to bittersweet tragedy by melanie martinez while writing this very short review
i was listening to bittersweet tragedy by melanie martinez while writing this very short review
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Blood and Kidnapping
Minor: Bullying, Death, and Slavery
leilaliw's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Minor: Bullying and Death
skaruto2's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Slavery, Death, and Bullying
More...