The Horse and His Boy

Rating:
Summary: My favorite of the "Chronicles"
Review: Of C.S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia, "The Horse And His Boy" is probably my favorite. Venturing into exotic locations, with a likeable cast and a good thriller format, this is a pretty cool fantasy that gives some insights into what the cast of "Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" were doing during that time before they returned home.

Shasta is the son of a poor fisherman, and his life is pretty ordinary until a mighty Calormene (sort of a generic Mideastern civilization) Tarkaan comes to stay at his home. He overhears his father admit that he found the infant Shasta on a raft with a dead man, and the Tarkaan offers to buy him. That night, Shasta escapes with the Tarkaan's talking Narnian horse Bree, and by chance bumps into a runaway Calormene girl called Aravis, who also has a Narnia horse (Hwin).

The four plan to run away to the free land of Narnia. But they run into problems when they enter the city of Tashbaan -- the rotten son of the Tisroc (emperor) is planning to kidnap Queen Susan of Narnia and marry her whether she likes it or not. What's more, Shasta is caught up by the kings of Narnia, who think he's the prince of Archenland -- what's more, the prince looks exactly like Shasta. With the guidance of the mysterious Aslan, Shasta and Aravis must keep the Calormenes from attacking Narnia.

The later books in Lewis's series are probably a bit better than the first ones, literaturewise. This book introduces new and very interesting characters, as well as bringing back old ones like the kings and queens of Narnia, Tumnus, and Aslan, of course. The Christian subtext is probably faintest in this volume, and it's probably the least connected to the main storyline that runs through the series. But it's also a good exploration of stuff that Lewis had introduced, such as the Middle-Eastern Calormen kingdom, and the talking animals. And the writing is superb, especially the scene with Shasta near the tombs.

Aravis may be my favorite character in the Chronicles -- she's tough, decisive, independant, and smart. She's a bit reminiscent of J.R.R. Tolkien's Eowyn, or one of Lloyd Alexander's more serious heroines. Shasta is a nice twist on the boy-with-mysterious past, a likeable kid who is a bit in over his head but keeps working at it. Bree and Hwin are also likeable, with different personalities (Bree is more sarcastic, Hwin is meeker) and after awhile you may forget that they're horses.

Even taken outside the Chronicles (one of the early fantasy series, and one that helped spawn many of the staples of fantasy literature), this is an entertaining story for anybody who enjoys a good story.

Rating:
Summary: Good adventure book
Review: I thought that this book is a good one because of the adventure that this boy goes on to be free. The adventure has many different parts and problems, and that's what makes it exciting. I didn't give it a fifth star because there are just a few talking and planning parts that could be a little boring. The action and the battling, I think, makes up for most of the boring parts though. This is probably a good book for almost any age of reader. It has a sort of fantasy type setting in some parts of the story, and a war type setting in other parts of the book. I would recommend it!

Rating:
Summary: One of the Best in the Series
Review: I'm a college student who is just getting to experience all of The Chronicles of Narnia. When I picked this one up, all of my friends who had read Narnia when they were younger actually became interested. This one had been everyone's favorite in the series. I actually got to see a BUSINESS MAJOR take the book and lovingly describe reading it in the fifth grade. I didn't even know he could read!!! Well anyway, The Horse and His Boy turned out to be just as good as they all said.

In The Horse and His Boy, Peter, Susan, Lucy, and Edmund are really in the background. This story follows Shasta who is basically a slave to a cruel fisherman. One day, his path crosses with a talking horse, Bree, who wants to escape to the north (Narnia). The two take off on the journey. They meet new friends, adventure, and learn much about themselves and the nature of the world. The Horse and His Boy is a vastly entertaining with almost a Persian feel, and it's also so meaningful. I know that I'll pick this one up again.

Rating:
Summary: The Incredibly Awesome Book
Review: The Horse and His Boy is a great book. There were some unexciting points, yet that did not happen very often. It starts off with a boy name Shasta, who meets a talking horse. They are both pretty much slaves so they run away together and have adventures. While on their journey to Narnia they meet different people and troubles. I recommend reading this book for several reasons. It is very exciting, and the ending is especially funny. Once you get into the book, you want to read more. I personally liked the book because I like fantasies, such as The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. Books with war scenes or fight scenes intrigue me. It is fun to imagine the fight in your head. The other two books before this one are great also. I particularly liked The Lion Witch and the Wardrobe. Compared to The Horse and His Boy, I thought it was better. The Magician's Nephew, the first book, is not that great, but it is alright. I just think all people who like action-packed books and fantasy things, you should read this awesome book.

Rating:
Summary: I love this book!
Review: Young Shasta grew up in Calormen, but always felt a drawing towards the north. When a nobleman rides up one day, and begins negotiating with Shasta's father to buy him, he learns that he is really a foundling from Narnia. Shasta wants to escape, and opportunity presents itself, when the nobleman's horse begins to talk to him! It seems that Bree was also stolen away from Narnia, so the two form an alliance and head north. But there are many adventures and surprises along the way. Plus, it seems that somebody has their eye on Shasta!

I love this book! I gather that there is some disagreement as to the order in which you should read the Chronicles of Narnia, but this one is well placed at #3, falling as it does during the later stages of the High-Kingship of Peter. This book has a wonderful Arabian Nights feel to most of it, and it is filled with adventure and suspense. I enjoyed reading this book to my children, and they enjoyed hearing it. We all recommend this book to you!

Rating:
Summary: The Horse and His Boy Book Share #1
Review: The main character Shasta lives in a little fisherman's village with Arsheesh, his abusive father. A Tarkaan from Calormen shows up at their house to take Shasta as a slave. Shasta finds out the Tarkaan's horse, Bree, can talk. They make plans to head north to Narnia where Bree was originally from. On their way they meet up with another talking horse and rider. Their names are Hwin and Avaris. Bree, Shasta, Hwin and Avaris all decide to make their way to Narnia together. The Horse and His Boy is all about their many emotional and physical adventures they go through.

The Horse and His Boy was not my most favorite book, but it wasn't a horrible book. I was not very interested in the non-realistic setting and characters in the book. I would recommend this book if you are interested in fantasy books. I liked this book though because of the relationships that were developed through time, and all the character conflicts that eventually had been resolved. As I said before this book was not my most favorite book. I really enjoyed the conflicts and the way they were set up. C.S Lewis seemed to have a hard time to keep my attention though. It was just not exciting enough for me and not realistic enough.

Rating:
Summary: not great, but still good
Review: The third book in the Narnia Chronicles is, I think, the worst book in the series. (Because I gave it four stars, that must mean the whole series is good.) Although I think that, it is still a good book, and you shouldn't miss out on it, especially if you are a Narnian fan or a C.S. Lewis fan. I highly recommend this story of love and adventure.

When Shasta discovers he is really not the son of his Calormene fisherman adopted dad, he runs away to Narnia. He takes with him precious little food and a horse, Bree. Once there he meets up with another horseman, or rather, horsewoman, Aravis, and her horse, Hwin. The four journey across Narnia, across a brutal desert, through a ring of tombstones, and even a meeting with some of the leaders of Narnia, the Pevensies. They journey across the mountains, and into the forest, and on to a climatic end. A king and a prince help him find his true identity, which is-I'm not gonna tell you;read the book.

Rating:
Summary: From the Outside In
Review: This book differs from most of the other Narnia books in that it develops outside of Narnia in a very different setting. In the far-off land of Calormen, a poor young boy is living a miserable life as an orphan. The adventure begins as he escapes with another enslaved creature (a Talking horse from Narnia), and travels through many dangers to find his home and inadvertantly become a hero. The cast of characters are almost entirely unfamiliar to the rest of the Chronicles, with the exceptions of the Four Pevensies and Aslan. Nonetheless, each of the characters is as amusing and colorful as all of Lewis' others. It seemed as if some of the humor and vocabulary might be a little beyond some younger readers, but made for some delightful humor for those who pick up on it! It is interesting to see each of the main characters maturing in some significant way by Aslan's plan. The Christian themes are there as always, with a false god (Tash) proving to be a powerless idol; and a character that combines attributes of the "Doubting Thomas" and Peter, the Apostles. We also see how Aslan acts in ways that might not initially seem wise to the characters, but serve a greater purpose in the end: to teach, protect, etc. In the same way Christ works mysteriously in our lives, sometimes bringing difficult troubles and trials that work for our good despite first appearances. As in Romans 8:28, "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." Altogether, this is another of Lewis' excellent books, to be enjoyed as often as it is read.

Rating:
Summary: The Horse and HIS Boy
Review: Then another thought came into Shasta's mind. "I wonder what sort of a man that Tarkan is," he said out loud. "It would be splendid if he was kind. Some of the slaves in a great lord's house have next to nothing to do. They wear lovely clothes and eat meat every day. Perhaps he'd take me to the wars and I'd save his life in a battle and then he'd set me free and adopt me as his son and give me a palace and chariot and a suit of armor. But then he might be a horrid cruel man. He might send me to work in the fields in chains. I wish I knew. How can I know? I bet this horse knows, if only he could tell me."
The Horse lifted its head. Shasta stroked its smooth-as-satin nose and said, "I wish you could talk, old fellow. " And then for a second he thought that he was dreaming, for quite distinctly, though in a low voice, the Horse said, "But I can." ~ C.S. Lewis
Having lived all his life by the sea in a poor fisherman's hut, Shasta had always dreamed of what lay to the north beyond the mountains of his small home. However, whenever he made inquiries, he was always forced to silence by the man he called father. Until one day ...
Never had Shasta ever in his entire life dreamed that the tales he had heard about the talking animals of Narnia were not fantasies but realties, until one day he meets a talking horse called Bree. Together they set out on a great adventure trying to escape their lives in Calorman in order to find real freedom in that land that promised them blessings beyond their wildest dreams.
Written for the pleasure of children and adults alike, The Horse and His Boy is the tale of unlikely friends who have to learn to work to overcome their differences in order to find their heart's desires. Filled with still more of Lewis's Christian beliefs and excellent story telling, it is a work that can be enjoyed by any person who, like Lewis, is a child at heart.

Rating:
Summary: Disappointing...
Review: I love audio CD's and I love CS Lewis so I really wanted this dramatization to be fabulous. I was sorely disappointed. Apart from Paul Scofield who plays the narrator, the other characters were flat and 'reading', especially the boy who played Shasta. My advice is to pass on this one.