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Summary: Before Hogwarts there was Narnia
Review: These are such an amazing series of books, I almost don't know where to start. The tales are magical, the characters rich, and the stories so layered that any generation can enjoy them. I remember reading them when I was very young - and being excited when the cartoon of "The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe" came on tv each winter. 15+ years later I took a college course on them and loved them even more! Similar to Harry Potter, the tales are about 4 "normal" children who stumble into an alternate world filled with ... well, lions and witches. To this day, the name Aslan brings a smile to my face! My only recommendation is to read them in the order they were written - which is (oddly) NOT chronological order to the timeline of Narnia itself, and not the order provided in this collection. I don't suppose it makes all that much difference, and it certainly doesn't make the stories less enjoyable, nor cause me to lower my rating. I just think you owe it to youself to be drawn into the world the way C.S. Lewis intended (and was drawn into it himself).I honestly think this is a must have for any library - young or old - and have bought several sets for loved ones, and to replace the much loved and worn copies of my own!
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Summary: Is it Christian in nature?
Review: Well, yes, it is, but you wouldn't necessarily know it unless you'd had prior exposure to Christian principles. In fact, I would have to say this is one of the best sets of stories with a Christian slant of all time, and no wonder... C.S. Lewis is one of the great Christian writers of all time. In these books, he creates an imaginary world that is absorbing for adults, as well as children. Simply put, he creates an imaginary world called Narnia that children in the stories have adventures in. There are moral decisions to be made, and they are made without shoving religion down your throat. It is very tastefully done.
Five stars for CS Lewis.
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Summary: A good book never wears out
Review: When I first read The Chronicles of Narnia I was sad to discover that I could have read them some 12 years before during my childhood. I wish that I had had the benefit of having my imagination shaped by these books. Since my first reading, I have read them at least another ten times. They never disappoint. It doesn't matter now that I know what will happen next. There is still more to learn by seeing HOW it is done. And as one's experience grows throughout one's life, the stories become all the richer and more deeply meaningful. I do agree with other reviewers in objecting to placing the books in chronological order. It makes as much sense as eating the foods on one's plate in alphabetical order. There is NOTHING in The Magician's Nephew the lack of which will impair one's enjoyment or understanding of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Reading TMN in the original order will allow one the pleasure of saying later, "Oh, so THAT'S how that happened." But reading it first puts one in danger of being merely an observer or a condescending know-it-all (sort of like Edmund) rather than a co-discoverer of Narnia (and of Aslan) with Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy. Readers should enter and experience the world of Narnia for the first time with Lucy and learn to love it along with her.
Rating: 
Summary: I want my money back!!!
Review: When I saw the collection of books, I thought it was going to be one of those books that keeps going. Kind of like a Harry Potter series where you keep asking for more. And the story doesn't end till the very final book! But after reading the first book, I wanted to throw the set of books at someone! And my first reaction after reading the book was, `WHAT THE HELL WERE THE PUBLISHER'S THINKING?"... Truth be told, I thought it would get better getting further into the book (next book after next), but it just got worse! This collection of books suck so much that I just gave up reading it. I'm still 4 books behind!
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