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byrenical's review
adventurous
medium-paced
2.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, and Misogyny
Moderate: Xenophobia
abby_can_read's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
đ§
I've enjoyed the entire series, and I struggled with this book. It was darker compared to previous books, though overall I did enjoy reading it.
I've enjoyed the entire series, and I struggled with this book. It was darker compared to previous books, though overall I did enjoy reading it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia and Death
Moderate: Animal death, Misogyny, and Sexism
Minor: Racial slurs
lizziaha's review against another edition
1.0
Itâs been said before but truly I could not focus on anything except the BLATANT racism in this book, ft. our beloved heroes doing blackface, âdarkiesâ (lewisâs word, not mine) worshipping a god that is revealed to be a demon, and an evil ape (really the racist symbolism is so transparent) creating a fake Aslan for his own gain. I see what c.s. lewis is doing, and it infuriates me. As someone who was raised Christian, i found the rhetoric in this book deeply distasteful. Being intimately familiar with Christian beliefs, i just canât stop thinking about how this book could be so much better. The ending felt like the biggest cop out ever, the end of the world of narnia felt rushed and also i felt like it wasnât a true representation of biblical end times. And donât even get me started on Susan đ¤
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Child death, Death, Murder, Slavery, Racism, Misogyny, and Islamophobia
Moderate: War, Violence, Animal death, and Xenophobia
cubbykay's review against another edition
1.5
It's really hard to sell Christianity when you're THIS racist. Using Lewis's own words against him, nothing vile or hurtful can be done in Aslan's name. So the disgusting slurs he wrote into this book must have been made in the name of Tash.
There are many reunions in this book, and they're all wonderful. Unfortunately, there are so many characters crammed in near the end that everyone's going to be disappointed that their favorites get so few lines. The new characters weren't that great either.
Susan's exclusion feels cheap. The reason is purely to extend the analogy, not to enrich the story; and the excuse feels misogynistic.
Also, they died?? That's the only way they could stay in Narnia? We all know Lucy would stay in a heartbeat, but what if Edmund had a life and plans to get back to? Well you bloody don't have a choice now! It's treated as entirely good news. Aslan's out here like, hey guess what you're dead now so you can party with me for forever! Woohoo! The end, roll credits.
Lewis had to massively retconn to pull this stunt. One mystery that always intrigued me reading through the series is, who is the narrator? The easy answer is Lewis himself, but the unamed voice could also be a character. Either way, the writer is part of the story. This is evident in Dawntreader, when he speaks of Lucy telling him about her experience at the Magician's mansion. And in that, he mentions that she still thinks about that story she read and wishes to read again. But she's dead now, and since Narnia is an extension of heaven now, did the writer die and get brought back to life just to finish the chronicle?
Narnia shouldn't end. Obviously the series has to end somehow, and Lewis was obviously planning this when he wrote Magician's Nephew, but I'm reminded of a quote I once heard that I wish I could find again. It was along the lines of, nothing should ever change in the Hundred Acre Wood; Pooh and friends should always be there just as you left them.
Good doggos though.
There are many reunions in this book, and they're all wonderful. Unfortunately, there are so many characters crammed in near the end that everyone's going to be disappointed that their favorites get so few lines. The new characters weren't that great either.
Also, they died?? That's the only way they could stay in Narnia? We all know Lucy would stay in a heartbeat, but what if Edmund had a life and plans to get back to? Well you bloody don't have a choice now! It's treated as entirely good news. Aslan's out here like, hey guess what you're dead now so you can party with me for forever! Woohoo! The end, roll credits.
Lewis had to massively retconn to pull this stunt. One mystery that always intrigued me reading through the series is, who is the narrator? The easy answer is Lewis himself, but the unamed voice could also be a character. Either way, the writer is part of the story. This is evident in Dawntreader, when he speaks of Lucy telling him about her experience at the Magician's mansion. And in that, he mentions that she still thinks about that story she read and wishes to read again. But she's dead now, and since Narnia is an extension of heaven now, did the writer die and get brought back to life just to finish the chronicle?
Narnia shouldn't end. Obviously the series has to end somehow, and Lewis was obviously planning this when he wrote Magician's Nephew, but I'm reminded of a quote I once heard that I wish I could find again. It was along the lines of, nothing should ever change in the Hundred Acre Wood; Pooh and friends should always be there just as you left them.
Good doggos though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Death, Violence, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Sexism and Misogyny
auntiejamie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Read this book as a kid and decided to revisit it. Big mistake. Lewis lets his casual racism and misogyny fly. It's awful. There's a part of me that wishes I hadn't reread the book so I could hold all the good memories in my mind.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny and Racism
Minor: Violence, War, Torture, and Slavery
esme_may's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5
This book was so unbelievably racist. It deals with the Calormenes very badly and constantly presents Asian as the ârightâ god to believe in. It only manages to be better than The Horse and His Boy by not being painfully boring
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Religious bigotry, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Death, Violence, Murder, Animal death, Misogyny, Sexism, Slavery, and War
Minor: Alcohol and Sexual content
hildemeriksen's review
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Slavery, Racial slurs, Racism, Religious bigotry, and Misogyny
lejam's review against another edition
adventurous
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? No
2.5
Although the general plot line of Narnia is enjoyable, it is very obvious to me that there is racist rhetoric sprinkled throughout the book [if you read it Iâm sure youâll see it]. This last book for me was very uncomfortable to read due to its explicit racism. The plot line itself is generally okay, but personally I would not reread this series again and only recommend the first 2 books and maybe the 4th and 5th just for more background on the movies.
Content Warnings
Minor: Racism and Misogyny
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