The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Chronicles of Narnia, #1) in The Complete Idiots Guide to the Ultimate Reading List

Apr 22, 2010 Lisa (Harmonybites) rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy, novels, fiction, ultimate-reading-list, religion, popular-fiction, spirituality, ebooks, children-s

This begins the seven book Narnia series. This is a well-written, quick read and imaginative. However, C.S. Lewis is an unabashed Christian apologist, and I'm afraid I found the Christian allegory aspect of the book off-putting. (Just as I found Pullman's atheistic themes in his anti-Narnia His Dark Materials --I'm not a fan by and large of polemic works.) I also think I just read this too late--that this is one children's series best read by children given the style and themes.

As a child a This begins the seven book Narnia series. This is a well-written, quick read and imaginative. However, C.S. Lewis is an unabashed Christian apologist, and I'm afraid I found the Christian allegory aspect of the book off-putting. (Just as I found Pullman's atheistic themes in his anti-Narnia His Dark Materials --I'm not a fan by and large of polemic works.) I also think I just read this too late--that this is one children's series best read by children given the style and themes.

As a child a lot of those Christian themes would have probably gone over my head, but reading as an adult I found them just too, too blatant: girls are "daughters of Eve" and boys are "sons of Adam;" Emperor = God the Father; Aslan the Lion = Christ; White Witch, child of Lilith = Satan; Edmund = Judas; Turkish Delight = Apple; Father Christmas coming at the entrance of Aslan represents the birth of Christ; the "ransacking of the witch's fortress" is the harrowing of Hell. (Stone Table maybe the stone tablets of Moses?) I felt preached at.

I also have to admit I'm no fan of Aslan the Lion. When he asked Lucy "Must more people die for Edmund?" I would have happily helped shear his mane. Does he have to rebuke her that way? Lucy is a child. Edmund is a child and her brother on the verge of death, wounded because he was trying to make up for his mistake. And people didn't die because of or for him but because of the Witch. *catches breath after rant*

I gave this three stars because I did think so many scenes were striking and creative--like Aslan breathing on the statues to bring them back to life. I also think Susan and Lucy are strong female characters--every bit as brave, smart and capable as the boys. I did enjoy the film based on this novel--seeing the film versions might be the better way to Narnia as an adult. I do love Lewis' take on the myth of Psyche and Cupid-- Till We Have Faces . I haven't read his Perelandra Trilogy : science fiction with an Arthurian aspect I've heard. I'm more likely to try those than more of Narnia. ...more

1 like · Like · see review