BOOK REVIEW - FANTASY FRIDAY - The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe - C.S Lewis - Digital Book - 5*

 

BOOK REVIEW

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe - C.S Lewis

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For today's book review, I am taking you back to the start of 2024, when I started the second year of my journey back in the reading world. New Year's Day. I wanted a book to start my year with cosy, happy, and positive feelings so decided to re-read a book that was a firm favourite as a child. I owned a tatty (due to my constant reading!) copy of the Chronicles of Narnia book, which had that amazing "old book smell", was curling at the edges, and was my fattest book. I felt very proud reading it, the writing was small and showed my maturity (something only a youngster would think!) to read. 

This time, I read just the "main" book, on my Kindle, as my New Year cosy read. Didn't quite evoke the same feelings reading it electronically but I had two very good reasons...One, it was free on Kindle Unlimited. Two I was too impatient to wait for a delivery! 

BLURB

Narnia...a land frozen in eternal winter...a country waiting to be set free. 

Four adventurers step through a wardrobe door and into the land of Narnia, a land enslaved by the power of the White Witch. But when almost all hope is lost, the return of the Great Lion, Aslan, signals a great change...and a great sacrifice. 

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is the second book in C.S Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia (according to modern publishing though the first to be published and arguably is ACTUALLY the first book), a series that has become part of the canon of classic literature, drawing readers of all ages into a magical land with unforgettable characters for over 50 years. This is a stand-alone read, but if you would like to explore more of the Narnian Realm, pick up The Horse and His Boy, the third book in The Chronicles of Narnia. 

MY REVIEW

RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

SPICE: 🆒

This book is a classic for a reason. It has stood the test of time and is just as magical and endearing as it was when it was first written. 

I was so surprised by how short this book was, just over a hundred pages. I always remember reading the entire Chronicles of Narnia series in one book and hadn't realised until I was much older that they were, in fact, multiple books in one. Seven in fact. Amazing how our mind plays tricks on us like that!

That said, from the first page, I was transported back to being 7/8 years old, reading under my covers after bedtime, or reading aloud to my teddies while playing "schools". 

We follow four siblings from the oldest, Peter to Susan, Edmond, and finally Lucy, the youngest. They go to live in a countryside manor during the Blitz. While exploring the house, Lucy finds a wardrobe that (for some reason!) she clambers into and stumbles into the magical world of Narnia where she meets Mr. Tumnus, a faun (he has the bottom half of a goat, including two goat legs and the top half of a man, including both arms). 

Following Lucy's first visit to Narnia, she returns home, and, eventually, all four siblings are in the magical world. Thus ensues betrayal, manipulation, redemption, bravery, and an epic final battle. We also meet Aslan the wise, brave, and noble lion. He reminds me of Mufasa in The Lion King. powerful, a little scary, but kind and good.

The White Witch is an exceptional "bad guy" - her character epitomises arrogance and greed, driven also by fear. A dangerous combination. She is beautiful and can be charming, which adds an extra layer of dastardliness to her personality. 

Reading The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe as an adult also gave me new insight into the nuances of the story. The endless bickering between the siblings, the different personality types and matching reactions/responses to their situation. The darkness of the story also took me by surprise. My young mind skipped over and didn't understand the real horror of what was happening to the people in Narnia under totalitarian rule. I now also recognise that Aslan was a representation of Christ. Deep stuff for a kid's book! 

This book managed to stir up the same emotions it did as a child. Even thought I know the story inside out (including the aspects revealed in the other books, such as the origin of the lamppost), it felt magical and new. I still cried during the emotional parts, I still felt riled up with frustration at Edmund, and I felt my heart race when the book's finale was in full swing. That's the magic of reading! 

My only regret is that I didn't read the entire series together this time, as that magic didn't last long enough for me in only a hundred pages! There's always next time :)

This is an amazing story, for adults and children alike - a great book for families to read together as a bedtime story. One teeny chapter at a time. 

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this book review! If you want to stay in the loop with new reviews and posts, you can FOLLOW MY BLOG by clicking the link and subscribing. I also post bookish content on Instagram and my YouTube Channel. Happy Reading!