Book Review | 5/5 stars | Genre – Fantasy
Have you noticed which series I’m reading all the way through yet? But yes, I’m reading Lewis’ famous series; for those who have only seen the movie, it starts with four children discovering the world of Narnia. Each book the shows other adventures of the land. For me, this was and always will be my favourite book from the series.
Lucy is the first to find the secret of the wardrobe in the professor’s mysterious old house. At first, no one believes her when she tells of her adventures in the land of Narnia. But soon Edmund and then Peter and Susan discover the Magic and meet Aslan, the Great Lion, for themselves. In the blink of an eye, their lives are changed forever. (Synopsis from Goodreads)
My initial reaction…
Its not really a first reaction, I’ve read this book so many times over the years, that my age still hasn’t changed my love for this book. This time around I was able to read the book and experience different memories; in some parts I remembered my time performing the play at school (I was Edmund), then in other parts I remember the film (which I also love). Finally, there was the first time I read the book, when I was a lot younger than I am now, but still finding fascination in the book just as much.
Favourite moments…
- Detailed characters: one thing that I love from this book is how much you come to care for the characters. Each speaking role has enough description to understand who they are as a person (or animal). When one dies or is injured it is heartbreaking, when someone wins I only just surpress a quiet cheer.
- Great for all ages: having read this book during many phases of my life (I’m only 26 so not as old as that sounded), I’m able to understand how the story can appeal to adults as well as children. The narrator brings enough wit to the story that it never feels too juvenile; it also encourages the older reader to delve into the fantasy relm.
- Archetyple sibling characters: Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy all have their own personalities but also represent different types of siblings with specific attributes as certain aged siblings. As someone who is the oldest of three, I couldn’t help but smile seeing some of the past arguments my siblings and I had reflected in the book.
- The Narration: As I mentioned above, the narrator brings a certain wit to the story that makes it fun to read. It also makes the story feel so much more real. The 2nd person narration really makes you believe what is going on actually happened.
In conclusion…
If you hadn’t already gathered, I love this book. Its definitely in my top 20 books to read (maybe I should write that out one day). Of all the classic books I would recommend people try out, this would be on there. The characters are interesting, the adventure can be harrowing yet exciting to watch, and the writing style is just a dream.
The Next Big Opinion 