Rating: Summary: Completely Enjoyable! Review: C.S. Lewis is a master at spinning a tale of intrigue for young people. This book was so much fun to read. I love writing; this book made me love it even more. As an author who loves to create alternate worlds for readers to explore, I can learn so much from C.S. Lewis.Digory and Polly embark on an adventure leading them to other worlds - new and old - in a novel that may have been written for children, but holds up well for adults...at least this adult thinks so. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun journey.
Rating: Summary: The Magician's Nephew Review: "Don't I just wish I was taller, I'd punch you in the head!' Two friends, Polly and Digory, that just met are off on a mission to get rid of and evil magical queen from a different world, find a magic apple for a talking lion. They had to do all this, just with a few rings, and a fling horse named Strawberry. He is tempted to keep the apple and give it to his dieing mother. But in the end, he gives the lion the apple, and if you want to find out what happens to his mom! This is the best book of the series, and most likely my favorite book. I would rate it a 9 out of 10, and highly recommend it to all readers, seven and older
Rating: Summary: The Creation Myth Review: Although the 6th to be published, this is in another sense the first of the 'Wardrobe septology' since it tells the story of Narnia's discovery/creation (in brief, an attic mishap leads Diggory and Polly to meet Aslan and the witch). Like all the 'Wardrobe' books this one manages to be a smooth and easy read without being too simplistic, literal or juvenile. In fact, the metaphors (religious in particular) are quite rich, infusing the books with multiple layers of meaning. The central religious metaphor here is the Creation Myth. Here, a boy and a girl are involved in the creation of the world. They are in fact referred to as the children of Adam and Eve, and we even have an apple. I for one was thankful that some of the books morals were not limited strictly to religious interpretation. General messages include that: 1. The means matter at least as much as the ends; this is why Aslan "likes to be asked". 2. The quest for (the tree of) knowledge is fraught with danger; Diggory and his descendants suffer the consequences of his curiosity regarding the giant bell. 3. Beware the dangers of militarized dictatorships and weapons of destruction (as well as the rationalizations employed to justify the existence of the two); the queen's world dies after she speaks 'the unspeakable word'. Only her evil survives. Some are sure to find the sharp and moralistic delineations of good and evil to be patronizing and offensive. As long as the books are read with some distance, and the reader bears in mind that sharp delineations can be useful pedagogical and conceptual tools (delineations who's edges always blur under the close scrutiny of individual experience), even most adults should find that the strengths of these books outweigh their weaknesses.
Rating: Summary: As entertainment, nothing special Review: As a Christian allegory or even as just a story about moral choices for children, this book probably deserves a higher rating. As a fantasy story, read by an adult for entertainment, however, this book is nothing special. Compared to other books, the story is very simple and, with the exception of the evil witch, none of the characters are particularly interesting.
Rating: Summary: Not a fantasy guy Review: I'm not really a fantasy guy but I gave The Magicians Nephew a try. I did not really like it because it wasn't that exciting. I did not like the part where Digory and Polly had to go and pick the apple from the great tree. It would have been better if they walked instead of flying. That way it could be more exciting because maybe something could happen to them or they could get hurt running away from the witch. Towards the end, the story gets better...Maybe some people who like fantasy would like this book but I didn't. I prefer more like real life adventures and war stories.
Rating: 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.
Rating: Summary: Read it first or read it last, it doesn't matter Review: This was the last of the Narnia Chronicles to be written but it is a prequel to the first one - "The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe". Although millions of children have grown up reading it first, C.S. Lewis felt that it deserved to be the first book in the series and, who are we to argue with him! I'm here to tell you, though, that it doesn't really matter. In my re-reading of the series I've actually read it second. For many, myself included, "The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe" has such a special place in our hearts that we have to start our journey there! Like the other chronicles, C.S. Lewis wrote these as allegories of Christian faith though, and I must stress this, they can be read and enjoyed without considering this side to them. Appropriately, then, this "prequel" is about the creation of Narnia and some parallels can be find with the biblical story in Genesis - a temptation with an apple, for instance. The story concerns Digory and Polly, two children living next door to each other in London townhouses. They discover that a shared attic allows them to explore right along the row and set out to visit a supposedly empty house. Unfortunately they pick the wrong door and end up falling into the clutches of Digory's evil uncle. Saying any more would reveal the plot too much. Suffice it to say that they make journeys to other lands picking up people along the way they would rather have not found and ultimately discover Narnia. And it's Narnia that's so wonderful about these books; a land of adventure, a land of make believe, a land that we just want to journey to ourselves. For me "The Magician's Nephew" will never capture the same magic of "The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe" but it is, none the less, a wonderful children's book and well worth reading.
Rating: Summary: Great introduction to the series Review: This is the prequel to the beloved classic, "the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe" and is in chronological order, Book 1 of 7. The story begins with Digory and Polly, 2 british children who sneak into their Uncle's house. There, Andrew makes Polly vanish by using magical rings prompting Digory to go rescue her. There, they run into Empress Jadis, a very militant queen who is intent on ruling worlds. They then get transported to the land of Narnia, with talking animals and a somewhat god-like lion named Aslan. Although this was written later then LW and the W, this is the introduction to the Narnia saga and a great read.
Rating: Summary: The Magician's Nephew Review: It was a very groovy book. I recommend it to anyone who likes to read books about magic.
Rating: Summary: Book Review of: The Magicians Nephew Review: Have you ever dreamed about a land where animals talk? If so, you?ll love The Magicians Nephew. The Magicians Nephew By C.S. Lewis, which is about, Magic and choices, which is a fantasy genre. The main characters in this book are Digory, and Polly. Digory is a preteen boy with brown hair and a bowl cut. In this story his Mother is very possibly dieing. Digory meets a lion named,?Aslan.? Aslan has these apples that can save people. Aslan gives him one apple to Digory to give to his very sick Mother. But, He is hesitant about giving her the apple because when he gets home it changes colors. He does end up giving it to her and it saves her. Polly, a preteen girl with blonde hair plays the tag-a-long with Digory. Although, she does start this book by her taking a ring given by Digory?s Uncle Andrew which sends her to Narnia, and Digory goes after her. The setting is in Narnia buts starts out in London, England. The time seems to take place in the 1950?s. They make a transition from the city to the forest by magical rings. Though the city and the forest are opposites they seem not affected. Even though the plot is huge, I can put it in one sentence. This story is about a boy and a girl?s journey into a new world. This book The Magicians Nephew is a book about choice and magic. But it doesn?t really matter because it?s the best book I have ever read.
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