A Review: The Chronicles of Narnia

So, I haven't posted a book review in a looong time (since September, to be precise), and although Bible translation is of the utmost importance, I still love books. And, I just finished re-reading the Chronicles of Narnia, which are some of my favorite books of all time!

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
Genre: Fantasy


These seven tales take the reader along with the main characters into the magical lands of Narnia, where a rarely-seen, but beautiful, good lion rules, evil often sneaks into existence, fauns dance, and trees come alive.

In these books, characters come from our world (London, to be precise) help save Narnia from wicked schemes or just to travel on daring adventures, conquering the evil inside them and maturing in this beautiful land.

I am not going to talk about each novel, because if I did, your eyes would melt by the time you came to the end of the post (from the length, not from boredom, of course :).

Although Lewis wrote these novels for children, you never really grow out of them, or if you do, it is a shame because of all the timeless themes woven through this series. And that is actually one of the themes: that children have belief, and this belief is more real than that of adults at times. Sometimes children need to be more mature, but adults can also afford to be more childish.

There is also, of course, the large symbol of Aslan the lion, who takes the place of Christ in these novels. And there are so many different aspects to him that he does seem truly alive and impresses the attributes of Christ deeper into your mind and soul, so that I also longed to feel Aslan's mane (or Christ's arms) and walk beside him in the cool of the evening.  

Yearning is yet another theme that runs through these stories. Yearning for something more, deeper, longer-lasting, for a true, real home that one never has to leave, and for adventure, to live a life that matters.

 Although it caused me great pains to decide, because I like all of them so much, my favorites of the series would have to be The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and The Horse and His Boy. I love The Voyage of the Dawn Treader because there is a high sense of adventure as the characters sail through unknown seas, there is a dragon and mermaids. Also, the characters come close to Aslan's land, which turned my thoughts toward Heaven and the joys I will experience there some day. I also just love the character of Reepicheep; he may be small (he's a mouse), but his heart is as large as at least three men's.

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is probably the most popular book and features how the main characters in the series enter Narnia. Lucy, one of the children in the series that I relate to more than the others, has a main part in this book. I also love the imagery of the Stone Table and how it points to Christ's death and resurrection.

The Horse and His Boy is different from all of the other books because it takes place wholly in Narnia; no children enter the world from London. The talking horses are so fun to listen to, and I found the culture in this tale-a southern Arabic climate-fascinating. Shasta also pulls on my heart strings, and it has a lovely ending.

Well, there you have it; a tiny summary on my favorite books in the series. The narrator in all of them can be irritating at times because he talks to you, but once you get used to him, he becomes more humorous than annoying. What's more, all of the endings are hopeful/happy!

I give this series a 5 out of 5. Yes, a perfect score. Good job, Lewis! It is suited for ages 11 and up (it is written in an older, British-styled English).

What I learned: Oh dear. Where to begin? We are not made for this world; it is a mere Shadowland compared to eternity spent with God. Sometimes bravery and doing what is right is more difficult than the opposite, but it is always worth it in the end.

My favorite quote: "All their life in this world and all their adventures in Narnia had only been the cover and the title page: now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story which no one on earth has read: which goes on for ever: in which every chapter is better than the one before." 

Book Blues

I shouldn't feel this way; I've read these books at least three times. So even though I finished the last page in the last book yesterday, why am I still re-living the battles in Harry Potter, contemplating the character's choices, longing for a chocolate frog or cauldron cake, and hoping for the adrenaline rush as I glide with Harry on his broom as he snatches the snitch?

There's something about these books that draw you in and make you feel so part of the world and the characters' lives that when you're spit back out once it's all over, you have left part of yourself inside the story. I think this is the mark of a great story-teller; that they weave so complex and convincing a world that the reader does not want to leave. The reader will continue returning to the world and characters because the people in the book are friends and the story-world is a kind of home-away-from-home. At least, that's why I re-read novels.  

Rowling does an exceptional job of world-building in this series and the characters seem so real, that is is almost painful to step away from Hogwarts and Harry. It is easier, of course, to bring the reader deeply into a series than a stand-alone book, since the author has more time the build the world and develop the characters. But I have been sad to leave stand-alone novels as well, such as Ella Enchanted and The Giver. Learning from these best-selling books and authors, I want to lace my stories with this kind of magic, the kind of magic that lures the reader back for seconds and thirds and teaches them something new each time.  

Have you ever had the book blues? How did you cope? :) 

What books have you not wanted to leave and why? 

How can writers keep readers interested in their books and make sure they return to the story in the future? 

I'm not going to do a review on this series because it would be too long. However, I did a review on the fourth book, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, which is probably my favorite of the series. That and the last one, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Needless to say, if you have not read these books, go do so NOW! You won't regret it! 

WARNING: These books may cause blurry eyes, obsessive or addictive reading, a belief in magic and snargaluffs, and the desire to ride a broom through the air. 

Hogwarts 

A Review: The Scorpio Races

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
Genre: YA fantasyish (yes, I know this isn't a word. But it's not exactly fantasy)

Some Race to Win. Others Race to Survive.
"It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die. At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.

"Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn't given her much of a choice. So she enters the competition-the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen."

This novel is a new favorite of mine. And a surprised favorite as well, which are the best, in my opinion. I looked through Stiefvater's book, Shiver, at the store and wasn't too happy with what I found. Perhaps if I sat down and read the entire thing I would like it better, and that was just after the Twilight craze, so I was a little leery of werewolves.

However, The Scorpio Races met and blew my expectations away. I loved that the novel didn't focus just on male/female romance, but relationships between siblings as well; I loved the whole idea of wild horses jumping out of the sea; I loved how I could see Sean's stillness and jacket and Puck's ginger hair so clearly in my mind (and I'll be honest, I just loved Sean Kendrick. If only he were real...). I loved how Sean and Puck symbolized different elements of the land of Thisbe and the sea. I loved how they both hated and loved the horses and where they lived and how Stiefvater explored that tension.

As you can see, there is so many great things about this novel. And I'm a sucker for sea and horse stories. One thing I didn't like was that not all of the strings seemed tied up at the end, and not in the way a sequel would be. And a few times I grew weary of hearing all of Puck's thoughts; they seemed a bit too descriptive at times. But I highly enjoyed it and recommend listening to it on tape. The voices who play Puck and Sean make them seem much more real and are very soothing (especially Sean's).

I give this work a 4.5 out of 5 and recommend it for 15 year olds and up because of a few scenes of violence.

What I learned: What you need is not always what you think you need. Humans can be predators just as much as animals.

Check out Maggie's website here to learn more about this novel and her other works. http://maggiestiefvater.com/ The animation video for Scorpio Races is done by the author and exceptional.