I loved this set as a child and I still love it now. Amazing how I can take two completely different messages and experiences from it reading back them and reading now. ( )

http://www.fnordinc.com/2009/11-11/bo...

The Lion, the Witch, and The Wardrobe | Prince Caspian | The Voyage of the DawnTreader | The Silver Chair | The Horse and his Boy | The Magicians Nephew | The Last Battle

Narnia, sweet Narnia.

When I was young, your tales made my imagination swirl. You were the sweet little brother to Lord of the Rings. As a kid brother, we enjoyed hanging out at first. Your silly antics and off kilter view of reality made me smile. LOTR and I thought you were fancy in your way.

Before long, we had out grown you. Your psuedo-serious outlook on the world no longer caught our attention. While LOTR and I grew up, you stayed the same. You lacked depth and fell back on religion like a crutch. Though getting older, you continued to prey on the young; like a creepy guy who searches out and only dates high school (or younger) children. Though still friends, you and I no longer communicated. LOTR and I continued to pal around.

Recently, I found that I was missing you. Some films were made in the last few years detailing your exploits and I forgot your faults, remembering the glory days in vivid technicolor CG digital surround sound awesomeness . Watching them brought back great memories indeed. I went out and looked you up. You were easy to find, everyone knew who you were. I was nervous to meet up as it had been so long.

In the end, we hung out in a series of seven sessions. In the first, everything was cool, we were getting along fine overall. By the second and third i was over you.. I was done hanging out, but we had made plans and I hate to flake. By the 7th, I was done. figuratively, physically, meticulously, fabrically, foodily, etc. done. NO MORE.

As far as I am concerned, you can stick to pleasing the kiddies. You and I no longer have anything in common Narnia.

~~~~

For those who could not tell, I bought the chronicles of narnia in aboxed set. It didnt cost me much, about 30 bucks at Powells. All of the cover art was the same as one the versions I read as a kid. The stories were still the same, and the goals and plot were as remembered. I forgot how GODDAMN HEAVY HANDED C.S. Lewis was.

Anyway, great for kids, not so great for someone who has expanded his/her reading base.
If I were to have to choose a favorite of the INKlings, I would gladly choose Tolkien. This is not to lesen the work of Lewis, but damn.. I wish I would have left it in the realm of memory and not re-read the series.

- fnordinc.com ( )

Four children find the magical world of Narnia quite by accident. While in Narnia, they find themselves involved in helping save those they have grown to care about.

What a wonderful story about deception, forgiveness, love, faithfulness, and the power of sacrifice. Yes, there is a lot of Christian symbolism, but I really think that a child would never notice - not unless pointed out. This is a great story that everyone should read! ( )

Such a classic; I read this once as a child and then again a few years ago. Some of the stories are definitely better than others, but it's worth reading all of them. ( )

He empezado este libro un poco a lo tonto y sin demasiadas expectativas, pero inesperadamente me está enganchando, y llevo todo el día sin poder quitármelo de la cabeza. Aún va a resultar que su fama va estar justificada...Nota posterior: Després d'haver acabat la primera part no em convenç tant. Més a http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wood_bet... l'hagi acabat tot posaré aquí que em sembla.Nota posterior: canvi de plans. Aquest llibre m'està avorrint profundament, i queden massa pàgines com per què l'esforç de llegir-lo pagui la pena. Queda oficialment abandonat.

He empezado este libro un poco a lo tonto y sin demasiadas expectativas, pero inesperadamente me está enganchando, y llevo todo el día sin poder quitármelo de la cabeza. Aún va a resultar que su fama va estar justificada...Nota posterior: Després d'haver acabat la primera part no em convenç tant. Més a http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wood_bet... l'hagi acabat tot posaré aquí que em sembla.Nota posterior: canvi de plans. Aquest llibre m'està avorrint profundament, i queden massa pàgines com per què l'esforç de llegir-lo pagui la pena. Queda oficialment abandonat.

this book was exciting. it was one of my favorite out of all of them ( )

The Chronicles of Narnia is a series of seven fantasy novels for children written by C. S. Lewis. It is considered a classic of children's literature and is the author's best-known work. Written by Lewis between 1949 and 1954z The Chronicles of Narnia have been adapted several times, complete or in part, for radio, television, stage, and cinema. In addition to numerous traditional Christian themes, the series borrows characters and ideas from Greek and Roman mythology, as well as from traditional British and Irish fairy tales. The series starts out with The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe, Prince Caspaian: Return to Narnia, The Vogage of the Dawn Treader, The Silver Chair, The Horse and His Boy, The Magican's Nephew, and the Last Battle. ( )

Help is needed in Narnia.

Masterful fantasy, C.S. Lewis created an incredible world that most children in the west have been introduced to. While the tales do get a little tired and the biblical references lose their subtlety toward the end, this is still essential reading and that it can be found in pretty much every section of a bookstore except gardening is proof of Lewis' genius and the timeless quality of the series.

I would definitely recommend reading them in the order they were originally published rather than the now standard chronological format, the Magicians Nephew is far more satisfying when it is read as book 6. ( )

I'm not sure if I chose the right edition, but I have a collection of all the Narnia series books bound into one volumn. This is handy for saving shelf space, but a bit less convenient for sitting on the edge of a bed and reading aloud to a child.
These books are best enjoyed when read aloud to children aged 8-11 years old - the audience for which they were intended. Otherwise, it can be hard to fully appreciate the tragedy of a world "where it is always winter and never Christmas". Adults may find the author's little side comments patronizing or coying, but for a child of the right age, a comment like "You can imagine what it would be like to..." helps to draw them deeper into the story and helps keep their interest..
Again, these books are meant to be read aloud, and they are meant to be read to children. That being said, the author doesn't neglect the adult who is reading the book to the child, and often puts in little remarks and asides that would sail over the head of most children but will put a smile on the face of an adult.
Some of the stories are Christian allegory, and even some Christians may find themselves objecting to, or being a little skeptical of C. S. Lewis' interpretation of Christian teaching from time to time. However, Lewis doesn't hit the reader (or listener ) over the head with his religious messages, but lets the stories speak for themselves. The stories are full of magic and wonder ,and beautifully imaginative. I recommend them to parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles of children in the target age group - but Ido recommend the boxed set , rather than the single bound volumne - unless you are trying to exercise your arms while you read! ( )

Includes books 1-7: The Magician's Nephew; The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe; The Horse and the Boy; Prince Caspian; The Voyage of teh Dawn Treader; The Silver Chair; The Last Battle

I love these books though I found some of them a bit sentimental and a bit mushy.

Veronichina ( )

A must for every child. Surely everyone knows about Narnia. No? Get out from under that rock and read about Aslan, the children he entrusts his world to and the adventures they have in that fantasy realm full of talking animals and mythical beasts. ( )

Certainly a classic. The bound-in-one edition is beautiful, and though I read it in bed, it is not best suited for such a purpose. The Narnia books are both enchanting stories and exhortations to a better life. I'm a little sad that I never got around to reading them when I was young, as I believe it would be quite lovely to reread them, noticing the different nuances as you get older. ( )

This is a collection of great magical stories that will keep children and adult's interest. I like the fact that all seven Chronicles of Narnia stories are in one book and they are printed in reading order. The stories being printed in reading order helps the story of Narnia flow. Readers can see how everything came to exist. Some of the words in the story are challenging but not to the point were it will discourage a older elementary or middle school reader. These are great read aloud stories where everyone can take a turning read if they choose to. The topic and situations covered in the stories are excellent for discussion. ( )

Award: Guardian 1000 (Science Fiction & Fantasy)
Movie, Audio Book, Book Set, ( )

This is a boxed set of the Chronicles of Narnia form the first book to the 7th and final chapter. The books are so well written that they take you to this whole other world and you can see and feel everything happening.

These are classic stories and wonderfully written a little something for everyone in these stories. ( )

i haven't read all the books in here yet i read them every now and they. they aren't really my kind of book. but i will read them when i am in the mood to read them. so far they aren't that bad. ( )

A beautiful, epic fantasy series that can be enjoyed by children and adults alike. Each book chronicles a new adventure, all of which are enjoyable in different ways. These were some of the first books I read, and they remain some of my favorites. A must-read for fantasy fans! ( )

love love love it, so inventive, tantilising, love how first one and wardrobe one interwhine(sp?) together ( )

I didnt read these when i was a child and felt that somehow i ought to at one point, eventually i borrowed them from a friend and sat down to see what all the fuss was about. The lion the witch and the wrdrobe was good, i enjoyed the magicians nephew and the rest i found quite dull. I know understand why most people speak of the lion the witch and the wardrobe and dont really mention the other 6. If this were a review of the lion the witch and the wardrobe the rating would be higher, but as i enjoyed one maybe two of seven books, i rate the chronicles as 2 and a half stars. ( )

I used to make it a summr traditon to read all 7 books. I've read them many times. I just wish they would make a chronological series of movies out of them instead of skipping around. ( )

I recommend the Lion the witch and the wardrobe. and the magicians nephew. The others i found quite dry. ( )

Love this series and have read it several times. Lent it to a friend and never got it back... so looking for another set. This series is an incredible example of layered lit. At the first layer, these are children's books and have been much loved by children for several generations now. As one goes deeper down the layers, one finds rich allegory. Parrelling bible stories and biblical ideas, there is a point to every book. Lewis was an expert and lover of Norse mythology as well as an athiest turned Christian appoligetics writer. Both of these are at work in the timeless classics, The Chronicles of Narnia. ( )