Prince Caspian (Chronicles of Narnia #4) by C.S. Lewis

Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis

Series: Chronicles of Narnia, #4

Published: October 15, 1951

Publisher: HarperTrophy

(240 pages, paperback)

Summary: A prince fights for his crown.

Narnia... where animals talk... and trees walk... where a battle is about to begin.

A prince denied his rightful throne gathers an army in a desperate attempt to rid his land of a false king. But in the the end, it is a battle of honor between two men alone that will decide the fate of an entire world.

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My thoughts: Of all the Narnia novels, Prince Caspian is my favorite. It's a classic battle of right versus wrong filled with imaginative ideas and amazing imagery. I love Caspian and of course the Pevensies are still some of the most original, well-written fairy-tale characters. The story line is intriguing and fast-paced with great symbolism and metaphors.

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Each one of the children maintains their own personalities and characteristics. Since I've re-read this series a few times since actual childhood, I've grown to feel close to them (as I'm sure a lot of readers of the series have) making the story all that much more lifelike and entertaining. I love the simplistic way Lewis writes and the childlike manner of Narnia and its magic make the story a fantasy that's both innocent and eye-opening.

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From the talking animals who range from sweet and honest to plain-old evil, the story is unforgettable and er, classic. Everyone can enjoy an old-fashioned good versus evil scenario and Prince Caspian is it, with some more added metaphors and similes to make the read enjoyable and intelligent for older readers. It's hard to review a classic, since it's, well, classic, so I'll just leave it at every serious book-reader needs to read Prince Caspian and the entire Narnia chronicles because of the magnificent stories and honest-to-God fairy-tale manner. They're the perfect light, fun read and the perfect introduction to fiction for children. Especially Prince Caspian, in my opinion.

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Overall Rating: 5 stars

The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis

Title: The Horse and His Boy (Goodreads)
Author: C.S. Lewis
Series: Chronicles of Narnia #3
Published: September 15, 1954 by HarperTrophy
Summary: Narnia . . . where some horses talk . . . where treachery is brewing . . . where destiny awaits. On a desperate journey, two runaways meet and join forces. Though they are only looking to escape their harsh and narrow lives, they soon find themselves at the center of a terrible battle. It is a battle that will decide their fate and the fate of Narnia itself.

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My thoughts: Of all the novels in the series, the Horse and His Boy was my least favorite growing up. Maybe it was all the grown-up words or the immaculate details about the landscapes and scenery in the novel, but either way, I found it unnecessary and a little boring. I find now that my opinion varies quite a lot since the last time I went through the third book in the Chronicles of Narnia.
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Shasta, a poor boy who has been abused by his 'father' all his life, finds escape in a talking horse. The horse, who Shasta nicknames Bree, is from a land called Narnia, that Shasta has never seen or heard of. So when he proclaims that Shasta must be from 'Narnia and the North', Shasta gladly runs away with him. I really think this book is slightly under-acknowledged as one of the series. It is filled with fantastic imagery and symbolism that makes you think. As with the rest of its set, Lewis writes a novel full of lovable, strange characters in an extremely imaginative and original world.
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The story starts out quite slow, with long descriptions of the Calormene ways and long, unbroken paragraphs. But slowly, Lewis gives a necessary backstory that leads us to the same conclusions that the characters come to. Once the action (and there's quite a lot of it) begins, it doesn't really stop, and the adventures Shasta, Bree, and their new companions, Hwin (another Narnian horse) and Aravis (a snobbish, privileged girl) go on are fun and exciting.
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This time in reading this novel, I was struck by how the characters all transform. I really enjoyed reading how all of the somewhat dense, self-centered characters were changed by the events which unfold within the story. Lewis has a certain way with words that makes the entire story seem magical (I suppose it is anyways) and I really loved the character development. I didn't totally see the ending coming (My 5-year-old self had a surprisingly bad memory) and I appreciated the little perks to being an older reader. There was a lot of metaphors and symbols that I didn't first understand as a kid and Lewis is great at writing so that the stories appeal to children, teens, and adults alike.
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Overall Rating: 4.5 stars

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

Title: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (Goodreads)

Author: C.S. Lewis

Series: Chronicles of Narnia #2

Published: October 16, 1950 by Geoffrey Bles

Summary: When Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy took their first steps into the world behind the magic wardrobe, little do they realise what adventures are about to unfold. And as the story of Narnia begins to unfold, so to does a classic tale that has enchanted readers of all ages for over half a century.

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My thoughts: Of course, nearly everyone has read the Chronicles of Narnia at some time or another, and having just seen the Voyage of the Dawn Treader at the movies (it was really good, by the way) I decided to re-read the books that first got me to love reading. I still remember being 5 years old and toting around a ragged copy of the Magician's Nephew for a week after I finished it. Anyways, to the review. (I'm not going to give it a full rating, since it's a classic, but I'll give it a star-rating.)

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The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is a simple story, when it comes down to it, but it is also filled with symbolism and beautiful details. One of the best qualities of the novel is it's child-like simplicity. I love how the details are so plainly and intricately written; it's like a very intelligent child is telling it, while wholeheartedly believing every word. From the way the old house the children are living in looks to Aslan's magnificent mane, not one fact is left out, and it's this detailed writing that makes this not only a classic, but a great example of clean, beautiful writing.

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From sweet, innocent Lucy, to betraying Edmund, the characters is Lewis's classic are all wonderful, heartfelt characters. My personal favorite being trusty, wise old Peter, despite the strange, otherworldly (literally) occurrences throughout the novel, the children respond in a perfect, child-like way that makes you love them all the more. Even when Susan is the voice of reason, you feel how the other children feel, and you agree with what all of their decisions. Or, at least, I did. It's wonderful to have such wonderful main characters, and the creatures of Narnia are so creative and out there, you can't help but scratch your head and be amazed at how crazy and yet real-feeling they are.

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Lewis's story weaves itself, practically. It is full of surprisingly deep metaphors, symbolism, and adventures that one can't help but get into. It's nearly impossible to set the books down, because of how serious the simple story lines can be. Because of the completely original, symbolic events in the story, it is easy for children to read, and completely engrossing and great to read as an older reader. It's agelessness is one its best assets, and one that cannot be so easily duplicated. Overall, the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is a timeless classic that will undoubtedly be read for generations to come.

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Overall rating: 5 stars