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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
The series kind of ends in a weird way. I honestly liked the way the story begun. A donkey impersonating Aslan after being pressured to by his Ape friend. You know, that's interesting (kind of). I thought I knew how the whole thing would end, but I didn't. Polly, Diggory, Peter, Edmund, and Lucy all die and end up in heaven with their parents (who also die). It's treated as a happy thing, but Susan is left behind and none of her siblings seem sad about it. They sort of talk a little shit about her.
Don't even get me started on the blatant racism. It really dates the books. The emphasis on the brown faces of the people from Calormen vs the white Narnians. Jesus. plus, the characters do blackface. Or I guess it's brownface this time. It's all really distasteful to read as a black woman.
Don't even get me started on the blatant racism. It really dates the books. The emphasis on the brown faces of the people from Calormen vs the white Narnians. Jesus. plus, the characters do blackface. Or I guess it's brownface this time. It's all really distasteful to read as a black woman.
Spoiler
This is probably one of the most divisive books I have ever read. There is no doubt that this is well-written with many of the strengths that have made the chronicles of Narnia so popular. However, it is impossible not to judge it by modern standards and the book is undoubtedly sexist and racist beyond belief. I struggled to get through multiple parts of this book from the characters literally dressing in blackface to apparently the word girl being so heinous it cannot be said in heaven.It's unfortunate but this poor ageing is constantly seen throughout the entire series and, when I have children, I will not read this to them until they are old enough to critically think about CS Lewis' writing. This series is so pro-christian and white English it's a joke - the enemies (especially in this book) are extremely negative stereotypes of Muslims and Arabs. This frustrates me as Lewis is clearly a smart man but his viewpoints as expressed in this series are just so outdated in this modern world.
There's no discussion on the literary importance of the Chronicles of Narnia but it is equally important to understand that they aren't just escapist fiction but very harmful propaganda. It reminds of certain films such as Triumph of the Will which are innovative in terms of scale but deliver a very awful message.
No one talk to me oh my goodness gracious.
Actually I have really got no commentary like it went so fast and now it's over and what am I supposed to do with myself now......
Shift is such a narcissist though I'm glad we didn't get too much of him as the book went on because I have written far too much on other narcissists in media to deal with him.
Super spoilery from here on out so let me tag it.
But also I gotta mention the part that rubbed me the wrong way and that was how much emphasis Lewis put on the Calormen being dark-skinned. To the point that there was a passage about how when they were finished being disguised, "we shall become White Narnians again." Uhh That's Not.....
Yeah I guess it's sort of time expected and Tolkien did similar stuff but this book was like aggressive with it and I did not like it (and I'm quite literally white). Lost a star there.
But as a summary I am so very unwell and oh my goodness my heart.....admitting Narnia to my list of favorite series I think.
Actually I have really got no commentary like it went so fast and now it's over and what am I supposed to do with myself now......
Shift is such a narcissist though I'm glad we didn't get too much of him as the book went on because I have written far too much on other narcissists in media to deal with him.
Super spoilery from here on out so let me tag it.
Spoiler
The revelation that Susan became all worldly and decided Narnia was just a children's thing???? After in Prince Caspian she doesn't want to believe in Aslan?? Excuse me?? And now this ties to the other fact that there actually WAS a railway accident????? All her family is just dead now?? Like yee haw Aslan's country but also oh my goodness the parallels to Christianity were extra strong here. Pain. Suffering. Also the part of Aslan calling the stars home....But also I gotta mention the part that rubbed me the wrong way and that was how much emphasis Lewis put on the Calormen being dark-skinned. To the point that there was a passage about how when they were finished being disguised, "we shall become White Narnians again." Uhh That's Not.....
Yeah I guess it's sort of time expected and Tolkien did similar stuff but this book was like aggressive with it and I did not like it (and I'm quite literally white). Lost a star there.
But as a summary I am so very unwell and oh my goodness my heart.....admitting Narnia to my list of favorite series I think.
What! That’s how they ended it. It was a great story the series end was not really what I was expecting but it was interesting
Wow, this was really a departure from the rest of the series. No adventure, not much story, just a bunch of heavy-handed religious metaphors. The badness of this story underlines the fact that the "logic" of Christianity just doesn't add up. In the other books, there was at least a story to carry you along and keep you interested.
I can imagine what it would have been like if I'd read this book when I read the first few Narnia books as a kid: "Huh? Whuh? What's happening? Why would they do that? But that doesn't make sense! Why don't they...? Why doesn't he...? But he... But they..." Yeah. It really doesn't fit with the rest of the series, and Magician's Nephew was almost (but not quite) as bad as this, so maybe Lewis was either running out of ideas or losing it in his old age.
I can imagine what it would have been like if I'd read this book when I read the first few Narnia books as a kid: "Huh? Whuh? What's happening? Why would they do that? But that doesn't make sense! Why don't they...? Why doesn't he...? But he... But they..." Yeah. It really doesn't fit with the rest of the series, and Magician's Nephew was almost (but not quite) as bad as this, so maybe Lewis was either running out of ideas or losing it in his old age.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
apocalyptic end of the world!
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Rereading this while studying Revelation (BSF 2024-2025), my opinion moved from four stars to five. Hearing it read by Patrick Stewart was a bonus added this creation by a genius storyteller.
Every person’s reading list should provide insight into them as a person. Not that they approve of all that they read, but some themes should emerge that follow more than just their reading life. If you are reading these remarks in preparation for my eulogy, an extended quote about the shadowlands would be most appropriate.
Every person’s reading list should provide insight into them as a person. Not that they approve of all that they read, but some themes should emerge that follow more than just their reading life. If you are reading these remarks in preparation for my eulogy, an extended quote about the shadowlands would be most appropriate.