Every year around Christmas-time, I read all seven of The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. I first read The Chronicles of Narnia after I received them as a Christmas present when I was 10. I instantly fell in love and read all seven in as many days, and ever since then, reading these books is my own personal Christmas tradition. Last week, I read the first two, The Magician’s Nephew and The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe.
The Magician’s Nephew
This is where it all began. I don’t know why this book doesn’t get more love from people. Usually, everyone just skips straight to The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe but for me and for my homeboy C.S., it all begins with The Magician’s Nephew. It’s a magical adventure and the word “chap” is used several dozen times so it has all the makings of a great story. This is where we first meet both Aslan and the white witch and see how Narnia is created. It’s beautifully written, Narnia is created with a song, and the way C.S. describes it is lovely and enchanting. I love Diggory and Polly, the two central characters and think they are both very well written even though the book is a bit short. I love it. I mean, obviously, because I re-read it every year.
The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe
This is the book most people think of when they think about The Chronicles of Narnia and it’s been made into several movies the most recent in 2005. This is the tale of the four Pevensie children and their first adventure in Narnia and it is awesome! I love The Beavers and Mr. Tumnus and just about every other magical creature in this book. It’s just so fanciful and lovely and magical and I love every bit of it. And, spoiler alert, Diggory from The Magician’s Nephew is the Pevensie’s Uncle and he is a completely awesome grown-up and I want to be just like him.
If you haven’t ever read these books, you need to do it immediately. Aslan wants you to, I’m sure of it. Also, if you’re anything like me, they will put you in a really good mood for like 2 weeks. True story.
Also, this.
Okay, you’ve convinced me. I’ve always known these were great books, but I played video games as a kid, so I’m like 15 years behind on reading. Imma go with the first one first.
Yay! I’m so proud of you! I can’t wait to hear what you think about them!
I’ve always meant to go back and read all of those books. I’ve only ever read the first couple, and it was years ago. I should have put them on my Christmas List.
I also want to read all of the Wizard of Oz books.
Those are also well worth a good read- you should definitely make time for these series, so wonderfully and magically written!
Magician’s Nephew has always been my favorite. I have to admit that I still get teary-eyed when I read about Aslan singing Narnia into existence… Beautiful!
I get a little misty-eyed myself…
i sooo like Chronicles of Narnia…up to now I’m wondering why they haven’t made any movie for the Magician’s Nephew, that is where it all started… but on 2nd thought if ever they did it could be a bit disappointing just like what the people did with some books turned into movies….
That’s true, it’s really hard to capture the magic of a book in film, you would think it would be easy but it’s always a bit off….
I used to love those books, thought it has been forever since I read them. I love the idea of a christmas tradition being reading certain books…hmmm…
You should definitely institute a similar tradition- it’a actually a lot of fun! (If you’re a nerd like me….)
The Magician’s Nephew deserves more love, that’s for sure, especially because there’s so much Lewis hinted at but never told. What WAS the Deplorable Word, for example? What about all the other pools in the Wood Between the Worlds? How did the Tree of Protection get cut down so that Jadis could get in and kick off the Hundred Years of Winter? And so on. Not to mention the ending lines. “But she was a dem fine woman, sir, a dem fine woman.” … (I’m a Narnianerd, I know this.
)
I too, am a Narnianerd and I embrace you.
I fell in love with these as a child too
Still some of my favorites! Thanks for a great post!
Thanks for thinking it’s a great post!
I read The magicians nephew as number one too. I have a box set and it is the first story in the box. So I assume despite it being written after the Lion the witch and the wardrobe it is meant to be read as number 1. My favourite in the series is The Silver Chair. I love it.
Me too! The Silver Chair is my favorite! Wow, I’ve never known anyone else who chose it as their favorite- this is a happy day!
I love this series, too! My favorites are The Last Battle and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. I think I’ve read or listened to Dawn Treader at least 15 times.
Although I don’t know if I spelled it right just now.
I love it so much! My favorite is The Silver Chair, but I love them all so much!
That’s my other favorite! But my mind went blank on the title. All I could think was, “You know – Eustace and Jill and Puddleglum and Rillian…”
How many series (other than HP) can you honestly say you can’t choose just one favorite out of only 7 books. My favorites are nearly half the series.
True story! I think Puddleglum is one of my favorite characters of all time!
Thanks for the tip! This is going into my husband’s calendar next year (he’ll finish it quickly which will leave the book for me to read for the rest of December!)
Awesome- I love couples who share books!
I enjoy reading C.S. Lewis – one of my favorite authors growing up. Thanks for sharing!
Anytime! I’m always happy to share C.S. Lewis.
Love love love the Chronicles of Narnia. Oddly enough, my favorite was The Horse and His Boy, most likely because it was so messed up.
I love that one too! Such a great story!
That’s a great one too, such a fabulous adventure! And I really like Shasta.
That was my favorite too!!!
Hey, great post!
I wanted to write you to let you know that I nominated you for a Versatile Blogger Award!
Check it out
http://reasonswhyimstillsingle.wordpress.com/2011/12/20/they-read-me-they-really-read-me/
P.S. I swear, this is NOT spam
PPS Do you think artificial intelligence has gotten smart enough that it knows how to say that it’s not spam? I hope not…
Thank you! I appreciate it! And no, I don’t think AI is quite there yet but it will happen soon I imagine….
Um, no. Chronologically The Magician’s Nephew comes first, being a prequel, but The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe is really first — was written first, and is meant to be read first. (There’s this great passage where the Pevensies are in the Beavers’ house first hearing about Aslan, and the narrative says that they didn’t know anything about Aslan any more than we (the readers) do, but they all reacted to hearing of him differently). If one has read The Magician’s Nephew then one already knows who Aslan is, and is not discovering him for the first time along with the Pevensies.
That said… I love this whole series (ever since first hearing TLTW&TW in 6th grade) and I also try to read it every year. Though if I can’t fit it all in, I’ll at least read TLTW&TW and The Last Battle.
I’m sure Aslan would understand.
Consider me schooled.
Did I have tone? Sorry. I get passionate about Narnia. Apparently.
No worries! Narnia is a good thing to get passionate about.
Oh, this is the best and Aslan is, was and will always be my hero – thanks for this!
Aslan is my hero too!!