Post #2: The Chronicles of Narnia
Post number two for this year is the seven books that make up C.S. Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia. I originally started my reread of this series last year in preparation for the movie release of Prince Caspian, and as such only three of the books actually belong on my list of books read for this year. The previous four were on last year's list.
I think this is one of those series that pretty much everyone has read, but just in case, here's the usual spoiler space.
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I really enjoy this series, overall. There are definitely books I like more than others - Voyage of the Dawn Treader and The Magician's Nephew being my personal favorites - but the series as a whole is definitely one I'd recommend.
It's pretty obvious what C.S. Lewis was doing with the Narnia books, but I tend to think of them as non-religiously as possible. I think they're a great fantasy series (although I don't, as a general rule, much care for The Last Battle) with fabulous characters: the Pevensies remain my favorite fictional family of all time, I think. For the most part, the books I enjoy in this series are filled with adventure - Voyage is all about Caspian and crew's adventure to the unknown lands east of Narnia, Silver Chair is about Jill and Eustace's adventures while trying to find Prince Rilian, Magician's Nephew is about Digory and Polly's first journey into unknown worlds, etc. I also enjoy The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, but that's more because it's an introduction to the Pevensies, and I really like them, even Edmund, who's a total beast throughout most of that book.
My biggest issue with The Last Battle is an issue I've seen several people have, and that's the issue of Susan. It is my hope that the death of her entire family (and how *completely* unfair is that?) made Susan admit that Narnia did exist, and I hope that, at her death, she's able to join the others in the ultimate Narnia. I thought that they did a good job of trying to explain Susan's character in the Prince Caspian film, where she tells Lucy that she's happy to be in Narnia for as long as their visit lasts. I personally think that it was a huge adjustment for Susan to go from being a beautiful, sought-after queen to being ordinary Susan Pevensie. She's quite older than Lucy, so would have experienced more in terms of her Narnian adult life, and to have to return to being a teenager would have been difficult at best. For Aslan (or anyone) to think that she wouldn't struggle with this was simply being unrealistic. I don't think she was being mean when she denounced Narnia to her siblings (and one might wonder if she truly didn't believe any longer, or if it was just too painful for her to continually talk about); she was simply trying to make due with the life she was forced to live in. One that definitely did not include Narnia. And that's quite enough about that, especially since I feel like I'm not being terribly clear in what I'm trying to say. :-P
When I first read the Narnia books I read them in their numbered order. This time I read them in their published order. I personally don't really have a preference, but I do think the story flowed along better when I read the books in their original publishing order. So, when I reread them in the future, that's probably the order I'll read them in again.
My final thought is that I really hope Walden finds someone to finance Voyage, because it's my favorite of the books and I really would like to see more Narnia on the big screen, especially with the cast they've assembled for it. <3
