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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
I really enjoyed this book....much more than I thought I would. It is a wonderful story of adventure and coming into your own. An interesting tough was the obvious Moses story connection.
Molto carino anche se proprio per bambini, non a caso fino ad ora è il preferito di mio figlio.
The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis
Where did I get This book?: I got it from the library. Although I own a copy, it is currently at my mother's house.
How did I find out about this book?: I read it when I was child, over and over again. It was one of my favorite books. I read the covers off of The Chronicles of Narnia, and in some ways, they were my very first exposure to the fantasy genre. I fell in love with the idea of being able to go to a new country and have grand adventures.
Plot: In this book, a boy named Shasta suddenly finds that the man who he thought was his father is not his father at all. In fact, his "father" is actually a man who just found Shasta in a canoe, and when a traveling man comes through and offers to buy Shasta because he wants a slave, the fisherman agrees. So, Narnia sets off with a talking horse to try to go to Narnia, and along the way he meets Aravis, a fellow runaway.
Quote: “My good Horse," said the Hermit, who had approached them unnoticed because his bare feet made so little noise on that sweet, dewy grass. "My good Horse, you've lost nothing but your self-conceit. No, no, cousin. Don't put back your ears and shake your mane at me. If you are really so humbled as you sounded a minute ago, you must learn to listen to sense. You're not quite the great Horse you had come to think, from living among poor dumb horses. Of course you were braver and cleverer than them. You could hardly help being that. It doesn't follow that you'll be anyone very special in Narnia. But as long as you know you're nobody very special, you'll be a very decent sort of Horse, on the whole, and taking one thing with another.”
Positives: This book is set in the world of Narnia, so instead of the main characters having to leave at the end of the book, the reader gets to see their lives continue. You also get to see a broader part of the world, which means you get to engage in areas that are not normally described in the other books. I also really liked Aravis, as I thought she was clever and strong-willed and stubborn. When I was younger, I also particularly liked that you got to see the Pevensies being grown kings and queens in Narnia, and you got to see what kind of people they became. I also loved how Lucy was described, and that she went to war with the boys. There's a lot of fun parts about this book and I think the talking horses were described really well, and they added so much to the story.
Negatives: So, this book was racist. There's no way around it. It was racist, and it was obviously so. I understand that it was written in the fifties, but even so, it was hard to read. The Narnians are described as beautiful, and part of that has to do with their "fair skin". Meanwhile, the obviously darker-skinned Calormenes are described in very unflattering ways. They own slaves, and their clothes aren't as comfortable. They are the enemy, and the prince is selfish and tries to force Queen Susan to marry him. When she won't, he basically invades Narnia and tries to take over the small country, but he fails. The gods are described as false and negative, and the only other female Calormene character you get to see besides Aravis is described as silly and cowardly because all she wants to do is do "girly" things like talk about society and dresses. Meanwhile, Narnians are described as knowing better and being fair and honest and jolly. Its pretty damning evidence, not to mention the fact that the gender roles in this (as mentioned earlier) are again, a little messed up. Being girly is being perceived as trite and a little silly, whereas the brave girls are described as "almost as good as a man". I understand some of this has to do with the time period, but it still is hard to read. Also, again, there is the obvious symbolism. One of the harder parts of this book for me was when Aslan raked his claws against Aravis to teach her a lesson about treating people well. It just sat so badly with me. I understand that he was matching the lashes her servant girl got because of Aravis' behavior, but it still felt cruel, especially because at the time she had no idea what was happening. Wouldn't it have been better just to talk to her?
Rating: 3 out of 5 talking horses (mostly for nostalgic purposes).
If this book was a food it would be: a sugar cookie in the shape of the cross.
Recommend: If you are a person of faith, or someone who doesn't mind obvious allegory, then you will probably enjoy this series. If you get annoyed by that, or can't handle the racism/sexism of the fifties prominently displayed, then I would move on to another series. Even though this will always be a childhood favorite, and I'll always have positive associations, I can definitely say that they don't improve with time.
Where did I get This book?: I got it from the library. Although I own a copy, it is currently at my mother's house.
How did I find out about this book?: I read it when I was child, over and over again. It was one of my favorite books. I read the covers off of The Chronicles of Narnia, and in some ways, they were my very first exposure to the fantasy genre. I fell in love with the idea of being able to go to a new country and have grand adventures.
Plot: In this book, a boy named Shasta suddenly finds that the man who he thought was his father is not his father at all. In fact, his "father" is actually a man who just found Shasta in a canoe, and when a traveling man comes through and offers to buy Shasta because he wants a slave, the fisherman agrees. So, Narnia sets off with a talking horse to try to go to Narnia, and along the way he meets Aravis, a fellow runaway.
Quote: “My good Horse," said the Hermit, who had approached them unnoticed because his bare feet made so little noise on that sweet, dewy grass. "My good Horse, you've lost nothing but your self-conceit. No, no, cousin. Don't put back your ears and shake your mane at me. If you are really so humbled as you sounded a minute ago, you must learn to listen to sense. You're not quite the great Horse you had come to think, from living among poor dumb horses. Of course you were braver and cleverer than them. You could hardly help being that. It doesn't follow that you'll be anyone very special in Narnia. But as long as you know you're nobody very special, you'll be a very decent sort of Horse, on the whole, and taking one thing with another.”
Positives: This book is set in the world of Narnia, so instead of the main characters having to leave at the end of the book, the reader gets to see their lives continue. You also get to see a broader part of the world, which means you get to engage in areas that are not normally described in the other books. I also really liked Aravis, as I thought she was clever and strong-willed and stubborn. When I was younger, I also particularly liked that you got to see the Pevensies being grown kings and queens in Narnia, and you got to see what kind of people they became. I also loved how Lucy was described, and that she went to war with the boys. There's a lot of fun parts about this book and I think the talking horses were described really well, and they added so much to the story.
Negatives: So, this book was racist. There's no way around it. It was racist, and it was obviously so. I understand that it was written in the fifties, but even so, it was hard to read. The Narnians are described as beautiful, and part of that has to do with their "fair skin". Meanwhile, the obviously darker-skinned Calormenes are described in very unflattering ways. They own slaves, and their clothes aren't as comfortable. They are the enemy, and the prince is selfish and tries to force Queen Susan to marry him. When she won't, he basically invades Narnia and tries to take over the small country, but he fails. The gods are described as false and negative, and the only other female Calormene character you get to see besides Aravis is described as silly and cowardly because all she wants to do is do "girly" things like talk about society and dresses. Meanwhile, Narnians are described as knowing better and being fair and honest and jolly. Its pretty damning evidence, not to mention the fact that the gender roles in this (as mentioned earlier) are again, a little messed up. Being girly is being perceived as trite and a little silly, whereas the brave girls are described as "almost as good as a man". I understand some of this has to do with the time period, but it still is hard to read. Also, again, there is the obvious symbolism. One of the harder parts of this book for me was when Aslan raked his claws against Aravis to teach her a lesson about treating people well. It just sat so badly with me. I understand that he was matching the lashes her servant girl got because of Aravis' behavior, but it still felt cruel, especially because at the time she had no idea what was happening. Wouldn't it have been better just to talk to her?
Rating: 3 out of 5 talking horses (mostly for nostalgic purposes).
If this book was a food it would be: a sugar cookie in the shape of the cross.
Recommend: If you are a person of faith, or someone who doesn't mind obvious allegory, then you will probably enjoy this series. If you get annoyed by that, or can't handle the racism/sexism of the fifties prominently displayed, then I would move on to another series. Even though this will always be a childhood favorite, and I'll always have positive associations, I can definitely say that they don't improve with time.
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
promising start ruined by a supporting cast of the driest characters possible.
Continue the journey of Narnia- though this time you find yourself in Tashbaan and following the adventure of Shasta, a boy found and raised by a Arsheesh, a Calormene fisherman. Arsheesh runs away from home with his "father's" talking horse- a horse kidnapped from Narnia as a fowl. Bree (the horse) and Sashta plan to escape back to Narnia and en route encourter Avaris and her talking horse, Hwin. Avaris is running away from a planned marriage.
The story tells the exciting story of their journey and the struggles the face and the secrets they learn in traveling to Narnia. The book ends with a war between Tashbaan and Narnia (where you finally encounter the familiar characters of Edmund, Lucy, Susan, Peer, and Aslan).
A great continuation of the story.
The story tells the exciting story of their journey and the struggles the face and the secrets they learn in traveling to Narnia. The book ends with a war between Tashbaan and Narnia (where you finally encounter the familiar characters of Edmund, Lucy, Susan, Peer, and Aslan).
A great continuation of the story.
1) The obvious middle-east influence is just distracting- I don’t think Narnia draws on any real world influences, it’s a magical land, but this just kinda poorly draws from the Middle East. It just feels kinda lazy, borderline stereotyping, and either way- it (poorly) reminds me of a real place across most of the book, not really what I’m looking for in a fantasy book.
2) The characters are all largely unlikable for the majority of the story, then they’re taught basic lessons at the end, hooray. Meanwhile Corin is told “no war”, he ignores it and coulda died, lol that’s fine, let’s keep that message in a kid’s book. Like- these people/horses all suck, I’m really not rooting for them, Shasta is lifeless until the end and he’s the only one not downright dislikable (Hwin is ok too but deferent and devoid of personality).
3) Wayyy too much miraculous “right place, right time” nonsense- 2 key discussions happen when our “heroes” just happen to be there without others seeing them or realizing who they are/aren’t. This is the second time the “hide from someone randomly entering a room” has been used, and Lewis actually feels the need to explain it in the story, which is a good sign that your plot-device is ill-conceived. Oh, and the two riders on magic horses meeting in the first place- it all strains belief, even for a kid, which is why I think this is where I left off as a youth.
Really disappointing effort- the battle scene being told by the hermit sucked as well. It still does just enough to keep my interest, but when I look back at the actual nuts and bolts of this mess- woof, what a letdown after the classic best-in-the-series.
2) The characters are all largely unlikable for the majority of the story, then they’re taught basic lessons at the end, hooray. Meanwhile Corin is told “no war”, he ignores it and coulda died, lol that’s fine, let’s keep that message in a kid’s book. Like- these people/horses all suck, I’m really not rooting for them, Shasta is lifeless until the end and he’s the only one not downright dislikable (Hwin is ok too but deferent and devoid of personality).
3) Wayyy too much miraculous “right place, right time” nonsense- 2 key discussions happen when our “heroes” just happen to be there without others seeing them or realizing who they are/aren’t. This is the second time the “hide from someone randomly entering a room” has been used, and Lewis actually feels the need to explain it in the story, which is a good sign that your plot-device is ill-conceived. Oh, and the two riders on magic horses meeting in the first place- it all strains belief, even for a kid, which is why I think this is where I left off as a youth.
Really disappointing effort- the battle scene being told by the hermit sucked as well. It still does just enough to keep my interest, but when I look back at the actual nuts and bolts of this mess- woof, what a letdown after the classic best-in-the-series.
Other than The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, this is my favorite Narnia book so far. There was a clear quest and some fun surprises at the end. My nephews liked the best too.
[Reading in chronological order, #3]
Holy nose dive, Batman. Didn’t enjoy this at all. Partly because it’s boring. Mostly because it’s remote than a little racist. Hopefully it’s an anomaly on both accounts.
Alex Jennings narrated this in audio.
Holy nose dive, Batman. Didn’t enjoy this at all. Partly because it’s boring. Mostly because it’s remote than a little racist. Hopefully it’s an anomaly on both accounts.
Alex Jennings narrated this in audio.