Enchanting Journey Through Timeless Tales
For our curriculum this year, we are re-reading the Chronicles of Narnia series by C.S. Lewis. I’ve read some aloud a number of years ago, the kids love the dramatized audiobooks, and I read through them just for myself last year, but they bear up under multiple readings (for the most part).
The curriculum has us reading them chronologically; however, my preferred way to read the Narnia series is in publication order (for your first read at least).
If you read it chronologically, you miss out on a lot of the mystery and magic of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe because so much of it is Explained in The Magician’s Nephew.
You must also take into account what kind of writer Lewis is—he’s not Tolkien, planning out the world for ages before delving into the writing; Narnia is coming to life AS he writes it. His books aren’t perfect, and some of the errors / loose-ends show up a little bit more vividly if you read the books chronologically.
Reviews in publication order:
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (1950)
The best, most encapsulating, of the series, a fairytale, a through-the-looking-glass, with four children you can relate to in one way or another (Peter the Brave older brother, Edmund the redeemed, Susan the cautious older sister, Lucy the sweet and innocent), and an interesting historical moment of time (WWII evacuation of London) that effectively frees the children to have grown-up-free adventures. If you only read one in the series, read this one.
Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia (1951)
This book had portions that lost me (the dryads stuff in the woods?) but overall this was a fairly good sequel to The Lion. We see the Pevensies again, wanting to return as kings and queens but having to grow back into their roles. Lucy’s childlike faith in Aslan is inspiring. Caspian has to stand up and be a man and a leader. There’s much about coming of age in this book.
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (1952)
A good sea-faring tale. It reminds me of the Journeys of Sinbad or the Odyssey—the world Lewis created broadens quite a bit. The characters face different temptations, overcoming them to certain degrees. Eustace, the Pevensies cousin, starts out even more of a jerk than Edmund, but has a wonderful fall / redemption story.
The Silver Chair (1953)
This book is strange. I don’t understand who this evil jade green queen is supposed to be—Jadis was killed by Aslan, so not her. A giantess? A hag? This is never answered. There are portions that are great—the journey is interesting, Puddleglum is wonderful, and the fall into the giant’s den is very Hansel and Gretel-esque. There’s a bit of Journey-to-the-center-of-the-world aspect that is interesting. Overall I think this book is just a little more trippy than I care for, but it is by far better than Last Battle.
The Horse and His Boy (1954)
This is my favorite book of the series because it most speaks to my heart: the main message is that God never leaves you, even when you go through suffering. It’s a side story, taking place during the time of the Pevensies reign as kings and queens (we see Edmund and Susan for a bit), but follows two other characters. I wish Lewis had written a few other side adventures like these; its a desert journey, in a land adjacent to Archenland, and two of the main characters are talking horses. The vivid description and setting captures the imagination; I felt I couldn’t put this one down.
The Magician’s Nephew (1955)
Perhaps because of the humor and the way it touches on grief, this is my second favorite of the books. It is good to read this one toward the end—a prequel that solves some questions. I love the humor in this book—the animals planting Uncle Andrew is always hilarious—and seeing the scary white witch in London and treated like a “fast young woman!” is also funny. Diggory succumbing to temptation (ringing the golden bell) but later, with Aslan’s help, resisting it (the apple of life) is a great character arch. I would love to see this one made into a movie some day.
The Last Battle (1956)
This is my least favorite—in fact, I’d say skip it! I feel like Lewis had a vague idea of where he wanted the book to go (end times, since the last book he published was creation), but I’m guessing he pantsed this one (there are pantsers and plotters when it comes to writing—those who just write the story, and those who plot it out—and all degrees in between). The book suffers from a lack of pacing, and spending overly much time with thoroughly disagreeable characters (the gullible donkey and evil ape). He throws in some odd theological tidbits (the Telmarine worshipping a false god but ending up in paradise anyway; the dwarves in paradise but not realizing it). Spoiler: all your favorite characters are dead. And Susan, who is still alive, isn’t a friend of Narnia anymore (because she likes boys, I think, but I don’t see any reason why that should cast her out!). And the ending lasts forever, and is…honestly, just boring. I plan to only read portions of this one when we get to it for our curriculum.
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There you have it. All my opinions.
I also recommend checking out Sarah Spark’s album on Narnia: Into the Lantern Waste. I love her music in general, but these songs are great when you’re reading through the books.
Which Narnia book is your favorite?
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