This book came highly recommended from a friend who knows I am a Tolkien fan. Actually this might be one of the reasons I didn’t enjoy the book so much as it deserves. I compared it with Tolkiens work, and frankly doesn’t come anywhere even close to it.
But then the target audience for both the books are quite different and once you start thinking like a 8 year old, you actually start to enjoy the book.
It is actually a collection of 7 books, first one being written in 1949.
Here’s a gist of the books.
1. The Magician’s Nephew.
Introduces the readers to Narnia and the characters in Narnia. Nice and easy going, this book is your typical fairy tale. Main characters which appear throughout in the books like Aslan the talking lion and the White Witch, make their debut in this book.
2.The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.
By far the best book, at least I liked it. This book introduces the readers to 4 important characters Peter, Edmund, Lucy and Susan. Its full of adventure and magic stuff kids will love.
3.The Horse and His Boy.
This books describes the adventures of Shashta and Aravis. This story is based in the later maturing ages of Narnia.
4.Prince Caspian.
The 4 characters in book 2 make a comeback in this book. But its thousands of years passed in Narnia since their time. They help Prince Caspian gain back what is rightfully his, the kingdom of Narnia.
5.Voyage of the Dawn Treader.
This time only two of the 4 kids make it back to Narnia but accompanied with their irritated cousin Eustace. This books tell a tale of King Caspian’s (from book 4) voyage to the end of the (flat) world to the land of Aslan.
6.The Silver Chair.
The time for Prince Caspian is over now and he needs help to pass-on his throne to his son. But his son is held captive and presumed dead. This time it’s up to Eustace and Jill to follow Aslan’s instructions and help him. But it turns out to be quite a different tale.
7.The Last Battle.
Like all good climax in Hindi movie, all the characters from the previous books make an appearance in this book. The monkey tells the donkey to impersonate Aslan, which causes quite a confusion amongst the Narnians. Finally High King Peter closes the gates of Narnia forever crushing all your hopes to enter Narnia (sigh!)
If you are the type who likes to discuss the finer points of a particular literary work then I suggest you stay away from this one. But if you are the type who likes to snuggle up comfortably in a chair, sip hot chocolate and read a book that reminds you of the nice bedtime stories your mom used to tell you, then I am sure you’ll enjoy this book.