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adventurous
mysterious
fast-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:
Yes
it's all fun and games until the book ends with "and his father came back from india" and you remember that the dad spent all that time being a colonizer...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Misogyny, Sexism, Terminal illness, Gaslighting, Alcohol
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse
Minor: Genocide, Slavery, Violence, Grief, Colonisation, War
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
As an adult, never reading this book as a child or any of the Narnia series, I was excited as this was full of adventure. I remember not wanting to put the book down. This adventure takes place in London, and it starts with two friends named Diggory and Polly. This adventure was all because of Deggory's uncle, a bad jive guy who shows what sin is with greed and vanity. He gives the two children rings and transports them to a wood beautiful wood with light around them that makes them forget everything, even their names. Around the children are pools of water. They go into one and travel to a desolate and scary universe where Diggory gets tempted and wakes a very beautiful woman, one Jadis. At first he believes she is of a good nature . However, this woman ends up being quite mean and wicked. She wants a new world because hers is dying there's no one left. Polly and Diggory eventually start figuring this out, see the bad in her, and try to leave. Upon leaving she tag along with them to London through the portals. Diggorys uncle is smitten with Jadis and does whatever she wants. Together, both cause chaos, and eventually, Diggory and Polly come up with a plan and place her in a new world. She ends up in a world where she does not feel safe and where she knows that she cannot be defeated. This place is called Narnia. Diggory and Polly meets the creator of all things. Now, this is where I will stop. This book is stunning and connects God with our imaginations and Biblical narratives , which can help bring children closer to Jesus. I am in awe of CS Lewis and I would recommend this book for all ages. I rated it a tad lower due to it being a children's book and having references to a drunk alcoholic Uncle; however, this does show his sinful nature.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Chronic illness, Sexism, Alcohol
Minor: Grief, Death of parent, War
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was significantly less enjoyable to me than The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. The Christian allegory was very heavy handed and this felt unoriginal and uninteresting sometimes. It’s a nice little origin story about Narnia though, so it was fun to read after The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and see Easter eggs. I’m not sure if I want to binge the rest of the series like I had planned after reading this one.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Terminal illness, Alcohol
Minor: Misogyny, Medical content, War
adventurous
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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Chronic illness, Sexism, Terminal illness
Minor: Alcohol
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Terminal illness
Minor: Misogyny, Alcohol
adventurous
funny
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:
No
About as good as I remembered it from childhood (not ever my favorite in the series, but ok).
There were definitely details I appreciated as an adult about Lewis' storytelling that my younger self didn't notice (ex. the children's age-appropriate struggle to do a math sum, the cartoonish self-centeredness of the uncle, the relationship of Strawberry the horse and his cabby, the maid who is having a simply wonderful day of watching the drama unfold, etc.).
I did find the theology a little confusing when applied to children, especially the idea that Aslan would send children on a mission but not tell them what is at stake (eternal unhappiness) if they don't do exactly as they're told. I don't like dire consequences as a punishment for minor infractions committed by children, especially a child who's disobedience would be driven by wanting to heal a dying mother. It's a little too tight of an analogy to the biblical Genesis Creation and Fall narrative, and I wish the connection had been a bit less literal, and a bit less moralistic and fear-inducing for children.
I do think the final warning from Aslan, that great evil committed by power-hungry and uncaring national leaders might cause a literal end to this world is a bit out of place in a children's story. However, I don't think I picked up on that as a kid. I do think the advent of nuclear weapons weighted heavily on Lewis and his contemporaries though, and it is interesting to see that message come through in this story.
I do love the ending that Lewis gave Polly in particular.
There were definitely details I appreciated as an adult about Lewis' storytelling that my younger self didn't notice (ex. the children's age-appropriate struggle to do a math sum, the cartoonish self-centeredness of the uncle, the relationship of Strawberry the horse and his cabby, the maid who is having a simply wonderful day of watching the drama unfold, etc.).
I did find the theology a little confusing when applied to children, especially the idea that Aslan would send children on a mission but not tell them what is at stake (eternal unhappiness) if they don't do exactly as they're told. I don't like dire consequences as a punishment for minor infractions committed by children, especially a child who's disobedience would be driven by wanting to heal a dying mother. It's a little too tight of an analogy to the biblical Genesis Creation and Fall narrative, and I wish the connection had been a bit less literal, and a bit less moralistic and fear-inducing for children.
I do think the final warning from Aslan, that great evil committed by power-hungry and uncaring national leaders might cause a literal end to this world is a bit out of place in a children's story. However, I don't think I picked up on that as a kid. I do think the advent of nuclear weapons weighted heavily on Lewis and his contemporaries though, and it is interesting to see that message come through in this story.
I do love the ending that Lewis gave Polly in particular.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Death of parent, Alcohol
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Chronic illness, Kidnapping
Minor: Grief, Abandonment
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-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:
Complicated
I love this book!!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Genocide, Sexism
Minor: Chronic illness, Alcohol
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Alcohol