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Summary: A beautiful book that people of all ages should read.
Review: Though this book was originally written for small children, I began reading the entire Narnia series at the age of 12. A teacher recommended that I read The Magicians Nephew first because it shows how Narnia was created and explains how Jadis the Queen comes to the peaceful land. The story begins with a friendship being formed between two children, Polly and Digory. Digory has been staying with his Aunt and Uncle because of his ill mother who needs to be taken care of. Being completely bored, he climbs over his wall on day and meets the girl who lives next door. Digory tells Polly how his Uncle is a crazy magician. They decided to crawl through some raftors that connect Polly and Digory's houses. Unfortunatley, they stumble into the secret labratory of Digory's uncle. He traps them and, before they can do anything, gives them rings ( green for going and yellow for coming back )and sends them off into a different world. Finding themselves surrounded by pools, they decide to jump into one to see what would happen. But by doing that, they awaken Jadis the Queen, who they accidentaly bring back with them to London. She immediatley goes off and runs a muck downtown. Trying to get her back to her own world, they put on their rings. But, once again, luck was not with them. They had accidentaley brought with them a cabby with his horse and the Magician. Once they are in the world with all of the pools, they go into the wrong pool; a.k.a. Narnia. They then wittness the creation of Narnia where animals can talk. It is a beautiful story that I stayed up half the night finishing. I just wish that more people can read this book. The creation of Narnia is very much like the scene in the Bible where God creates the world and all of it's creatures. Yes, this is a childrens book, but I truly believe that anyone who reads it will immediatley love it.
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Summary: How It All Began
Review: Digory and Polly are exploring a passageway between their houses one summer morning when they stumble into Digory's uncle's study. Uncle Andrew dapples in magic, and tricks Polly into taking one of his magic rings. Digory goes after her, and they find themselves in a magic wood, a passageway to different worlds. Exploring further, they find evil as well as a land about to be created.This is a different story in the Narnia tales. First, we don't arrive at Narnia until after half way through the book. Second, this is the only book where actions in the fantasy worlds have direct impact on events in our world. For these reasons, it's a fun change in the series. The story in Narnia is simpler then the others, but it makes watching a new world take shape no less thrilling. And there are some important lessons on doing the right thing at the right time and getting out of life exactly what you expect. There is quite a debate about the order this book should be read in. While it was published sixth, the events place it first. When I read these books back in third grade, I read them in publication order, and I enjoyed that because there are some surprises in here that explain a couple scenes in the first book. Admittedly biased, I think that reading them in publication order would make for the most enjoyment. However, the issues involved are very minor and any of the books can really be read in any order without spoiling anything important. No matter what order you choose to read the books in, make sure you do. These are classic children's fantasy for a reason; they are fun stories that can be enjoyed by kids of all ages.
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Summary: A very good Magic stroy book!
Review: I think this is the best mkagic book that I ever seen!
Pick up and read it. You will find many interesting points in this book!
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Summary: Falters in the end, but still classic fantasy
Review: Another in C.S. Lewis' famous Narnia Chronicles, "The Magician's Nephew" is the story of Narnia's creation in the guise of an adventure shared by two children, Digory and Polly. Though among the last Narnia books published, chronologically "Nephew" is the first of the Narnia stories. That doesn't mean it has to be read first, and for a number of reasons many would argue that it *shouldn't* be read first - but that is a debate in and of itself. The tale leaps to a strong start, telling of Digory and Polly's escapades in exploring the attic of the rowhouse in which they live, and how they stumble into the secret study of Digory's Uncle Andrew. Andrew is not a Good Uncle, he is a Bad Uncle, and he tricks the children into teleporting to another world as part of his experiments with ancient magic. In doing so, Digory and Polly find themselves exploring other, fantastic worlds. All of this is, of course, simply the setup for what happens later and serves to lead the children to Narnia. It is also the most effective part of the book. During their adventures, the pair wake an ancient and evil queen who is out to conquer any world she comes to. A merry bit of failed escaping between worlds ensues as the children try to flee the power-hungry queen. The pacing of the book up to here is very good, moving at a fairly brisk speed and keeping the reader interested by adding ever-mounting troubles and discoveries. Classic fairy tale stuff done exceptionally well. "Nephew" also boasts some of the most effective evil characters in the entire series, with both the queen and Uncle Andrew coming across as fearsome, nasty antagonists. All in all, through the first half of the book one finds themselves in the midst of a fantastic children's adventure. Then it grinds to a halt. "Nephew" is about Narnia's creation, so naturally enough the adventures of the book's first half serve to set Narnia's birth and the trials that follow. Unfortunately, the setup is far better than the tale it was setting up, causing the book's second half to read like a long coda rather than a rousing climax. Sure, the "firsts" of Narnia and a few of its trademark features are revealed to the reader. We get to see the origins of the White Witch, how Narnia came to be populated with Talking Beasts, the origins of the lamppost from "The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe" and even why the wardrobe was a portal to Narnia ... and yet none of this manages to fully satisfy. All of this is unfortunate indeed, because "The Magician's Nephew" gets off to such a good start. It possibly leaps forward better than any other book in the series, and for a time seems as if it will offer as engrossing and adventurous a tale as was told in "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader." Instead it bogs down just as it should be picking up, all but standing still for the final six chapters or so. It's not the worst of the Narnia books - "Prince Caspian" probably holds that honor - but it is lifted from oblivion only by the wonderful adventures that open the book. Still, even bad Narnia is better than most children's fantasy, earning this four stars.
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Summary: A wonderful beginning
Review: A lot of people argue about whether The Magician's Nephew is book one or book six in the Narnia series. Either way, (I read it second-after The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe and have now reread it after finishing the series) it is an excellent book. It is the genesis of all the adventures in Narnia; and is a masterpiece! A little boy named Digory and his friend Polly are sent to a place between the worlds by Digory's mad-scientist/magician uncle Andrew. From there they awaken an ancient evil, witness the death of one world and the birth of another. In telling the story, C.S. Lewis writes with both wit and skill. His grasp on human nature is both insightful and entertaining. This book serves as a parable for our own creation and fall. It is a book I recommend to people of all ages.
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Summary: The best book in the entire series
Review: This story chronicles the beginning of all the other stories.
The writing style for this book and wording makes this novel enjoyable even to young adults.
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Summary: Book 1 ¿ A guide to the unending secrets of Narnia
Review: "The Magician's Nephew" was the second last of seven books that C.S. Lewis wrote in the Narnia Chronicles, but chronologically it relates events that occur first in the series: the creation of Narnia. Two children, Digory and Polly, enter a strange world through the help of magic obtained by Digory's Uncle Andrew. In this world they discover the evil witch Jadice. But then Digory makes his first mistake: he brings Jadice back to life, and worse, brings her evil presence from a world that is dying (Charn) to a world that is just beginning (Narnia). But Digory is not without redemptive qualities - he journeys with the winged horse Fledge to a magical garden reminiscent of Paradise, and resists further temptations from Jadice by faithfully taking an apple from a tree in the middle of the garden and planting it in Narnia. This fruits of this tree eventually prove to be a blessing to Digory and Polly as they return to the real world. In fact, it is this tree that later will be built into the magic wardrobe of book 2. As with all the Narnia Chronicles, on the level of children the story functions as a perfectly comprehensible and exciting fantasy adventure, but on an adult level it imparts powerful spiritual truths about Christianity by means of numerous recognizable Biblical allusions. "The Magician's Nephew" very obviously reflects on the motifs of creation and fall, as evil enters a beautiful world where a man and his wife are king and queen (p.142). The notions of creation, the Paradise garden of Eden, Adam and Eve, the forbidden fruit, and the tempter Satan, are all present. Especially telling is Aslan's indictment of Digory for bringing evil into the newly created world: "You see, friends, that before the new, clean world I gave you is seven hours old, a force of evil has already entered it; waked and brought hither by this son of Adam." But there is immediately a hint of redemption and the suggestion that it will be accomplished by Aslan himself. "But do not be cast down. Evil will come of that evil, but it is still a long way off, and I will see to it that the worst falls upon myself ... Adam's race has done the harm, Adam's race shall help to heal it." (p.161-2). Digory's successful resisting of the temptation of Jadice in obtaining the magical silver apple is a subtle reversal of the account of the fall, and possible only because of Aslan. As always, in all the upheavals and conflicts of Narnia, Aslan is the one constant, and it is his vital involvement that enables the children to complete their Narnian quest, just as it is Christ who inspires, comforts, guides, and saves in the real world. Narnia may exist only in Lewis imagination and ours, but these underlying truths about Christ ensure that a journey to Narnia is never without profit for the real world.
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Summary: O.k at times but goes noware
Review: This book goes noware but down.The begging is good and then in the middle goes down ward.It's o.k. at times but fore die hard fantasy fans like Harry Potter stay away.
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Summary: What a great book!
Review: This book was great! I thought it would take me a long time to read, but it only took me two days. I loved it so much. The Narnia books are great, all of them. This one was the first book and it's about a boy named Digory who has an uncle. His uncle has these magic rings. Polly, Digory's friend, touched a ring and then she entered the world of Narnia. Digory and Polly go through lots of adventures - good ones and bad ones - in the world that they had just discovered.
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Summary: C.S. Lewis Fan
Review: Have you ever heard the sweet sound of a lion's voice or seen the rich lands of Narnia? Well, Digory, Polly, Uncle Andrew and an evil witch have. Digory was a normal London dirty boy. Polly however was a girl of higher class. Together they search through hidden rooms and find eventually find Digory's uncle Andrew's room where they find magical rings that transport them into the land between worlds. There are thousands of puddles that lead to other lands. In one puddle they find an evil witch. Unfortunately they brought her back to London. So what do you do with a witch rampaging around London? You get rid of her, and that's exactly what they did. But they sent her into the greatest land of all, Narnia. See how Polly and Digory must save Narnia and the lives of thousands of animals. Digory changes at the end of the book because he becomes more aware of others than himself when his mother gets involved as well. He soon finds himself in a very deep hole with a big decision to make. Find out how deep this hole is in the amazing book, The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis. I give this book a five stars!!!
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