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Summary: The True Nature of Love
Review: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is, of course, loved by millions as a classic, and it truly deserves its distinction. Rarely will any reader of any genre find a story so moving and entertaining and so enlightening. I can't recommend anything more highly than this little volume.The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is the story of Lucy, Edmund, Susan, and Peter who wander through an old wardrobe into the magical world of Narnia. What follows is their adventure as they team with a nation of talking animals and other magical creatures versus the evil powers in the kingdom. The novel climaxes with one extraordinary act of love which tears through the kingdom and changes everything and everyone after. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is such a successful novel. It does serve as a wonderfully powerful read. The book also enlightens the reader with its commentary Christian symbolism on the nature of love. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is a classic, and I really think that it is just now coming into what may be its most popular period. The world is pleading for some type of meaning, and here, Lewis is willing to offer it.
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Summary: The first book published in the Narnia series.
Review: The first book in the famous allegorical Chronicles of Narnia fantasy series for children. Four English school children (Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy) visit an old Professor to avoid the air raids in London during World War II. They discover an "entrance" to a world of fantasy through a wardrobe. It is a world that will change them forever. They assist the golden lion Aslan to defeat the White Witch who has cursed Narnia with eternal winter: the classic conflict of good vs. evil. This is the first in the Chronicles to be published. However, "The Magician's Nephew" relates events that take place before the events in this book and many, including the publisher, suggest that individuals read that book first. I disagree. I think the series flows much better when read in the order of their publication. As one reads the series, particularly with the last volume, one become more attuned to the spiritual aspects of the tales. And in responce to muchadoaboutlisa from Australia (of May 6, 1999), as we can tell from the last volume, Narnia does exist.
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Summary: Classic that started it all
Review: The classic that started the Narnia ball rolling, "Wardrobe" is a rather simple story about four children (Lucy, Edmund, Peter and Susan) who find their way into a world where animals speak and mythical creatures are real. Once there, they help overthrow an evil witch who brought an eternal winter upon the world. Oh, and they meet a lion. Lewis' writing here is geared strongly towards young children. He seems to delight in breaking the barrier between narrator and reader, telling the story as a storyteller would a gathering of kids. The style is effective in that it FEELS like a children's book, and in a good way; it's a great pleasure to read this out loud. While there are moments, however rare, when you almost feel talked down to reading as an adult, by and large Lewis succeeds in crafting a story that reads like a timeless fairy tale suitable for any reader who likes adventure, of any age. This also means "Wardrobe" may be the book in this series toughest to read for adults, if only because it has the most overly childlike-nature of the seven Narnia books. The plot itself is simple, with few (if any) complexities and a fast resolution. The entire thing can easily be read in one lazy afternoon. And then there is Aslan, the lion named in the title. This beast is at the center of the entire series, even moreso than the children who find themselves entering Narnia. What stands out as an adult (but is easily missed as a child) is the strong, overt Christian allegory. It is here in spades, right down to a faux crucifixion. For many readers tuned into today's sensitivity to religion, or even offended by overt displays of religion, "The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe" will simply be too heavy-handed in its religious allegory for adult readers. Not simply because of the Christian-influenced themes, but because Lewis simply beats you over the head with it. Every mention of Aslan and every scene with the lion gushes with an almost ferocious (and often uncomfortable) feeling that screams to the reader, "Rejoice!" But to suggest that this detracts from the fun and wonder of the tale would be unfair. It DOESN'T. Only those sensitive to religion and the fervently anti-religious will have a problem with these aspects of the story. Others will just enjoy the ride. As a children's tale "Wardrobe" is a fun romp through a mythic land, just the kind of wish fulfillment fantasy-loving children enjoy. And for that, I admire this book. Kids will love it - and so will adults. It's not the best of the Narnia works by any means, but it IS the first that should be read because it's the one that started it all. And as a classic of the genre this should be read by all, no matter one's religious beliefs.
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Summary: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
Review: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, by C.S. Lewis, is the first book in a series of stories about a fictional land called Narnia. It begins in the country, in a strange old house. Four siblings, Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy, have been sent to live with an unusual professor. While exploring his house, the four find an old wardrobe. Inside the wardrobe they discover the beginning of their magical adventure.
I had fun reading this book because it is written on two reading levels. One level is a simple children's story. The other had a deeper, religious connotation. I would recommend this book to the young and young at heart because it makes a person think and is enjoyable on all levels.
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Summary: Enter the magical realm of Narnia
Review: CS Lewis is perhaps best-known for his Chronicles of Narnia series of children's books, of which this was the first written. In fact, the book is second in chronological order, but this was the first book Lewis wrote and published, and I consider it to be the first of the series. This is a story about four children who are staying at an enormous house in the country with an old Professor. One day, Lucy (the youngest) finds a door (inside a wardrobe) to the magical world of Narnia. This leads to a whole series of adventures, in which they join forces with a magical lion named Aslan to combat a wicked witch.
This is a wonderful fairy-tale type story for children, but there is a lot of religious symbolism here as well. Above all, Lewis was a master Christian apologist, and many Christian symbols and values appear in this book. Aslan is a Christ figure, a selfless being who sacrifices himself for another, and who rises again and brings about a sort of "resurrection" of other animals when he restores to life various creatures who have been turned to stone. Edmund, the youngest brother, is a symbol of a lost and selfish soul who goes seeking for evil, finds it, is enthralled by it, and finally redeems himself by practicing virtue. Throughout the book there are numerous Christian references, no doubt an attempt by Lewis to make these stories teach children the right kind of values.
I am certain that one of Lewis's aims in writing this story was to inspire good moral living among children, to show what sort of behavior is acceptable, and what is not. Note also his many jabs against the school system, especially those made by the Professor. In fact, it is the new school Edmund attended which was the cause of his nastiness and selfish attitude. There are many hints of Lewis's philosophy and theology here, and readers of his other works (for example, his books Miracles and the Abolition of Man) will find the values he advocates in those books put into practice here. These books serve a dual purpose. They are very entertaining for children, and they also provide some very essential lessons. This is what has made the Chronicles of Narnia constantly popular, both among children and among adults.
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Summary: Hope
Review: I chose to read this classic by C.S. Lewis because every one else I knew had read it when they were younger. I was told that it was an allegorical novel by a friend, which spiked my interest in what I considered just a child's fantasy. Lewis fills his world, Narnia, with a wonderful array of different and interesting characters. Fauns, Nymphs, Dryads, Naiads, and hospitable beavers all contribute to the fantastic nature of this story. Lewis must have been a creative man to imagine such wonders and write them down. A place where perpetually deadened by the cold of winter, with no Christmas and, therefore, no hope would be a terribly bleak setting. The depiction of Aslan as a symbol of Christ was quite interesting. Even the girls, Susan and Lucy, become similar to the two Marys in the gospel in their caretaking of the lion. So as not to give away the story to anyone else I will end saying this unique world provides more than just a fantasy escape. To both children and adults it provides a reminder that there is hope, even in our world, when it too seems cold and dead.
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Summary: The Lion, The Witch, And The Wardrobe a reveiw by Irene
Review: Have you ever imagined being sent away to someone's house, that has a secret that no one knows but you? The house in The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe had a secret , which only Peter, Susan,Edmund, and Lucy knows. Once they went through the wardrobe in the house,their adventures would begin in the land called Narnia, and their lives will change. I love this book, because it tells about Lucy trying to save her friend Tumnus. It tells about the wonderful adventures she had with her friends, Peter, Susan, and Edmund and the great dangers they faced in Narnia. I also liked the little rhymes that describes Aslan, the great lion. I wish that this book would be longer and the adventures of Narnia would countinue in this book. I recommend this book for people who like adventure stories, because this book is filled with adventures. My favorite part is when the dwarf made Edmond a prisoner and used a whip to threaten him to go faster. If the White Witch ( a terrible witch) that calls herself queen of Narnia wants Edmond to go faster, the dwarf whips him until he goes faster. My other favorite part is when Edmond got tricked into bringing Peter, Susan and Lucy to her because she wants to turn Edmond and his friends into stone. They are smart and she doesn't want them to break the White Witch's spell. The spell is a spell that will keep Narnia always in a winter season. On the map, I think it is a little confusing because it doesn't show the place where Peter, Susan, Edmond, and Lucy came through the Wardrobe to Narnia, but the story is exciting.
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Summary: Blah
Review: I read this book a while back, in 6th grade. As the teacher passed the books out to us I thought it was just going to be another one of those boring books that we have to read for school. When I opened that book and started reading I couldn't put it down. It was just so facinating. My teacher said there was so many symbolic things in the book relating to the authors Chrisianity. For the people who don't know what I'm talking about. The Lion, Aslan, is represented as God.
I thought this book was really good. Better than good. It was just like one of those books that you wished you were in. Like 'Eden' as they would say.
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Summary: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
Review: This story starts in the country in an old Professor's mansion. The four Pevensie children, Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy are sent there during a war. Lucy, the youngest, finds a country just by looking into a wardrobe in the mansion. The other three don't beleive her until they find themselves in the country as well. Once there, they found that they had to conquer a witch (that could turn almost anyhing to stone) to rescue a friend that Lucy had made on her first visit. They had to get help from some talking beavers along the way. And Edmund turned out to be an alliance to the witch. To save Edmund, themselves, and Narnia, the name of the country, Peter, Susan, and Lucy must get further help from Aslan, a great lion.
Will the children prevail? Find out in THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE.
I liked the book because it was a good fantasy and made me want to read the other Narnia Chronicles. It made me a big fan of Clive Staples Lewis. This book will stay in your heart and mind for a long time.
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Summary: Fantastic and creative
Review: Fantastic, creative, fantasy for young adult readers. I'd recommend the whole Chronicles of Narnia series to read and reread.
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