Take a photo of a barcode or cover
83 reviews for:
Narnia Omnibus: The Magician's Nephew; The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe; The Horse and His Boy
C.S. Lewis
3.94 AVERAGE
83 reviews for:
Narnia Omnibus: The Magician's Nephew; The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe; The Horse and His Boy
C.S. Lewis
3.94 AVERAGE
Favorite Narnia book, hands down. The Pevensies can bite me. Shasta and Aravis are where it's at.
It is very interesting now that I understand the whole Jesus allegory.
One of my favourite books of my childhood, my omnibus of the first three Chronicles of Narnia books is falling apart in the middle because of how often I read and reread this fantastical adventure. Lewis' use of Aslan as an allegory for Jesus Christ is well known, but even as a child who was brought up going to church every Sunday I was well into adolescence before I made the connection. I was far more preoccupied with Lucy's adventures, Edmund's baffling obsession with Turkish Delight, Peter's oldest-child bossiness and Susan's struggle to find her place in the world. Even if you've never read another CS Lewis book, or don't feel you have the attention span for yet another YA series, I highly recommend this book. It stands wonderfully on its own, and has undoubtedly influenced the way I see myself, my siblings, the books I read, and the world I live in - even well into adulthood.
I read and enjoyed The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe several times as a child, but it wasn't until I went to university, that I heard about its religious subtext, which surprised me (not growing up in a Christian household). This was the first time that I've re-read it as an adult and the religious subtext is pretty blatant coming to it now (I especially liked the mention of Jadis as being a Daughter of Lilith, rather than Eve), but it's still a very enjoyable read. Despite the allegory, I still felt the pain of the temptation of Edmund and the humiliation and death of Aslan just as much as I did as a child.
It reads very much of its time, in terms of language and assumptions, not to mention style. I pretty much grew up on Lewis and [a: Enid Blyton|10657|Enid Blyton|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1298204474p2/10657.jpg], so it was all very familiar to me, and comforting, in a way, but it does make assumptions about gender, class and status that would be more challenged today. The voice of the narrator talking directly to the reader is also something that has fallen out of favour in modern writing. It definitely feels, not exactly 'dated', but recognisable as not being a modern story (even setting aside the contents).
Even so, I still think it holds up well as a children's book that draws the reader in and holds their attention well. Characters such as Mr Tumnus, the beavers and, of course, Aslan will live long in the memory and affection of readers for a long time to come.
It reads very much of its time, in terms of language and assumptions, not to mention style. I pretty much grew up on Lewis and [a: Enid Blyton|10657|Enid Blyton|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1298204474p2/10657.jpg], so it was all very familiar to me, and comforting, in a way, but it does make assumptions about gender, class and status that would be more challenged today. The voice of the narrator talking directly to the reader is also something that has fallen out of favour in modern writing. It definitely feels, not exactly 'dated', but recognisable as not being a modern story (even setting aside the contents).
Even so, I still think it holds up well as a children's book that draws the reader in and holds their attention well. Characters such as Mr Tumnus, the beavers and, of course, Aslan will live long in the memory and affection of readers for a long time to come.
Memory: being disappointed that it happened in a completely different place. Jealous of the guy having a horse.
Truthfully, I did not like this book. I found it rather boring. I don't remember most of the plot because it took me so long to read it.
2.5/3 A entertaining story, but some of the content is somewhat problematic - you can clearly see Lewis's prejudices, his view on women etc. So I am reading these just for the story and avoiding getting annoyed/frustrated. Part of the problem of content is because of the time period these books were written and the views of the time - this creates a book with problematic elements to the modern reader. Definitely not my favourite book so far.
Previous rating: 4 stars
Current rating: 2 stars (could've been lower but nostalgia)
This did not age well, and (I say that as along-time lover of the series) it's rather not for all ages. It just does not make sense when you look at it critically. Reading it as an adult woman in 2018 is pretty painful.
"(...) And the dagger is to defend yourse at great need. For you also are not to be in battle."
"Why, sir?" said Lucy. "I think - I don't know but I think I could be brave enough."
"That is not the point," he said. "But battles are ugly when women fight."
Case in point.
Current rating: 2 stars (could've been lower but nostalgia)
This did not age well, and (I say that as along-time lover of the series) it's rather not for all ages. It just does not make sense when you look at it critically. Reading it as an adult woman in 2018 is pretty painful.
"(...) And the dagger is to defend yourse at great need. For you also are not to be in battle."
"Why, sir?" said Lucy. "I think - I don't know but I think I could be brave enough."
"That is not the point," he said. "But battles are ugly when women fight."
Case in point.
https://readwithme2018.com/2019/03/21/throwback-thursday-march-14th-2019-2/