Scan barcode
A review by romankurys
The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis
2.0
This was probably the hardest 2 stars to give ever...if for no other reason then: "ITS NARNIA!!!"
How can this blasphemy of 2 stars even enter my mind, right?
If I do remove Narnia from this book however, all of a sudden 2 stars seems like an appropriate overall rating.
Characters: 3
The talking horse wins. And it's kinda silly that the talking horse is my most favorite character out of everyone in the tale, but it really was. Others just did not grip me. They felt dry and not someone I could care about. The story was driving them forward, and they were in for a ride. Things happened and they reacted. Also stereotypes galore...all the way through, I did my best to understand but it's boring if I can tell what he character is going t do or say next.
With the horse...I could never tell and that was fun.
Plot: 1
I don't know what happened here, it I feel like there almost was no plot. I usually never guess how stories are going to end but this one I just knew. Beginning was very promising and I thought I was in for a ride, like the previous Narnia books, but that didn't happen. This also did not feel like Narnia, since most of the story didn't even happen in Narnia. Although bringing some of the familiar heroes was a nice touch. Not enough to keep me truly interested.
Setting: 2
Here I felt conflicted on many levels. I understand that many people love the desert settings in their stories but I am not a fan of the hot places so that was a turn off right from the beginning. I much preferred foresty Narnia to a desert.
Also, Lewis does go a little overboard wth stereotypes in this book, much more then what he's done in the past, and today, I would imagine it does not read the same as it did at the time of writing.
Not judging him, this is his creation so it is what it is, but all the blatantly obvious stereotypes made it very difficult to get into a setting that I already was not a fan of in the first place.
Love and respect Narnia so 2 suggestions:
1. If you read for enjoyment, skip this book.
2. If you're a completionist and must finish all Narnia books, well then...get on with it :)
Roman "Ragnar"
How can this blasphemy of 2 stars even enter my mind, right?
If I do remove Narnia from this book however, all of a sudden 2 stars seems like an appropriate overall rating.
Characters: 3
The talking horse wins. And it's kinda silly that the talking horse is my most favorite character out of everyone in the tale, but it really was. Others just did not grip me. They felt dry and not someone I could care about. The story was driving them forward, and they were in for a ride. Things happened and they reacted. Also stereotypes galore...all the way through, I did my best to understand but it's boring if I can tell what he character is going t do or say next.
With the horse...I could never tell and that was fun.
Plot: 1
I don't know what happened here, it I feel like there almost was no plot. I usually never guess how stories are going to end but this one I just knew. Beginning was very promising and I thought I was in for a ride, like the previous Narnia books, but that didn't happen. This also did not feel like Narnia, since most of the story didn't even happen in Narnia. Although bringing some of the familiar heroes was a nice touch. Not enough to keep me truly interested.
Setting: 2
Here I felt conflicted on many levels. I understand that many people love the desert settings in their stories but I am not a fan of the hot places so that was a turn off right from the beginning. I much preferred foresty Narnia to a desert.
Also, Lewis does go a little overboard wth stereotypes in this book, much more then what he's done in the past, and today, I would imagine it does not read the same as it did at the time of writing.
Not judging him, this is his creation so it is what it is, but all the blatantly obvious stereotypes made it very difficult to get into a setting that I already was not a fan of in the first place.
Love and respect Narnia so 2 suggestions:
1. If you read for enjoyment, skip this book.
2. If you're a completionist and must finish all Narnia books, well then...get on with it :)
Roman "Ragnar"