Journey into Narnia

Rating:
Summary: A Great Travel Guide to Narnia
Review: Chronicles of Narnia is a set of books that adults readers want to reflect on, to figure out what it all means. Lindskoog knows these books at many levels---the concrete and story-line connections across stories, how the connections were put there by the authors who did not write the books in chronological order, and the connections between story elements and philosophical and religious themes. All adult readers of the Chronicles should also read this book. Teachers who want to include any of the Narnian books in their classrooms will really benefit from the insights and the instructional aids provided by Lindskoog.

Rating:
Summary: A Great Travel Guide to Narnia
Review: Chronicles of Narnia is a set of books that adults readers want to reflect on, to figure out what it all means. Lindskoog knows these books at many levels---the concrete and story-line connections across stories, how the connections were put there by the authors who did not write the books in chronological order, and the connections between story elements and philosophical and religious themes. All adult readers of the Chronicles should also read this book. Teachers who want to include any of the Narnian books in their classrooms will really benefit from the insights and the instructional aids provided by Lindskoog.

Rating:
Summary: the journey of our lives...
Review: I completed the first half of this book (The Lion of Judah in Never-Never Land) in 1957, and completed the second half (Exploring the Narnian Chronicles) exactly 40 years later, in 1997. In the meantime, the CHRONICLES OF NARNIA had become one of the most beloved sets of books in the world.

BOOK FOREWORD: "C.S. LEWIS AS CHILDREN'S AUTHOR"

The ILIAD is great because all of life is a battle; the ODYSSEY is great because all of life is a journey. --G.K. Chesterton

C.S. Lewis never tired of rereading the ILIAD and the ODYSSEY. One reason the Narnian Chronicles are great is that like the ILIAD and the ODYSSEY they are about life's battle and life's journey.

Homer wrote the ILIAD and the ODYSSEY in Greek about the time of the first Olympics, circa 800 B.C. Next, Virgil wrote an epic titled the AENEID in Latin circa 20 B.C. and intentionally echoed Homer. (Some of the very earliest Christians probably read at least part of Virgil's AENEID, because it was extremely popular in Rome in the days of Christ and his followers.)

Dante wrote the first Christian epic, the DIVINE COMEDY, in ordinary Italian in about A.D. 1300. Then Milton wrote the second great Christian epic, PARADISE LOST, in English in about A.D. 1660. (Lewis knew and loved both of these.) All five epics-the ILIAD and the ODYSSEY, the AENEID, the DIVINE COMEDY, and PARADISE LOST- were works of genius that have delighted multitudes of readers.

Lewis's first career ambition was to publish booklength story-poems like those, with grand themes, lofty language, and bits of humor.

Incredible as it seems, throughout the 2,500-year span from 800 B.C. to A.D. 1660, when our five great epics were produced, there was no such thing as a children's book. There were no children's writers at all. People told stories to children, but no one wrote a storybook for them to enjoy until 250 years ago. Books for children came along like an afterthought in the book world.

Books for children also came along like an afterthought in the writing career of C.S. Lewis. He had always loved children's stories, and in middle age he suddenly started writing them. It is interesting to see how he included key elements of the great epics in his books for children: grand themes, voyages or struggles with profound consequences, and immensities of cosmic history.

In other ways Lewis's overwhelming success as a writer of children's books resembles the story of Charles Dodgson, better known as Lewis Carroll. (Lewis Carroll published ALICE'S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND in 1865.) Both C. S. Lewis and Lewis Carroll were brilliant Oxford professors who had no children of their own. Both of them were devoutly Christian and much concerned with ultimate realities as well as with ethics and character. Both were full of fun. Both wrote about people tumbling or stumbling into another world. And both meant for their children's stories to be read by adults just as much as children.

BOOK CONTENT

Here are the five chapters of the first half of this book: 1. Making Pictures, 2. Spoiled Goodness: Lewis's Concept Of Nature, 3. The Coming of the Lion: Lewis's Concept of God, 4. Possible Gods and Goddeses: Lewis's Concept of Humankind, 5. Weaving a Spell.

The second half of the book has seven chapters, one for each of the seven Chronicles with a variety of ideas for exploration.

There are three special bonuses at the end of this book.

1. "The Aunt and Amabel" a 1908 fantasy by Edith Nesbit, gave Lewis the idea of the wardrobe that he used over forty yers later in THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE. Here is the explanation for that, and -- even better -- Nesbit's complete story.

2. "Narnia: The Domain of Lewis's Beliefs" by M. A. Manzalaoui is a memorable tribute from a student of Lewis's (now a retired professor himself) who evidently triggered THE HORSE AND HIS BOY and was himself the inspiration for Emeth in THE LAST BATTLE.

3. The Map of Narnia by Tim Kirk is a two-page pen-and-ink drawing that faithfully depicts many details of the Chronicles.

Tim Kirk, a longtime mythopoeic illustrator, also provided the cover painting and interior pen-and-ink drawings.

BOOK COMMENDATIONS

When C. S. Lewis read the first half in 1957, he wrote to me, "[The Lion of Judah in Never-Never Land] arrived yesterday and I read it at once. You are in the center of the target everywhere. For one thing, you know my work better than anyone I've met: certainly better than I do myself. (I've no recollection whatever of THE WORLD'S LAST NIGHT and can't imagine what it was about!) But secondly you (alone of the critics I've met) realize the connection or even the unity of all the books-scholarly, fantastic, theological-and make me appear a single author not a man who impersonates half a dozen authors which is what I seem to most. This wins very high marks indeed. . . ."

When the first half was first published in 1973, Edmund Fuller wrote in the WALL STREET JOURNAL: "An excellent exposition of the sinewy theology that underlies the Narnia tales."

In his 1993 book THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA, Colin Manlove of the University of Edinburgh wrote: "For the main books on the CHRONICLES OF NARNIA we can start with Kathryn Lindskoog... Lindskoog's success is in enriching and deepening our understanding of the implications of the Narnia stories.... It is small wonder that C. S. Lewis valued this book."

Rating:
Summary: The Wisdom of Narnia
Review: I love the book. It has the best quotes from all the chronicals.
A good item for collecters.

Rating:
Summary: a deepened appreciation of Narnia
Review: Kathryn Lindskoog is one heck of an author. I have greatly enjoyed reading her books. Journey into Narnia is no exception. In fact, I believe she brings the most passion to her work here.

The first half of this volume, "The Lion of Judah in Never-Never Land" is a masterpiece. It is like a theology of Lewis' Narnian tales. Lindskoog is not just another fan of Narnia, she is an insightful scholar. She demonstrates her deep knowledge of Lewis' other work while examining Lewis' views on Creation, Humanity, and God as expressed in the Narnian stories.

I must make mention here that one should read Lewis' books at least once all the way through before reading this book...a lot is given away (The conclusion is quoted within the first fifty pages). So don't spoil Narnia for yourself...read the books before you read this.

Part two is a book by book look at the stories. It has trivia questions, things to ponder, and benedictions based on each story (I love the one for The Magician's Nephew). The most startling thing I took away from part two is how much Lewis owed and made allusion to E. Nesbit's children's stories within the Narnian books.

The Chronicles of Narnia are some of my all-time favorite books. Mrs. Lindskoog has added to my appreciation of them. I recommend this book highly...may the Great Lion be with you.

Rating:
Summary: A useful book for teaching "The Chronicles".
Review: Lindskoog's "Journey" is proving a useful tool for teaching the "Chronicles of Narnia" to middle school age students.

The "Chronicles" form the backbone of our Sunday School curriculum. Ms. Lindskoog provides excellent background. Her personal knowledge of both the "Chronicles" and Lewis would take years to duplicate, if it could be done at all.

She has provided questions and quizes to stimulate discussion.

Those who have read Lewis' "Chronicles" understand that these children's stories have the depth to interest adults. Ms. Lindskoogs guidance also serves well for an adult discussion of these stories.

There is perhaps some relutance to use a work of fiction to teach biblical truths. Ms. Lindskoog is clear in describing Lewis' theology and his literary sources. She deals directly with the question of what to do when I child confuses Aslan with Jesus.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent. THe most amazing books in the world.
Review: These books are just plain amazing and in a way, spiritual as well. They are full of humour, as well as they are totally realistic, all the sweet kiddy stuff. THey are excellent and Narnia is a world where animals and other things of the imagination are no longer imaginary, but actually exist. It provides readers with a sense of hope and a sense of the impossible becoming the possible. It is a wonderful world of kings and queens. It is a reflection of the world as it is now and indirectly reflects the accomplishments and the destruction of the human race. I recommend these books for all - both kids and adults. Go buy it now!!

Rating:
Summary: Super
Review: This book and all the Narnia books are excellent books andshould be shared by everyone.Narnia seemed so real, and yet so faroff.They were the greatest books and I think I'm going to read them over 10 times(kidding).

Rating:
Summary: Great book!
Review: This book is fabulous! It explains all of the sybolic and religous meaning in the books and has a lot of interesting facts about Lewis and Narnia. It also includes the ages of the children in each book and has the recipies for the foods in the books, like Turkish Delight and alot of other stuff. This is a great book for anyone who has ever read the Chronicles. I highly reccomend it.

Rating:
Summary: Great book!
Review: This book is fabulous! It explains all of the sybolic and religous meaning in the books and has a lot of interesting facts about Lewis and Narnia. It also includes the ages of the children in each book and has the recipies for the foods in the books, like Turkish Delight and alot of other stuff. This is a great book for anyone who has ever read the Chronicles. I highly reccomend it.