reviews
Jun 22, 2008
I felt that The Silver Chair gave better character arcs to the "son and daughter of Adam and Eve" than some of the other Narnia books. The focus of the book seemed to be shared between the children, Eustace and Jill, as well as the quest - instead of focusing on the quest alone. Also, the Marsh-wiggle is a well drawn character and pretty unique from Lewis' other personalities in Narnia.
Like the other books in the series, this one continues to touch the surface of the adventur More...
Like the other books in the series, this one continues to touch the surface of the adventur More...
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Jun 05, 2008
I'm just going to give a generic opinion of the whole series.
We love them.
The end.
Okay, so maybe I'll tell you that we read them outloud to the kids almost 2 years ago. So they were 5 going on 6 and 2. They all loved them and followed the plot and talked about the characters during their play.
We're re-reading them again (now ages 8, 4 and 2) and they're loving them even more than the first time. All I hear, all day long is "For Narnia" More...
We love them.
The end.
Okay, so maybe I'll tell you that we read them outloud to the kids almost 2 years ago. So they were 5 going on 6 and 2. They all loved them and followed the plot and talked about the characters during their play.
We're re-reading them again (now ages 8, 4 and 2) and they're loving them even more than the first time. All I hear, all day long is "For Narnia" More...
Jan 14, 2012
Narnia is a magical place... a land you wish you would get to visit at least once in your lifetime! And meet the great Aslan as well... And this book starts with the same idea, wherein Eustace wants to visit this world in the other realm again after his adventures in the previous tale makes him hungry for more. I found The Silver Chair to be one of my favourite stories in these masterpieces of C.S. Lewis. This tale gave me an adventurous feeling none other than the ones I felt while reading The
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Aug 27, 2009
Once again C.S. Lewis went beyond the borders of Narnia for another "Narnian" book - and once again, he came up with a new character with enormous humor and appeal for children.
In this case, the character is Puddleglum the Marsh-Wiggle. He guides Jill Pole and Eustace Scrubb as they "follow the signs" on a quest given them by Aslan. They must rescue the lost Prince Rilian, son of Prince Caspian.
There are several points at which characters are irritatin More...
In this case, the character is Puddleglum the Marsh-Wiggle. He guides Jill Pole and Eustace Scrubb as they "follow the signs" on a quest given them by Aslan. They must rescue the lost Prince Rilian, son of Prince Caspian.
There are several points at which characters are irritatin More...
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Apr 12, 2010
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Jan 23, 2012
Over and Under Narnia
(A Book Review of C. S. Lewis’s The Silver Chair)
The Silver Chair by C. S. Lewis is considered the penultimate book in The Chronicles of Narnia, and I have no contention why readers said that it’s an all together different book (though I had taken a much different tack in reading the series for reasons stated on this post). At the outset it is the first book in the series that does not have anything to do with the Pevensie siblings; instead it features Eust More...
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May 13, 2011
I started the series with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, making this the fifth book I've read in the series, and so far it's my least favorite. I wasn't going to proceed with the series after the first book I read, because I found the blatant Christian Allegory annoying, but friends told me that, except for The Last Battle, that aspect of the books becomes less evident--and I pretty much found that to be the case, including in this book, although it's hard not to see it when Aslan the Lio
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Sep 16, 2010
Finally, a proper novel! Thank you, Mr. Lewis. Sixth time's the charm, eh?
The Silver Chair is my favorite out of all the Narnia books. Not only does it have all the usual elements of this wonderful, rich fantasy world Lewis created, but the characters are better, at least in my opinion, the story feels less contrived, and it has the added benefit of being a proper novel. That is to say, it has: a) an actual plot; b) an identifiable climactic point; and c) a clear, concise denouement More...
The Silver Chair is my favorite out of all the Narnia books. Not only does it have all the usual elements of this wonderful, rich fantasy world Lewis created, but the characters are better, at least in my opinion, the story feels less contrived, and it has the added benefit of being a proper novel. That is to say, it has: a) an actual plot; b) an identifiable climactic point; and c) a clear, concise denouement More...
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Apr 02, 2010
I absolutely loved this book. It wasn't because of Puddleglum.
This is still my first time through Narnia and, though three books in the series remain, The Silver Chair has pushed the Wardrobe to the side. Maybe it's because I'm more into Lewis' flow after four adventures. Maybe I'm in a better position to appreciate fiction. Or maybe it was the story itself. No matter, I eagerly read this to the kids. Some nights I read two chapters (time permitting) because I wanted to know what hap More...
This is still my first time through Narnia and, though three books in the series remain, The Silver Chair has pushed the Wardrobe to the side. Maybe it's because I'm more into Lewis' flow after four adventures. Maybe I'm in a better position to appreciate fiction. Or maybe it was the story itself. No matter, I eagerly read this to the kids. Some nights I read two chapters (time permitting) because I wanted to know what hap More...
Jun 23, 2008
Although not my all time favorite (that honored place belongs to Prince Caspian)the Silver Chair is next in line. According to Douglas Gresham, Lewis had a peticularly rough time choosing a title for this book that the publishers would except. He went through, Knight's under Narnia, Nomes under Narnia, News nder Narnia, and then breaking with his, "under Narnia" theme, the Silver Chair. This title is perfect for this story. Puddleglum, is a great character. He's, probably the reas
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Nov 21, 2009
The last two books are definitely not in line for my favourites. There are various factors -- one of which is simply that I don't like seeing Narnia come to an end! But the main one is that I don't find Jill, Eustace and Puddleglum that compelling as main characters. Or Rillian, for that matter, even though he's Caspian's son. They're quite realistic and human, and lack the nobility that Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy have, I think. Perhaps too realistic. I want to kick Jill a lot of the time for
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Jul 26, 2008
Possibly my favorite of the set. I re-read it a couple of years ago and discovered it's an allegory of Plato's Cave. It's a pleasure to come back to something you knew well at one time and realize there's a great deal to it that you missed entirely. Actually, it was strange because I was in a play at the time (4.48 Psychosis) and came to find out The Silver Chair was referenced in it, as well. The character in the play claims that she experiences only one hour of sanity each night (4:48am),
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Jun 29, 2008
This book is only one of my favorites from this series. The whole Chronicles of Narnia series is absolutely amazing. They have such great symbolism and show how great of a guy C.S. Lewis was. Although all the books are great, The Silver Chair is probably my favorite. It is so true that if we don't follow the 'signs' in life that we can go so wrong. Just like Jill, we can't always assume that something that looks and sounds as good as the feast at the giants is good. Temptation can lead us so far
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Dec 15, 2008
Remind me not to vote CS Lewis for school board. In his mind, a school is corrupt if a) there is a female headmistress, b) the children don't learn Latin and read the Bible every day, c) girls and boys are allowed to interact, d) girls are not taught to curtsey or e) children are not beaten for misbehaving.
All that is beside the point of the plot, but Lewis just can't control his parenthetical asides. Whenever something goes wrong for the children, he jumps into the narrative to More...
All that is beside the point of the plot, but Lewis just can't control his parenthetical asides. Whenever something goes wrong for the children, he jumps into the narrative to More...
Oct 23, 2011
It's been a long time since I've read anything in Narnia, and I started here because we'd just seen the Voyage of the Dawn Treader movie. The silver chair is not the best of the Narnia novels, but it's still good, with its thoughtful theological backing and decently fun adventure. Not sure how they're going to make a movie of this one though... In any case, it reminded me of why I loved the Narnia novels when I was younger. It's the thought of escaping to a fantasy land and coming back wiser and
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Sep 08, 2011
Of the seven Narnia books, my relationship with most is clear. I adore "Nephew", "Lion" and "Horse", am indifferent about "Caspian" and "Voyage", and despise "Battle. But "The Silver Chair" and I have admired and resented each other, equally, since I first read it as a kid.
On the one hand... this is perhaps the most justifiably dark book in the series, as Jill and Eustace (replacing, thankfully, those tiresome Pevensie More...
On the one hand... this is perhaps the most justifiably dark book in the series, as Jill and Eustace (replacing, thankfully, those tiresome Pevensie More...
Aug 29, 2011
I think I am just a little too invested in this series at this point, because even though Aslan told us at the end of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader that we wouldn't be seeing Pevensies anymore, I was really resentful of Jill and Eustace for getting to go to Narnia when Lucy didn't. WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME.
To be fair I read this whole book by candlelight in the middle of a hurricane, so there's that.
Anyway, I actually really liked this book. I love quest narratives (tha More...
To be fair I read this whole book by candlelight in the middle of a hurricane, so there's that.
Anyway, I actually really liked this book. I love quest narratives (tha More...
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Aug 20, 2011
This was solidly my favorite Narnia book so far. Eustace, who we met in the last book, comes upon an acquaintance, Jill, crying behind the gym because the school bullies have been tormenting her. Trying to escape the bullies, the two children duck through a doorway in the school's wall, which turns out to be a doorway into Narnia. (This single scene fed about 90% of the fantasies and daydreams I had as a child.)
Once in Narnia, Aslan commissions the children with a quest: find the More...
Once in Narnia, Aslan commissions the children with a quest: find the More...
Jul 22, 2011
This is one of my favorite books in The Chronicles of Narnia series. It follows the formula of many medieval quests: the heroes land in a predicament, set out to make things right, and encounter adventure along the way. Lewis fits many lessons about the Christian life into the story. Like the other Narnian tales, the visitors from our world (Jill and Eustace) become better prepared for facing life in our world because of their experience in Narnia.
This book introduces one of my favor More...
This book introduces one of my favor More...
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Jul 12, 2011
Many folks have fond memories of reading the Narnia books as children. I loved "The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe" as a kid and enjoyed it as an adult. Now that I'm re-reading the series with children of my own, I'm struck by how un-charming, pedestrian and just plain 'blah' several of the other books are. "The Silver Chair" is my least favorite, and that's saying a lot, given my distaste for "The Horse and His Boy" and the even worse "Voyage of the Dawn Tr
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Mar 02, 2011
This book could be considered a stand alone, but I highly recommend reading the preceding stories in the Narnia series for first. As a part of the Narnia series, it is definitely interesting, but not the best nor worst of the series. For those who haven't heard of Narnia, it is a magical land watched over by Aslan the great lion and inhabited by noble people, mythical creatures, and talking animals.
In the Silver Chair, Eustace (who has visited before) and his schoolmate Jill are runnin More...
In the Silver Chair, Eustace (who has visited before) and his schoolmate Jill are runnin More...
Mar 01, 2011
Sporo czasu upłynęło od ostatniego przeczytania całości cyklu narnijskiego i w pamięci ciągle miałem za niepodważalny fakt, że "Podróż Wędrowca Do Świtu" jest częścią tegoż cyklu najlepszą. Ponowne zapoznanie się ze "Srebrnym krzesłem" doprowadziło do rewizji tego przekonania. Ta część książki wypada dużo lepiej pod wieloma względami. Najważniejsze z nich to kapitalne pomysły na kolejne lokacje Narnii, które eksplorują bohaterowie, oraz niesamowity comic relief w postaci wiec
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Feb 12, 2011
After seeing the three movies it got me curious.
Sadly, I'm way past the age when i would have appreciated it to its full potential in the same way that soon I'll be past the age when i appreciate vampire books and such. The way I've become now, these books, what can I say... disagree with the 'now' me.
What's fascinating about this book in a rather grown-up sort of way is that I got the feeling that Eustace and Jill were real, in a way that Prince Charming, Harry Potter an More...
Sadly, I'm way past the age when i would have appreciated it to its full potential in the same way that soon I'll be past the age when i appreciate vampire books and such. The way I've become now, these books, what can I say... disagree with the 'now' me.
What's fascinating about this book in a rather grown-up sort of way is that I got the feeling that Eustace and Jill were real, in a way that Prince Charming, Harry Potter an More...
Sep 30, 2010
The sixth book in the Narnia series is absolutely great! I loved it; as always, the writing style was great and described everything perfectly, as the familiar face of Eustace Scrubb (Voyage of the Dawn Treader) and newcomer Jill Pole journey into Narnia, and try to recover King Caspian's son, Prince Rilian, who has mysteriously gone missing after the death of his mother ten Narinain years ago.
Along the way, Eustace and Jill make a friend, a marsh-wiggle named Puddleglum. He always looks More...
Along the way, Eustace and Jill make a friend, a marsh-wiggle named Puddleglum. He always looks More...
Sep 12, 2010
Like I said in my recent review of Prince Caspian, one of the highlights of reading the Narnia series is to understand the different ways that Lewis allegorically describes Christianity. The Silver Chair is full of things to consider — remembering God’s promises and instructions; not taking your eyes off of God’s promises to you, being bound and shackled by an enemy, the continuing war against darkness, being misunderstood by others in your life’s work, knowing who you are and where you come fro
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Jul 20, 2010
I'm sure it would be tiresome to mention that this book annoyed me in the same way that the final book of Pullman's His Dark Materials did but there it is. Don't beat me over the head with your depiction of the Underworld, Underlands or whatever you want to call it, and the powers of darkness. I get it.
And the children in this one were bleak and beastly; I didn't like either of them and it's hard to care about characters you don't really like. I grew to like Puddleglum but I want More...
And the children in this one were bleak and beastly; I didn't like either of them and it's hard to care about characters you don't really like. I grew to like Puddleglum but I want More...
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Apr 05, 2010
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Dec 13, 2009
Narnia... where owls are wise, where some of the giants like to snack on humans (and, if carefully cooked, or Marsh-wiggles, too), where a prince is put under an evil spell... and where the adventure begins.
Eustace and Jill escape from the bullies at school through a strange door in the wall, which, for once, is unlocked. It leads to the open moor... or does it? Once again Aslan has a task for the children, and Narnia needs them. Through dangers untold and caverns deep and dark, they More...
Eustace and Jill escape from the bullies at school through a strange door in the wall, which, for once, is unlocked. It leads to the open moor... or does it? Once again Aslan has a task for the children, and Narnia needs them. Through dangers untold and caverns deep and dark, they More...
Jul 22, 2009
These books are meant to be Christian literature, but they only resemble Biblical stories in very superficial ways. In order to get from Biblical stories to the Chronicles of Narnia, you have to remove all the horrible details, like God commanding 'every living thing that breathes' to be killed in Jericho, and you have to add a good deal of charisma and nobility. For instance, you wouldn't see Prince Caspian whoring his wife out. That's just not something he would do. However, that is exactl
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Jun 18, 2011
‘The Silver Chair’ is a wonderful masterpiece of the series. It is beautifully laid out to show the ability of satanic elements to lure you inexplicably into horrendous situations and use you for your full worth to gain whatever evil purpose they mean to gain and then abandon you to your own devices. However, the most interesting aspect that Mr. (or as I recently learnt Prof.) Lewis has brought up in this book is that it is not very difficult to free yourself from the clutches of evil, you just
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