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wilderthanI love this book so much and I always have. It's a good start to the world of Narnia, and I suggest it rather than The Magician's Nephew, which people tend to think of as the first book. It is, chronologically, but it's not the best place to start. The writing is wonderful -- warm and like a storyteller, and it always makes me feel as if I'm curled up in front of a fire being told a story (even if I'm freezing cold on a train in a really uncomfortable seat). This is one of the most magical books in the series for me, and probably would be my favourite, if I wasn't so awfully fond of Caspian. He was one of my absolute favourite characters when I was younger. But, since he doesn't come into this book, I shall save my raptures about him for the future.
The Biblical aspect of this book is utterly obvious, but I don't think that detracts at all from the beauty, strength and magic of the story. The theme of self-sacrifice is common in literature: it's more obvious here, and yet I still think it can be read just as a story, if you want to ignore the allegory. In fact, I never had any problem doing so. I didn't feel betrayed when I realised Aslan was Jesus, like some other children; I don't think it's there to trick you, only to tell a beautiful story. The story of Jesus is, without any religious conviction necessary, a beautiful one.
The characters -- mainly the four children -- aren't too good to be true, which is nice. Peter can be an ass, Susan isn't the most sympathetic person in the world, Edmund is... Edmund -- even Lucy has her moments of not doing what she should (think about the battle, where she crossly tells Aslan to give her a minute).
The dedication is also a lovely thing about this book. Though I've never grown out of fairy tales, and I hope I never will.
I cannot be critical about this book.
The Biblical aspect of this book is utterly obvious, but I don't think that detracts at all from the beauty, strength and magic of the story. The theme of self-sacrifice is common in literature: it's more obvious here, and yet I still think it can be read just as a story, if you want to ignore the allegory. In fact, I never had any problem doing so. I didn't feel betrayed when I realised Aslan was Jesus, like some other children; I don't think it's there to trick you, only to tell a beautiful story. The story of Jesus is, without any religious conviction necessary, a beautiful one.
The characters -- mainly the four children -- aren't too good to be true, which is nice. Peter can be an ass, Susan isn't the most sympathetic person in the world, Edmund is... Edmund -- even Lucy has her moments of not doing what she should (think about the battle, where she crossly tells Aslan to give her a minute).
The dedication is also a lovely thing about this book. Though I've never grown out of fairy tales, and I hope I never will.
I cannot be critical about this book.
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Date: 2009-11-16 11:23 pm (UTC)Unfortunately, I did, but, in the U.S., Jesus is almost literally everywhere, so I was disgusted to find him in yet another place. Saturation breeds contempt. The book is still good, but it loses impact for me because, after the fact, it feels like another piece of propaganda.
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Date: 2009-11-16 11:25 pm (UTC)I don't think C. S. Lewis was trying to trick kids. If he was, it wouldn't be so obvious.
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Date: 2009-11-16 11:28 pm (UTC)The irony is that it was Tolkien who converted Lewis. I still find that funny.
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Date: 2009-11-16 11:29 pm (UTC)