Book Review: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe

30 Dec

Posted by David as Books

No need to summarize this one as it would not take much to find one.

My Opinion

This may be the 4th or 5th time I have read this book and each time I take something new from it. I have always enjoyed the world of Narnia and the characters that inhabit it. My reason for reading it was 2 fold. First, I was reading it (at my suggestion) for the Brew and Book Club meeting. I am not sure if that even happened, as I was unable to attend. The second was a want to refresh myself for the film release. I know they are going to have to expand parts, such as the battle at the end as it is wrapped up in a matter of paragraphs but visually would need to be more robust.

The religious symbolism is always interesting and something that I have paid more attention to lately as the plot has been read through so many times. Aslan, now that I think about it, is a powerful image but is in the book briefly. It is a children’s book so not that briefly in that context.

I am looking forward to the film and hope it can hold true to the book.

8 Responses

Jason

January 2nd, 2006 at 10:03 pm

I’ve read these time and time again, and always manage to glean some new insight on the story every time.

I’ve heard nothing but good things about the movie, and I meant to catch it this past week when I was off, but illness kept me from it.

I was lucky enough to have Amena snag me the hardback set for Christmas, so I have no excuse not to give it another go before I go check out the film myself.

The religious allegory is something the Lewis really understands, and the Narnia characters and stories are some of the best examples. It’s not heavy-handed, but it’s not just a cop-out either. There are plenty of stories with Christ-like characters, or the idea of some “power greater than I” going on, but the world of Narnia is filled with genuine symbols of faith and the struggles that go along with it, and I’ve loved their chronicles from the beginning…

David

January 3rd, 2006 at 11:35 am

One of the interesting things about the religious symbolism is that it is not all Christian, though that seems to be the only one that is mentioned because of Mr Lewis’s very public Christianity. It has a sorta “best of” world religious thrown at it. Of course, it is a fun world of magic with a great story and the religious symbolism does not imped that.

Jason

January 3rd, 2006 at 10:29 pm

You’re right. There are a lot of elements in there, and most folks don’t even see them. There are distinct eastern touches in several of his Narnia stories.

The Narnia books are probably still my favorite series from book to book, as far as magical worlds go. I’ve never had the same anticipation for what new creatures would appear as I went along as I did with these. Each book weaves the same threads, but has a distinct theme and imagery.

Not taking into account the films that they have spawned, I put this series over the Lord of the Rings, and I love those books as well…

Brian

January 4th, 2006 at 9:20 am