The Chronicles of Narnia
by Denise Morris on 11/19/2007 at 1:54 PM
I'm reading the Chronicles of Narnia right now. Although it may seem nearly sacrilegious to you, I've never actually read all of them before now. Crazy! And as most of you probably already know, they're awesome.
I find the stories engaging, clever and meaningful. Right now I'm reading The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, which is pretty good so far. (Although I am kind of sad that Peter and Susan don't get to return to Narnia.) My favorite book has been The Horse and His Boy, which was kind of a surprise since it doesn't even take place in Narnia. However, this book had my favorite moments with Aslan -- I loved how he showed protection and even how he purposely wounded someone in order to teach a lesson.
It's fun to fully experience Narnia as an adult -- to read these stories for entertainment but to also see how powerful God's story of redemption is, even when presented through fantasy novels. Although I know Lewis didn't set out to incorporate the Christian story of God's redemption, the parallels are quite powerful.
So, since I'm guessing most of you have read (and re-read) these stories, let me know which one is your favorite!
1. Brett said the following at 2:05 PM on Nov 19:
The Last Battle
2. Justin said the following at 2:10 PM on Nov 19:
You, my dear, have impeccable taste. "The Horse and His Boy" is by far the best of the series.
3. B. Minich said the following at 2:17 PM on Nov 19:
The Horse and His Boy is my favorite as well, for pretty much the same reason you describe. It features Aslan guiding those who have no clue they are being watched out for, and you get to see more of the world around Narnia than most books (other than Dawn Treader, which is my second favorite).
4. Louise said the following at 2:38 PM on Nov 19:
Ms. Morris, if you're sorry about Susan Pevensie now, just wait until you get the last book in the series.
Overall, I did like the Naria books.
5. Louise said the following at 2:41 PM on Nov 19:
Oh, my favorite book of the series is probably "Dawn Treader", probably due to my fondness for the character of Eustace Scrubb.
6. Autumn said the following at 3:15 PM on Nov 19:
My favorite is by far The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. As for C.S. Lewis books in general, The Screwtape Letters is my favorite. It really gives you a fresh view on the battle that is going on inside you and for you.
7. Carolyn said the following at 3:20 PM on Nov 19:
good to know so many people are right :P The Horse and His Boy is by far the best, but they're all amazing!
8. kaarina said the following at 3:43 PM on Nov 19:
Easily, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. That book was like a salve in my childhood to soothe the small wounds of being the only girl child on the lonely street where I lived. It was a balm to ease my heartache when I had no friends and the girls at my church rejected me. It was shelter in the storms of my early life, taking me far away from my angsts of dreaming great dreams I had no one to share with.
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader seemed to me to express a great and powerful longing for a thing I had not seen and could not articulate, that I only later learned is Heaven. I identified with the characters because I felt they knew the position I was in, that Lucy, Caspian, Edmund, and Reepicheep understood something no one else around me did, what it is to yearn for an unknown, mysterious elsewhere that has no ending and perhaps no beginning.
Lewis shall always be one of my top two favorite authors.
9. Michael said the following at 3:47 PM on Nov 19:
Oh, but I must say, the ending to the Dawn Treader is incredible, as are many moments before it. It will always hold the spot closest to my literary heart.
10. J.T. said the following at 3:58 PM on Nov 19:
I personally like the Magician's Nephew the best. I like how it sets up the rest of the story.
11. Kate said the following at 3:59 PM on Nov 19:
I'm not sure I have a favorite, even after reading the whole series probably at least five times. The Horse and His Boy is definitely one of the best, though! Bree and Hwin totally take the cake.
12. Dave said the following at 3:59 PM on Nov 19:
I read CoN probably four times through during elementary school, and loved the stories. I picked them up again last year, not quite twenty years later, and fell back in love with them. There is just so much God in those books. And while "The Horse and His Boy" was my least favorite when I was a child, it was probably my favorite also, this time around.
13. Jo said the following at 3:59 PM on Nov 19:
I remember being confused by The Horse And His Boy when I was young. Not by the story itself, but by its place in the series, because it doesn't 'fit' in the same way as the others. I found it more grown up, I seem to remember. But reading it again when I was older, it seemed to have a deeper message in some ways. The Narnia chronicles just rule. I keep meaning to read them through again, I haven't for years.
14. Katie Hart said the following at 4:05 PM on Nov 19:
I've read the series 11 times, and it's hard for me to pick a favorite, though I usually say The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. But I have to agree with other Narnia fans who say their favorite book is whichever one they happen to be reading!
15. Marc said the following at 4:38 PM on Nov 19:
I do my best to perceive the series as a single contiguous story, but if I had to pick a favorite installment, I'm a huge fan of the silver chair - something about the story of a freeing from bondage resonates with me.
That, and a perpetually melancholy character is given a starring role, rather than some anti-depressants.
16. Kerry said the following at 4:49 PM on Nov 19:
I love Narnia too, but I am pretty sure that Lewis did intend to incorporate the Christian story of God's redemption. So any parallels made were intentional.
17. Jared H. said the following at 5:18 PM on Nov 19:
Gotta be "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader". I think it has the least amount of outright Christian insight in it, but it's the one that captivated me most when I read it. They all have priceless moments though. Truly some of my favorite books of all time.
18. Morgan said the following at 5:31 PM on Nov 19:
Without a doubt, The Silver Chair.
19. Emily said the following at 5:37 PM on Nov 19:
Though each book touches my mind and heart in a unique way, I think The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe has the most special place in my heart. It is in this book where we discover Narnia for the first time, through the eyes of 4 special children. Their experiences in Narnia mature them, and their encounters with Aslan change them forever. I love lions because I love Aslan.
The Last Battle is also extremely special to me. It reminds me that no matter how bad things are going on earth, Someone is in control and He has a beautiful conclusion for all things. I certainly wish I could meet Mr. Tumnus, Reepacheep, and all the good creatures and people when I get to heaven. But think of all the saints of God whom I will get to meet! The Last Battle made me weep.
20. Jeremy said the following at 5:48 PM on Nov 19:
I have a hard time picking between The Last Battle and The Magician's Nephew.
21. kala said the following at 5:49 PM on Nov 19:
it is very hard for me to decide which one is my favorite but i would have to say that the Magician's Nephew is right there at the top.
22. Adam T. said the following at 6:37 PM on Nov 19:
I read them all this summer for the first time since I was a kid (and for the first time as a Christian!) and I remember thinking Horse and His Boy was by far the worst, but I can't remember why. It just didn't have any characters that I really liked, maybe. It does have one Lewis' greatest lines, though:
"Aravis also had many quarrels (and, I'm afraid, even fights) with Cor, but they always made it up again: so that years later, when they were grown up, they were so used to quarrelling and making it up again that they got married so as to go on doing it more conveniently."
:)
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is the best by all the objective measures (best characters, storyline, etc.), but they're all great. I *love* The Silver Chair if only for Puddleglum (best character in the whole series!).
23. Jennifer said the following at 7:12 PM on Nov 19:
I am actually re-reading them for the third time. :-) It's becoming an end of the year tradition for me. It's so hard for me to choose a favorite because I feel like each one brings something distinctly valuable. But, if pressed I would have to say "The Last Battle" - even though it always makes me cry!
24. caleb said the following at 8:19 PM on Nov 19:
It's so hard to decide on a favorite. Possibly the Last Battle, the Silver Chair or the Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Narrowing it down to 3 is the best I could do.
25. Caleb said the following at 8:26 PM on Nov 19:
I have got to say that "The Last Battle" and the "Horse and his Boy" are the best because of there relationship to the Christian walk. The Horse and His Boy because of how Aslan guides them, and the Last Battle because how when contrasted with the Magicians Nephew and The Lion Witch and the Wardrobe it shows how much Narnia has deteriorated from its creation.
26. Kathryn said the following at 8:26 PM on Nov 19:
The Last Battle. It made me cry - happy tears. And I was very excited that most of the characters were meeting each other again and united finally!
27. Martha said the following at 8:30 PM on Nov 19:
I like The Horse and His Boy best, but little can beat the description of Narnia's creation in The Magician's Nephew or the description of Aslan's kingdom in The Last Battle. I desperately want to go there!
28. BDB said the following at 8:47 PM on Nov 19:
I really liked the one with the rat in the kayak.
Though I realized why someone told me to read the 2nd one first when I read the line:
"They say that Aslan is on the move."
For some reason that gives me chills...
29. Adam D said the following at 8:50 PM on Nov 19:
I read through all of the Narnia books in 6th grade, they were very good back then. I tried to reread them a few years ago but they seemed too juvenile for some reason, maybe because i'm just used to reading 500 page small print novels now like the lord of the rings. Still a very good series, excellent for any young adults.
30. Paul said the following at 9:17 PM on Nov 19:
Dawn Treader's the favorite!
although they're all good except for Last Battle.
31. Jenny said the following at 9:54 PM on Nov 19:
I haven't read those for a few years; I should pick them back up. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader was my favorite for a while, but lately I've really identified with The Last Battle. The sense of things getting worse and worse, heading towards a final Judgement with a just God. The hope of seeing loved ones again and meeting the heroes of old. The promise of a beautiful, perfect world in which to spend eternity. And Lewis includes some very intriguing theology in this book. But really, they're all great!
32. Kathleen said the following at 1:44 AM on Nov 20:
I think my favorite is The Magician's Nephew, but it's followed closely by Prince Caspian and The Silver Chair. I love all the books, though I think The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, along with The Horse and His Boy are kind of ho-hum in comparison with the others.
@Paul: What don't you like about the Last Battle? The way you stated that makes me curious. And I thought it was excellent. It was perhaps a little more bizarre than some of the others, but I personally think The Silver Chair was pretty far out on that limb too.
33. Louise said the following at 6:05 AM on Nov 20:
Did anyone like "Prince Caspian" best?
That's the only book not yet mentioned.
My second favorite is "The Magician's Nephew."
34. Will said the following at 7:51 AM on Nov 20:
While I love them all, The Magician's Nephew followed by Dawn Treader are my favorites.
35. Louise said the following at 8:00 AM on Nov 20:
Ah, finally a mention of "Prince Caspian."
Now, was it anyone's favorite?
36. Loris said the following at 9:08 AM on Nov 20:
I love the Last Battle because the language is so beautiful. The Horse and His Boy is my second favorite because of the colorful characterization and the joy of being received by one's real father after never fitting in in a strange land.
37. Ashley S. said the following at 9:13 AM on Nov 20:
While I do love the "Voyage of the Dawn Treader", I think that "The Silver Chair" is one of the best stories based on the santification process. From a beautiful example of salvation between Aslan and Jill to Puddleglum's great statement of faith("As for me, I shall live like a Narnian, even if there isn't one.")this book offers a peek at the perils, grace and triumphs of the Christian life.
This series makes a great study not just for children, but for us adults as well.
38. Adam T. said the following at 9:20 AM on Nov 20:
Prince Caspian is arguably the most 'bland', but it's still good. Plus, I love Doctor Cornelius. :)
39. Emily C said the following at 9:36 AM on Nov 20:
I have to say Prince Caspian has always been my favorite (followed by The Voyage of the Dawn Treader). Not sure why I've always liked Caspian. Maybe it has something to do with the song by Phish about wanting to be Prince Caspian. Wasn't a big fan of the Magician's Nephew or the Silver Chair when I read them as a kid - I remember thinking the stories were weird. :-) Probably need to re-read them now that I'm older.
40. Anastasia said the following at 12:13 PM on Nov 20:
My favorite has always been Dawn Treader because I always wished I could journey like they did into the unknown and end up reaching Aslan's land like Reepicheep did.
My second favorite has always been The Last Battle, even more so now, because everything good in Narnia was twisted and wrecked and destroyed and there seemed to be no hope for deliverance, but deliverance was given.
41. Liz said the following at 2:08 PM on Nov 20:
I agree that Prince Caspian is pretty bland when compared to the others, but I like the scene where they leave through the door. I really hope the movies are finished soon.
C.S. Lewis, as far as I know, did set out to incorporate elements of the bible, but in a manner that was designed to prepare his niece to understand the gospel later in life as a teen or adult. So they are allegorical, at least The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe is, to a certain extent. What makes them so strong is that they are not written to force belief or play on emotions. They tell fantastic stories layered with meaning. It was Tolkien who strongly disliked allegory.
42. Beau said the following at 2:26 PM on Nov 20:
Funny thing! I'm rereading them right now too!
I'm in Voyage of the Dawn Treader right now. It's amazing how deep they are when you read them as an adult.
The crew of the Dawn Treader have just survived a storm, and now are going through the doldrums. I feel like my spiritual life has been like that lately. I just weathered a storm, and now I'm in a spiritual desert. I almost wish for the storm again!
My favorite is also The Horse and His Boy. I love how Aslan was looking after Shasta all of his life, even when Shasta didn't realize it. The conversation between Aslan and Shasta on the pass of Anvard always gives me goosebumps and catches my throat. "I was the Lion..."
43. claire said the following at 1:02 AM on Nov 21:
mm. Definitely The Silver Chair. I liked the way Jill and Eustace made so many mistakes and kept on thinking they'd messed up the signs or gone the wrong way, and how God (well, Aslan...) somehow made it all work out and come together in the end. And like someone mentioned before, Puddleglum's statement of faith when the witch tried to bewitch them. In terms of pure storytelling and pretty language and interesting characters/lands and pacing/structure/etc of plot and all those other technicalities, I don't think The Silver Chair ranks that highly (compared to some of the other books in the series) but I've always figured it was my favourite because of the overall message I took away from it. I suppose I can really identify with those particular themes, personally.
44. Christina said the following at 3:16 AM on Nov 21:
Hey, I'm re-reading the books now too!
I can't narrow it down to one favourite book (I count the whole series as my favourite set of books...well, maybe next to the Bible), but I especially like The Horse and His Boy for the part when Hwin sees Aslan, and says that he's so beautiful that he may eat her if he wishes. I think it says a lot about Aslan (and God). I also think that the ending to The Last Battle is the best ending to a book that I've ever read. There are tons of other "favourite parts," but if I were to list them all, I suppose I'd have to type out the whole series. :P
45. ed said the following at 7:02 AM on Nov 21:
dawn treader. rereading them now with my daughter. no one's mentioned disney's prince capsian movie due out on may 16 - i can't wait. but then again i'm really looking forward to them doing dawn treader too :)
46. Rebecca said the following at 12:57 PM on Nov 21:
The Silver Chair was my favorite as a child and I re-read it at least 6 or 7 times, while I have only read the entire series perhaps twice. Recently I "read" dramatized audio versions of most of the Chronicles and was pleasantly surprised by ones I hadn't read in years. However, I still come back to The Silver Chair as my favorite.
47. Paul said the following at 2:24 PM on Nov 21:
Well Kathleen, I just never really liked it. The story doesn't grab me, Susan's fate irked me (because it came out of nowhere IMHO), and the ending just seemed strange to me (although I did like the fact that they were all reunited in the end.)
I thought that he took the allegory about 1-2 steps too far in that one.
48. Jessica said the following at 3:34 PM on Nov 21:
I enjoy the series and really like the movie.
I just wanted to mention that God doesn't purposely hurt anyone to teach them a lesson.
49. Louise said the following at 4:27 PM on Nov 21:
Re, "The Last Battle", I've observed that people either like it a lot, or actively dislike it.
I would have liked that last book better if it had not been for "special fate" of the elder Ms. Pevensie.
50. Jo said the following at 5:16 PM on Nov 21:
Jessica: I don't have time for a loooong reply, but I'd argue that God 'purposely hurt' His people several times in the Old Testament, but always out of love and usually discipline. I have lots of thoughts on that topic, but I'll save them for another time.
51. EllieB said the following at 6:57 PM on Nov 21:
I looove the Silver Chair! Not only is Puddleglum one of my favorite Narnians, but I love the part where Eustace, Jill, and Puddleglum obey Aslan by untying Prince Rilian, even though they don't know what will happen once he's free.
"'Do you mean you think everything will come right if we untie him?' said Scrubb.
'I don't now about that,' said Puddleglum. 'You see, Aslan didn't tell Pole what would happen. He only told her what to do.'"
52. Kay said the following at 9:41 PM on Nov 22:
Oh wow, I think my favourite book in the series is constantly changing (ie. I can't pick just one). But I must add, shout-out to Puddleglum! He is definitely one of my favourite characters. And that scene that talks about "the smell of burnt marshwiggle" always has me in stitches. I can't wait to read these stories to my kids - I hope they will love them as much as I do!
53. Bethany said the following at 8:38 PM on Nov 25:
My favorites are The Last Battle and The Silver Chair. I love how The Last Battle starts out with absolutely no hope, but ends gloriously.
"I have come home at last! This is my real country! I belong here. This is the land I have been looking for all my life, though I never knew it till now. The reason why we loved the old Narnia is that it sometimes looked a little like this."
"The term is over: the holidays have begun. The dream is ended: this is the morning."
And the conversation between Aslan and Jill at the beginning of The Silver Chair is breathtaking.
"You would not have called to me unless I had been calling to you," said the Lion.
"Then you are Somebody, Sir?" asked Jill.
"I am."
54. Lissa said the following at 2:16 AM on Nov 26:
That's so funny. Nobody every talks about The Horse and His Boy, it's like the forgotten book in the series, but it is probably my favorite, too!
But I love them all...I was raised on those books, and I'm saddened when other people haven't even heard of the series, let alone read them. They're definitely missing out.
55. Brenna said the following at 1:46 PM on Nov 27:
Prince Caspian. I don't think it's bland. It has all the excitement of preparing for battle, of the good guys fighting against a stonger force to preserve the good. And, it has centaurs, which are my personal favorite. It also has some of the most obvious references to mythology, which I enjoy.
56. Beau said the following at 2:15 PM on Nov 27:
"Once a king or queen in Narnia, always a king or queen..."
Was Susan lost forever? Or did she join her family much later after getting to know Aslan better in our world?
Hmm...
57. Kathy said the following at 3:48 AM on Dec 7:
Last Battle.
And there was a bright flash, and the ground shook, and he turned to see the one thing he had most feared and most longed for....
[forgive my paraphrase, I'm too lazy to look it up at the moment.]