robinmichele's Full Review: C. S. Lewis - The Magician's Nephew
As a treat to myself while suffering from bronchitis, I decided that I would spend my waking hours rereading the Chronicles of Narnia. After all, a little magic and fantasy goes a long way in refreshing the spirit. The body? Well, that's what antibiotics are for.
The Magician's Nephew is the first installment of the Chronicles of Narnia: a seven book collection of fantasy for young adults by Clive Staples Lewis. (For some reason I get big kicks from the fact that C.S. Lewis' middle name is Staples. It makes me think of office products. Go figure) The Chronicles of Narnia are Lewis' only writings for children. He is perhaps better known for his endeavors in religious writings, and as the author of The Screwtape Letters. I've never really enjoyed his writing for adults. I find it rather dense and stuffy. But that is neither here nor there- after all, we are discussing Narnia, are we not? Good, then. Onward.
Plot and Such
Incontestably, all stories have a beginning. I'm sure there is someone out there that should try to prove this statement wrong, as there are those who find their pleasure in disproving absolutes. However, this shall be my assumption until I am informed otherwise. This book concerns itself with the creation of Narnia, complete with blatant parallels to the biblical story of Creation. Oh Clive, you really are so subtle.
"Narnia? What's that?" you might be asking. Oh dear reader, you are in for a treat.
Polly and Digory are two London schoolchildren who are neighbors. As such, they find themselves seeking adventure, as neighbors often do. Digory is staying with his aunt and eccentric uncle. The aunt doesn't let the uncle utter a word to Digory, much less enter his mysterious study in the attic. Ahhh- mystery! Ahhh- intrigue! What could he possibly be hiding up there?
The children soon find themselves in his study, quite by accident as they are exploring various passages and such. The professor is delighted by their sudden presence, as now he has guinea pigs for his "magic rings". He reveals himself to be a sneaky scoundrel and to make a long story short- boom! The kids are in another dimension.
Eventually they find Jadis aka the White Witch aka Bad News. They accidentally bring her back to London, bide time while she wreaks havoc, and then get her back to the Otherworlds.
As they return Jadis to the pit she crawled out of, they get a little lost and land in a place of nothing. As they wait for something, anything to happen, they hear a glorious singing. This singing is Aslan, the marvelous lion. He creates Narnia while they watch the magic unfold.
Jadis runs off to the countryside.
And in this way, the children introduce evil to Narnia.
The goods
I was trying to think of why I like Narnia so much. It lacks the flair of Carroll's Wonderland, but it embraces something else... peacefulness, I guess. Narnia is a beautiful land of peace, where the animals talk, and fantastical creatures roam. I guess this is enough.
The writing is excellent. If you haven't picked up this book, you simply must, if only to read the part where Narnia is created from Aslan's song. It is such uplifting and glorious prose. It's good for the soul.
This book is fantasy at a gentle pace. The plot is engrossing, the characters are endearing, and the backdrop is breathtaking. Even the word "Narnia" is fun to say. Go on, say it. Don't you feel just... good? This is what reading is about.
The secret passage to the house next door leads to a fascinating adventure.Narnia. . .where the woods are thick and cool, where Talking Beasts are cal...More at HotBookSale
Digory and Polly discover a secret passage that links their homes, and they are taken into the World of Charn, where they wake up the evil Queen Jadis...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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