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The Chronicles of Narnia (Publication Order) #4
The Silver Chair
Jill and Eustace must rescue the Prince from the evil Witch.
NARNIA...where owls are wise, where some of the giants like to snack on humans, where a prince is put under an evil spell...and where the adventure begins.
Eustace and Jill escape from the bullies at school through a strange door in the wall, which, for once, is unlocked. It leads to the open moor...or does it? Once again Aslan has a task for the children, and Narnia needs them. Through dangers untold and caverns deep and dark, they pursue the quest that brings them face to face with the evil Witch. She must be defeated if Prince Rillian is to be saved.
NARNIA...where owls are wise, where some of the giants like to snack on humans, where a prince is put under an evil spell...and where the adventure begins.
Eustace and Jill escape from the bullies at school through a strange door in the wall, which, for once, is unlocked. It leads to the open moor...or does it? Once again Aslan has a task for the children, and Narnia needs them. Through dangers untold and caverns deep and dark, they pursue the quest that brings them face to face with the evil Witch. She must be defeated if Prince Rillian is to be saved.
243 pages, Paperback
First published September 7, 1953
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About the author
C.S. Lewis
1,298 books46.7k followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Clive Staples Lewis was one of the intellectual giants of the twentieth century and arguably one of the most influential writers of his day. He was a Fellow and Tutor in English Literature at Oxford University until 1954. He was unanimously elected to the Chair of Medieval and Renaissance Literature at Cambridge University, a position he held until his retirement. He wrote more than thirty books, allowing him to reach a vast audience, and his works continue to attract thousands of new readers every year. His most distinguished and popular accomplishments include Mere Christianity, Out of the Silent Planet, The Great Divorce, The Screwtape Letters, and the universally acknowledged classics The Chronicles of Narnia. To date, the Narnia books have sold over 100 million copies and been transformed into three major motion pictures.
Lewis was married to poet Joy Davidman.
W.H. Lewis was his elder brother]
Clive Staples Lewis was one of the intellectual giants of the twentieth century and arguably one of the most influential writers of his day. He was a Fellow and Tutor in English Literature at Oxford University until 1954. He was unanimously elected to the Chair of Medieval and Renaissance Literature at Cambridge University, a position he held until his retirement. He wrote more than thirty books, allowing him to reach a vast audience, and his works continue to attract thousands of new readers every year. His most distinguished and popular accomplishments include Mere Christianity, Out of the Silent Planet, The Great Divorce, The Screwtape Letters, and the universally acknowledged classics The Chronicles of Narnia. To date, the Narnia books have sold over 100 million copies and been transformed into three major motion pictures.
Lewis was married to poet Joy Davidman.
W.H. Lewis was his elder brother]
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August 19, 2024
Missing character depth and the funny
Jill Pole and Eustace Scrubb are running from some school bullies when they find themselves in another world. However, Aslan needs their help to find Prince Rillian. What will Jill and Eustace discover on their adventure?
Did you know that CS Lewis took in children after the war? They were fascinated by his wardrobe which inspired him to write The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. One good deed turned into literary legend. Must put do good deed on my To-Do List…..
The Silver Chair is one of the weaker volumes in The Chronicles of Narnia. In prior books, the White Witch was my favorite character because she was so funny. However, this book didn’t make me laugh even though an evil Witch did make an appearance. Additionally, the prior books had much deeper character issues (thinking of the interplay between Lucy and Edmund). As a standalone book, The Silver Chair wasn’t literary legend. It also didn’t have an epic showdown, but the characters seemed to stumble into it.
Overall, an average story but certainly not as good as The Magician’s Nephew or The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe.
2025 Reading Schedule
Jan A Town Like Alice
Feb Birdsong
Mar Captain Corelli's Mandolin - Louis De Berniere
Apr War and Peace
May The Woman in White
Jun Atonement
Jul The Shadow of the Wind
Aug Jude the Obscure
Sep Ulysses
Oct Vanity Fair
Nov A Fine Balance
Dec Germinal
Connect With Me!
Blog Twitter BookTube Insta My Bookstore at Pango
Jill Pole and Eustace Scrubb are running from some school bullies when they find themselves in another world. However, Aslan needs their help to find Prince Rillian. What will Jill and Eustace discover on their adventure?
Did you know that CS Lewis took in children after the war? They were fascinated by his wardrobe which inspired him to write The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. One good deed turned into literary legend. Must put do good deed on my To-Do List…..
The Silver Chair is one of the weaker volumes in The Chronicles of Narnia. In prior books, the White Witch was my favorite character because she was so funny. However, this book didn’t make me laugh even though an evil Witch did make an appearance. Additionally, the prior books had much deeper character issues (thinking of the interplay between Lucy and Edmund). As a standalone book, The Silver Chair wasn’t literary legend. It also didn’t have an epic showdown, but the characters seemed to stumble into it.
Overall, an average story but certainly not as good as The Magician’s Nephew or The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe.
2025 Reading Schedule
Jan A Town Like Alice
Feb Birdsong
Mar Captain Corelli's Mandolin - Louis De Berniere
Apr War and Peace
May The Woman in White
Jun Atonement
Jul The Shadow of the Wind
Aug Jude the Obscure
Sep Ulysses
Oct Vanity Fair
Nov A Fine Balance
Dec Germinal
Connect With Me!
Blog Twitter BookTube Insta My Bookstore at Pango
February 15, 2025
With a Queen slain and King Caspian's son Prince Rinian lost for over a decade, Aslan brings Eustace and Jill to Narnia, where, with intense, but funny super-pessimistic Puddlegum, they have to face the adverse weather, hazardous terrain and unknown dwellers of the little known (in the book series) giant-dominated northern territory beyond Narnia.
We've been above Narnia, we've been in Narnia, travelled the Narnian seas and fought Narnian wars, so I guess Clive Staples had nowhere else to go, but under Narnia! The creativity shown by Clive Staples in this series seems to come from an everlasting reservoir, as we finally get to meet the giants and also see what lies beneath! I'd be lying if I'd write that this was up with the previous books, but it remains a perfect companion to them, such a wonderful and wholly realised constructed reality for the youngest readers! Fabulous Four Star read, 8 out of 12.
And of course there's the classic art of Pauline Baynes:
2025, 2021, 2016 and 2004 read
We've been above Narnia, we've been in Narnia, travelled the Narnian seas and fought Narnian wars, so I guess Clive Staples had nowhere else to go, but under Narnia! The creativity shown by Clive Staples in this series seems to come from an everlasting reservoir, as we finally get to meet the giants and also see what lies beneath! I'd be lying if I'd write that this was up with the previous books, but it remains a perfect companion to them, such a wonderful and wholly realised constructed reality for the youngest readers! Fabulous Four Star read, 8 out of 12.
And of course there's the classic art of Pauline Baynes:
2025, 2021, 2016 and 2004 read
September 6, 2015
Ah, the strange joys of Narnia! How is a middle-aged feminist nonbeliever supposed to feel about this contradictory volume?
Pro: Jill Pole is a strong, active, fun, funny, vigorous girl that any reader, male or female, will be happy to have as a protagonist.
Con: Jill's old enough to be active, but young enough not to be a sexual being. Which is clearly the only reason Lewis is comfortable having her around, because:
Con: Once again, Lewis only allows grown women as characters when they're scary, evil, beautiful, and seductive in equal parts. In this volume, the villain is the brilliant, ruthless Queen of the Underworld.
Pro: Jill is a fully developed character who shows that kids can be strong and important without being paragons of virtue. One of the lines I remembered all my life after reading this book as a child is her reply to Aslan when he asks her why she was standing so near the edge of a cliff (and putting both herself and her friend in danger in the process). "I was showing off, Sir." I love how she says this, without flinching. She messed up, and there's nothing to do but own it.
Pro: Because of moments like the above, Jill is more enjoyable to follow on her adventures than Lucy. I love Lucy, but she's cute and sweet and pretty much flawless. Jill gets tired, impatient, sick to her stomach with fear, sulky, and unreasonably angry. She also knows when to fight and when to run. I can relate to that.
Con: This is the only full-length story of Jill's adventures. (The Last Battle so does not count. More about that later. Like, in another review.)
Con: Quite aside from the relatively passive sexism of Lewis' pitting pre-sexual girls against dangerously seductive full-grown female villains, he also displays active sexism in this book. At the very end, he makes a point of pointing out that the terrible, incompetent Head of Jill's awful boarding school is a woman. Literally. "And then the Head (who was, by the way, a woman)..." Really? Well, that explains everything.
Pro: Lewis does some of his best characterization in this book. Minor spoiler: At one point, Jill, Eustace, and Puddleglum discover to their horror that the meat they've been eating was actually a talking beast. Their separate reactions as they put down their forks are brilliantly described:
"Jill, who was new to that world, was sorry for the poor stag and thought it was rotten of the giants to have killed him. [Eustace] Scrubb, who had been in that world before and had at least one Talking beast as his dear friend, felt horrified; as you might feel about a murder. But Puddleglum, who was Narnian born, was sick and faint, and felt as you would feel if you found you had eaten a baby."
Con: Once again, Lewis backs the wrong horse, historically speaking. Jill and Eustace are together on this adventure because they go to the same school. Yes! Really! Can you believe it? Boys and girls, attending school together! What's next???
Pro: It's kind of funny to think that someone as brilliant as Lewis could fall so cleanly into the losing camp on this issue.
Pro: Lots of Aslan.
Con: As a symbol of the Christian God, he's not at his best here. For instance, he tells Jill at the beginning of her adventures, "Here on the mountain I have spoken to you clearly: I will not often do so down in Narnia." Even as a child and certainly now, my first thought was, "Why?" If you already accept divine inscrutability as necessary or at least inevitable, this flies fine; if you don't, this doesn't help.
Pro: Puddleglum is one of the finest fantasy characters ever. His name and his "tells" are Dickensian in their genius, but he never falls into reflexive predictability. He's a weird, quirky, deeply appealing hero.
Pro: Happy ending for every kid who's ever been bullied at school.
Conclusion: Once again, Narnia is awesome no matter how old and skeptical you get.
Pro: Jill Pole is a strong, active, fun, funny, vigorous girl that any reader, male or female, will be happy to have as a protagonist.
Con: Jill's old enough to be active, but young enough not to be a sexual being. Which is clearly the only reason Lewis is comfortable having her around, because:
Con: Once again, Lewis only allows grown women as characters when they're scary, evil, beautiful, and seductive in equal parts. In this volume, the villain is the brilliant, ruthless Queen of the Underworld.
Pro: Jill is a fully developed character who shows that kids can be strong and important without being paragons of virtue. One of the lines I remembered all my life after reading this book as a child is her reply to Aslan when he asks her why she was standing so near the edge of a cliff (and putting both herself and her friend in danger in the process). "I was showing off, Sir." I love how she says this, without flinching. She messed up, and there's nothing to do but own it.
Pro: Because of moments like the above, Jill is more enjoyable to follow on her adventures than Lucy. I love Lucy, but she's cute and sweet and pretty much flawless. Jill gets tired, impatient, sick to her stomach with fear, sulky, and unreasonably angry. She also knows when to fight and when to run. I can relate to that.
Con: This is the only full-length story of Jill's adventures. (The Last Battle so does not count. More about that later. Like, in another review.)
Con: Quite aside from the relatively passive sexism of Lewis' pitting pre-sexual girls against dangerously seductive full-grown female villains, he also displays active sexism in this book. At the very end, he makes a point of pointing out that the terrible, incompetent Head of Jill's awful boarding school is a woman. Literally. "And then the Head (who was, by the way, a woman)..." Really? Well, that explains everything.
Pro: Lewis does some of his best characterization in this book. Minor spoiler: At one point, Jill, Eustace, and Puddleglum discover to their horror that the meat they've been eating was actually a talking beast. Their separate reactions as they put down their forks are brilliantly described:
"Jill, who was new to that world, was sorry for the poor stag and thought it was rotten of the giants to have killed him. [Eustace] Scrubb, who had been in that world before and had at least one Talking beast as his dear friend, felt horrified; as you might feel about a murder. But Puddleglum, who was Narnian born, was sick and faint, and felt as you would feel if you found you had eaten a baby."
Con: Once again, Lewis backs the wrong horse, historically speaking. Jill and Eustace are together on this adventure because they go to the same school. Yes! Really! Can you believe it? Boys and girls, attending school together! What's next???
Pro: It's kind of funny to think that someone as brilliant as Lewis could fall so cleanly into the losing camp on this issue.
Pro: Lots of Aslan.
Con: As a symbol of the Christian God, he's not at his best here. For instance, he tells Jill at the beginning of her adventures, "Here on the mountain I have spoken to you clearly: I will not often do so down in Narnia." Even as a child and certainly now, my first thought was, "Why?" If you already accept divine inscrutability as necessary or at least inevitable, this flies fine; if you don't, this doesn't help.
Pro: Puddleglum is one of the finest fantasy characters ever. His name and his "tells" are Dickensian in their genius, but he never falls into reflexive predictability. He's a weird, quirky, deeply appealing hero.
Pro: Happy ending for every kid who's ever been bullied at school.
Conclusion: Once again, Narnia is awesome no matter how old and skeptical you get.
Read
June 25, 2018I started reading this with my boy ages ago, but I never got around to marking it as finished here on Goodreads.
Generally speaking, I enjoyed reading him the book, and he liked hearing it. I have a nostalgia for the Narnia Chronicles, too. And that makes these books a little sweeter for me.
My younger boy (age 3.5 at the time of reading) enjoyed it too. Especially some of the more action-oriented scenes, and the stuff underground.
Generally speaking, I enjoyed reading him the book, and he liked hearing it. I have a nostalgia for the Narnia Chronicles, too. And that makes these books a little sweeter for me.
My younger boy (age 3.5 at the time of reading) enjoyed it too. Especially some of the more action-oriented scenes, and the stuff underground.
February 5, 2019
One of the best. Puddleglum is, perhaps, my favorite Narnian character of all time.
December 28, 2020
One of my other favorite Narnia books. I honestly love all of these books so much, with the exception of Prince Caspian, so it's really hard for me to truly rank the Narnia novels.
Lewis' The Silver Chair, the fourth published book in the series (and the way in which I believe the series should be read) is in many ways a very different and more grim version of the Narnia world.
Eustace returns after making his debut in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, and we are introduced to a new female lead, Jill Pole, who is quite well written in my opinion and even better than the Pevensie girls. The real show stealer here is the character of Puddleglum, however. He is a pure delight of negativity and pessimism who nevertheless is heroic and brave in his own right.
“Life isn't all fricasseed frogs and eel pie.”
“And you must always remember there's one good thing about being trapped down here: it'll save funeral expenses.”
Anyways, the children and Puddluglum find themselves on a somber and dark adventure to rescue a lost Prince, and they end up falling into the hands of Giants (who at first appear very civilized) and later an evil queen.
This is the first Narnia book (though not the last) to show Narnia as a much less friendly and darker place than the earlier books, especially The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. I quite liked Lewis' decision to do this here, and it made for a more mature read, in a series that already tends to mature more in the later books.
Lewis was a master at storytelling, and what's most impressive is that despite the fact that none of these books are as long as the typical fantasy novel nowadays, the world is incredibly vibrant and well-thought out. Lewis tells just enough to give us a clear picture while still leaving plenty to the imagination. The Silver Chair is no exception.
Lewis' The Silver Chair, the fourth published book in the series (and the way in which I believe the series should be read) is in many ways a very different and more grim version of the Narnia world.
Eustace returns after making his debut in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, and we are introduced to a new female lead, Jill Pole, who is quite well written in my opinion and even better than the Pevensie girls. The real show stealer here is the character of Puddleglum, however. He is a pure delight of negativity and pessimism who nevertheless is heroic and brave in his own right.
“Life isn't all fricasseed frogs and eel pie.”
“And you must always remember there's one good thing about being trapped down here: it'll save funeral expenses.”
Anyways, the children and Puddluglum find themselves on a somber and dark adventure to rescue a lost Prince, and they end up falling into the hands of Giants (who at first appear very civilized) and later an evil queen.
This is the first Narnia book (though not the last) to show Narnia as a much less friendly and darker place than the earlier books, especially The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. I quite liked Lewis' decision to do this here, and it made for a more mature read, in a series that already tends to mature more in the later books.
Lewis was a master at storytelling, and what's most impressive is that despite the fact that none of these books are as long as the typical fantasy novel nowadays, the world is incredibly vibrant and well-thought out. Lewis tells just enough to give us a clear picture while still leaving plenty to the imagination. The Silver Chair is no exception.
May 12, 2020
“You would not have called to me unless I had been calling to you," said the Lion.”
I am reading this series for the first time as an adult, in publication order, so this for me was book number 4. I enjoyed it just like the others, definitely not a favourite even though I love C. S. Lewis's writing and I definitely recognize the value of this series as a classic and for the role it had in the development of the genre. As for this particular book, I truly really enjoyed only the chapter of the "Silver Chair", the rest was fine but not breathtaking. A fairly good read!
I am reading this series for the first time as an adult, in publication order, so this for me was book number 4. I enjoyed it just like the others, definitely not a favourite even though I love C. S. Lewis's writing and I definitely recognize the value of this series as a classic and for the role it had in the development of the genre. As for this particular book, I truly really enjoyed only the chapter of the "Silver Chair", the rest was fine but not breathtaking. A fairly good read!
December 12, 2019
In my current reread/ first time ever actually finishing the series, The Silver Chair is the first book in the series, that I did not read as a child or know the story of by seeing an adaptation. To my somewhat surprise, I very much enjoyed this addition to the series. Although I do miss the Pevensies as well as other characters from the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe as well as Prince Caspian - I really liked following Eustace and Jill on their own cool adventure through Narnia - especially since we got to see even more parts of the world that had not previously been explored in the earlier books. It was an exciting and wholesome adventure of its' own.
One thing I will say though, is that my opinion of C. S. Lewis and of the direction he takes his characters and stories in, is very mixed - however I'll go into much more depth with that in my review for the last book, The Last Battle, which I'm already a good chunk into.
September 20, 2022
*2.5 stars💫
July 14, 2019
I can't believe it took me so long to read this one!! SO GOOD. also where is the movie
September 11, 2018
Probably the weakest so far, but scraped 4 stars and still fun
More tomorrow :)
Right I have been thinking about this review all day. It was the weakest of the books so far with what felt almost like a padded out story and I was thinking it would be a 3 star read. That said i didn't bank on Puddleglum, he was the real star of the book and added enough to make me give it 4 stars.
The book features the Pevensie's cousin Eustace, now a Narnian regular and a "jolly good chap" with a schoolfriend of his rescuing Prince Caspian's heir. A fun romp, made enjoyable by the appearance of Marsh-Wiggles and the owls :)
More tomorrow :)
Right I have been thinking about this review all day. It was the weakest of the books so far with what felt almost like a padded out story and I was thinking it would be a 3 star read. That said i didn't bank on Puddleglum, he was the real star of the book and added enough to make me give it 4 stars.
The book features the Pevensie's cousin Eustace, now a Narnian regular and a "jolly good chap" with a schoolfriend of his rescuing Prince Caspian's heir. A fun romp, made enjoyable by the appearance of Marsh-Wiggles and the owls :)
May 27, 2022
{May 2022 Reread}
I actually, sadly, really didn't enjoy this very much this time around. However, I think the lackluster reread was due at least in part to the fact that A) spring is exactly the wrong time of year to read this book (it needs the chilly, damp mistiness of late autumn), and B) you know that you're nearing the end of the series when you read this one, and I am already Highly emotional over this series reread and am really rather nervous about where I'll be mentally once I finish The Last Battle. Gulp.
But on the other hand, I have always loved this Chronicle and there are certain parts -- especially near the end -- that never fail to delight me.
{October 2018 Reread}
PUDDLEGLUUUMMMMM. <3
I forgot how much I love him.
MY SOUL IS FEELING THINGS. <333
(Also, these two bits were particularly priceless. xD
C.S. Lewis over here throwing British shade. xD xD
*snorts*)
I actually, sadly, really didn't enjoy this very much this time around. However, I think the lackluster reread was due at least in part to the fact that A) spring is exactly the wrong time of year to read this book (it needs the chilly, damp mistiness of late autumn), and B) you know that you're nearing the end of the series when you read this one, and I am already Highly emotional over this series reread and am really rather nervous about where I'll be mentally once I finish The Last Battle. Gulp.
But on the other hand, I have always loved this Chronicle and there are certain parts -- especially near the end -- that never fail to delight me.
{October 2018 Reread}
PUDDLEGLUUUMMMMM. <3
I forgot how much I love him.
"I'm on Aslan's side even if there isn't any Aslan to lead it. I'm going to live as like a Narnian as I can even if there isn't any Narnia."
MY SOUL IS FEELING THINGS. <333
(Also, these two bits were particularly priceless. xD
And in the inquiry all sorts of things about Experiment House came out, and about ten people got expelled. After that, the Head's friends saw that the Head was no use as a Head, so they made her an Inspector to interfere with other Heads. And when they found she wasn't much good even at that, they got her into Parliament where she lived happily ever after.
C.S. Lewis over here throwing British shade. xD xD
"Why, Son of Adam, don't you understand? A Centaur has a man-stomach and a horse-stomach. And of course both want breakfast. So first of all he has porridge and pavenders and kidneys and bacon and omelette and cold ham and toast and marmalade and coffee and beer. And after that he attends to the horse part of himself by grazing for an hour or so and finishing up with a hot mash, some oats, and a bag of sugar. That's why it's such a serious thing to ask a Centaur to stay for the weekend."
*snorts*)
June 9, 2019
C.S. Lewis and I are never going to see eye to eye. First, because I've yet to feel any desire to participate in a seance, and second, I prefer my manipulative (religious) propaganda to be much more subtle in nature.
And yet, despite all the above, I can't help but keep coming back to these books. What can I say? The appeal of a magical world in a wardrobe is irresistible. Yes, I knooooow it's not actually inside the wardrobe, yadda yadda yadda...
I loved reading about the latest developments in Narnia. I enjoyed riding owls alongside Jill, I giggled at Puddleglum's idea of pep-talk, especially when taking into account that he was considered to be rather upbeat by his kind:
... and most of all, I enjoyed accompanying our three heroes on their quest, looking forward to the new lands they'd discover.
So 2 stars for the awesome world building aspect and Puddleglum's (unintended) pep-talk through reverse psychology.
If there was ever a story suffering of a "show, don't tell" deficiency, this was it. I can't remember a single instance where our characters weren't explicitly told important things. I generally don't much care about the manner a hero finds his clues, but this was excessive.
And last, but most definitely not least, what is UP with the epilogue?! Admittedly this is not the only book wherein Narnia and the real world intertwine, but The Magician's Nephew did it much better. In here it seems more like an afterthought; perhaps a bonus for a job well done.
Score: 2/5 stars
I took up reading this book with the lowest possible expectations. I was expecting religious propaganda, poorly veiled Christian morality and the obligatory black and white world-view. On the one hand, the latter should not come as a surprise given the target audience. On the other hand, the overly simplified morality made it difficult for me to take any character/development seriously.
That said, I'm looking forward to the movie, and the portrayal of the different lands and people that the heroes encounter. Just please drop the epilogue.
==========================================
Review of book 3: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
And yet, despite all the above, I can't help but keep coming back to these books. What can I say? The appeal of a magical world in a wardrobe is irresistible. Yes, I knooooow it's not actually inside the wardrobe, yadda yadda yadda...
I loved reading about the latest developments in Narnia. I enjoyed riding owls alongside Jill, I giggled at Puddleglum's idea of pep-talk, especially when taking into account that he was considered to be rather upbeat by his kind:
"Good morning, Guests," he said. "Though when I say good I don't mean it won't probably turn to rain or it might he snow, or fog, or thunder. You didn't get any sleep, I dare say.
"Yes we did, though," said Jill. "We had a lovely night."
"Ah," said the Marsh-wiggle, shaking his head. "I see you're making the best of a bad job. That's right. You've been well brought up, you have. You've learned to put a good face on things."
... and most of all, I enjoyed accompanying our three heroes on their quest, looking forward to the new lands they'd discover.
So 2 stars for the awesome world building aspect and Puddleglum's (unintended) pep-talk through reverse psychology.
If there was ever a story suffering of a "show, don't tell" deficiency, this was it. I can't remember a single instance where our characters weren't explicitly told important things. I generally don't much care about the manner a hero finds his clues, but this was excessive.
And last, but most definitely not least, what is UP with the epilogue?! Admittedly this is not the only book wherein Narnia and the real world intertwine, but The Magician's Nephew did it much better. In here it seems more like an afterthought; perhaps a bonus for a job well done.
Score: 2/5 stars
I took up reading this book with the lowest possible expectations. I was expecting religious propaganda, poorly veiled Christian morality and the obligatory black and white world-view. On the one hand, the latter should not come as a surprise given the target audience. On the other hand, the overly simplified morality made it difficult for me to take any character/development seriously.
That said, I'm looking forward to the movie, and the portrayal of the different lands and people that the heroes encounter. Just please drop the epilogue.
==========================================
Review of book 3: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
March 28, 2021
Sixth narnian book with Eustace Scrubb and his school mate Jill Pole. I don't remember this one at all. I'm not even sure I read it when I was a child.
Starts with a case of bulling where Lewis manages to convey his outdated viewpoints on education even in his own day which seem archaic now. After escaping the bullies into narnia the two heros Jill and Eustace are immediately task to find King Caspian lost son Rillian by Aslan. Along the way they pick up their guild a mash wiggle named Puddleglum. Probably my favorite character in the series. Although it seems sacrilege to not say Aslan. Reminds me of one of my wife's gothic friend always feigning gloominess but really secretly happy. They run a foul of man eating giants. Finally ending up in a underworld ruled by the serpent transforming witch who is holding prince Rillian captive. It now occurs to me how little of the chronicles of narnia take place in the kingdom of Narnia. But I'll leave that thought for my review of the series. The queen is planning on using Rillian and a army of gnomesish creatures to take over narnia. But she is defeated and Rillian is retured as is the children to face the rampant bullies at the experiment house school. The head master who Lewis makes a point of saying is a woman is sacked and all is put back in the order Lewis believes it should be!
Not one of the best narnian tales. But the world is expanded not surprising given C.S Lewis friendship to J.R.R Tolkien. Lewis social commentary has not aged well. It's after all the viewpoint of a educated elite white male that has come under fire for about 50 years now.
Starts with a case of bulling where Lewis manages to convey his outdated viewpoints on education even in his own day which seem archaic now. After escaping the bullies into narnia the two heros Jill and Eustace are immediately task to find King Caspian lost son Rillian by Aslan. Along the way they pick up their guild a mash wiggle named Puddleglum. Probably my favorite character in the series. Although it seems sacrilege to not say Aslan. Reminds me of one of my wife's gothic friend always feigning gloominess but really secretly happy. They run a foul of man eating giants. Finally ending up in a underworld ruled by the serpent transforming witch who is holding prince Rillian captive. It now occurs to me how little of the chronicles of narnia take place in the kingdom of Narnia. But I'll leave that thought for my review of the series. The queen is planning on using Rillian and a army of gnomesish creatures to take over narnia. But she is defeated and Rillian is retured as is the children to face the rampant bullies at the experiment house school. The head master who Lewis makes a point of saying is a woman is sacked and all is put back in the order Lewis believes it should be!
Not one of the best narnian tales. But the world is expanded not surprising given C.S Lewis friendship to J.R.R Tolkien. Lewis social commentary has not aged well. It's after all the viewpoint of a educated elite white male that has come under fire for about 50 years now.
October 21, 2018
The Silver Chair is a fascinating adventure story of the Chronicles of Narnia. After my disappointment over The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, I was a little apprehensive as to how I would receive it. But all my fears were groundless as the story held my interest from the first chapter.
For the first time, we don't meet the Pevensies. Instead we meet Eustace, returned to Narnia with Jill Pole, a school friend of his. Although one misses Pevensies, the characters of Eustace and Jill who replace them do justice to the story and display enough bravery and courage.
I really enjoyed the writing in this story. There was intrigue, suspense and humour. The minute and colourful description of the various places where the adventurers found themselves painted a true picture of the setting that one feels one is living in the story with all those characters. Also there was underlying satire which was quite a new experience.
With this read I have finished six books of the Chronicles, and the Silver Chair is my second favourite, placed between The Lion, the Witch and The Wardrobe and Prince Caspian. Looking forward to the final read in the series and to complete the Chronicles.
For the first time, we don't meet the Pevensies. Instead we meet Eustace, returned to Narnia with Jill Pole, a school friend of his. Although one misses Pevensies, the characters of Eustace and Jill who replace them do justice to the story and display enough bravery and courage.
I really enjoyed the writing in this story. There was intrigue, suspense and humour. The minute and colourful description of the various places where the adventurers found themselves painted a true picture of the setting that one feels one is living in the story with all those characters. Also there was underlying satire which was quite a new experience.
With this read I have finished six books of the Chronicles, and the Silver Chair is my second favourite, placed between The Lion, the Witch and The Wardrobe and Prince Caspian. Looking forward to the final read in the series and to complete the Chronicles.
September 17, 2010
Finally, a proper novel! Thank you, Mr. Lewis. Sixth time's the charm, eh?
The Silver Chair is my favorite out of all the Narnia books. Not only does it have all the usual elements of this wonderful, rich fantasy world Lewis created, but the characters are better, at least in my opinion, the story feels less contrived, and it has the added benefit of being a proper novel. That is to say, it has: a) an actual plot; b) an identifiable climactic point; and c) a clear, concise denouement. For once, I wasn't left scratching my head at the end and going, "What the hell was the point of that?"
In this book, we're reunited with Eustace, the Pevensies' cousin, who has turned into an all right guy since we first met him in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Pity how he's kind of bland now that he's not an insufferable git anymore. Fortunately, it wasn't Eustace, but his schoolmate Jill who really made the book for me. Jill is a modern sort of girl; she has new age hippie parents who send her to a new age hippie school, and though Mr. Lewis obviously didn't seem to think much of it, I rather think it did her some good. Unlike the Pevensie girls, who had a tendency to be ninnies and were very much girls of their time, Jill is a pretty level-headed kid, and neither expects nor receives any particularly special treatment on account of being a girl. She's a real, honest-to-god herione, who takes a--if not the--central role in the proceedings, rather than just sort of standing around observing while the boys do all the important stuff. Girl protagonists, for the win! I love it.
Also, I feel it's worth mentioning that Jill using the sort of behaviors, if a bit exaggerated, that annoyed me about Lucy and Susan to trick the giants of Harfang, and with no small amount of disgust, amused me greatly. Maybe Lewis finally got the memo that post-war girls were a different breed.
But even though I rather adored Jill, I think my favorite character--not just from this book, but out of the whole series--has to be Puddleglum the Marsh-wiggle. God, what a character! In my opinion, he has the most personality of any of Lewis's other characters. I love his upbeat sort of persistent doom and gloom, though that would seem to be an oxymoron, and his bravery and resolve despite his bleak, pessimistic outlook on life. I also loved that he was the only one who kept his head and saved the day through a heroic and selfless act when the witch was trying to enchant them. And I really hope we get to see him again in The Last Battle.
The other thing I really enjoyed about The Silver Chair is that it's a Quest story. I mean, who doesn't like a good Quest story? If there's a story where so-and-so goes on a long, harrowing journey to complete a difficult and dangerous task, I am all about it. The only thing I didn't particularly like was that the journey itself didn't last long enough for my tastes, and the final conflict and resolution were a little too easy, but since it's a children's book, I'm willing to handwave those points.
Definitely worth a read if you're into fantasy. And overall, if you were going to read just one of the Narnia books, I would recommend this one.
The Silver Chair is my favorite out of all the Narnia books. Not only does it have all the usual elements of this wonderful, rich fantasy world Lewis created, but the characters are better, at least in my opinion, the story feels less contrived, and it has the added benefit of being a proper novel. That is to say, it has: a) an actual plot; b) an identifiable climactic point; and c) a clear, concise denouement. For once, I wasn't left scratching my head at the end and going, "What the hell was the point of that?"
In this book, we're reunited with Eustace, the Pevensies' cousin, who has turned into an all right guy since we first met him in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Pity how he's kind of bland now that he's not an insufferable git anymore. Fortunately, it wasn't Eustace, but his schoolmate Jill who really made the book for me. Jill is a modern sort of girl; she has new age hippie parents who send her to a new age hippie school, and though Mr. Lewis obviously didn't seem to think much of it, I rather think it did her some good. Unlike the Pevensie girls, who had a tendency to be ninnies and were very much girls of their time, Jill is a pretty level-headed kid, and neither expects nor receives any particularly special treatment on account of being a girl. She's a real, honest-to-god herione, who takes a--if not the--central role in the proceedings, rather than just sort of standing around observing while the boys do all the important stuff. Girl protagonists, for the win! I love it.
Also, I feel it's worth mentioning that Jill using the sort of behaviors, if a bit exaggerated, that annoyed me about Lucy and Susan to trick the giants of Harfang, and with no small amount of disgust, amused me greatly. Maybe Lewis finally got the memo that post-war girls were a different breed.
But even though I rather adored Jill, I think my favorite character--not just from this book, but out of the whole series--has to be Puddleglum the Marsh-wiggle. God, what a character! In my opinion, he has the most personality of any of Lewis's other characters. I love his upbeat sort of persistent doom and gloom, though that would seem to be an oxymoron, and his bravery and resolve despite his bleak, pessimistic outlook on life. I also loved that he was the only one who kept his head and saved the day through a heroic and selfless act when the witch was trying to enchant them. And I really hope we get to see him again in The Last Battle.
The other thing I really enjoyed about The Silver Chair is that it's a Quest story. I mean, who doesn't like a good Quest story? If there's a story where so-and-so goes on a long, harrowing journey to complete a difficult and dangerous task, I am all about it. The only thing I didn't particularly like was that the journey itself didn't last long enough for my tastes, and the final conflict and resolution were a little too easy, but since it's a children's book, I'm willing to handwave those points.
Definitely worth a read if you're into fantasy. And overall, if you were going to read just one of the Narnia books, I would recommend this one.
June 6, 2008
I'm just going to give a generic opinion of the whole series.
We love them.
The end.
Okay, so maybe I'll tell you that we read them outloud to the kids almost 2 years ago. So they were 5 going on 6 and 2. They all loved them and followed the plot and talked about the characters during their play.
We're re-reading them again (now ages 8, 4 and 2) and they're loving them even more than the first time. All I hear, all day long is "For Narnia" and then they rush through the house, swords drawn. They have made Reepicheep figures out of pom-poms. They have conversations with the characters, "So Edmund, what do you think about the squirrel doing such and so?"
I think this is a series of books that needs to be read over and over again.
We love them.
The end.
Okay, so maybe I'll tell you that we read them outloud to the kids almost 2 years ago. So they were 5 going on 6 and 2. They all loved them and followed the plot and talked about the characters during their play.
We're re-reading them again (now ages 8, 4 and 2) and they're loving them even more than the first time. All I hear, all day long is "For Narnia" and then they rush through the house, swords drawn. They have made Reepicheep figures out of pom-poms. They have conversations with the characters, "So Edmund, what do you think about the squirrel doing such and so?"
I think this is a series of books that needs to be read over and over again.
September 14, 2018
I just love this series so much. No matter how many times I read it, I never get tired of it! And each time I read it, it’s like I’m discovering Narnia for the first time again. This book is one of my favourites out of the series, I love the adventures our heroes go through to save the lost prince and return him to his rightful place. It allows us a look at a different part of the world of Narnia and it truly is magical!
November 23, 2017
The 6th book in the Chronicles of Narnia, Eustace from The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is back and this time he brings along a schoolmate, Jill Pole to adventure in Narnia. I always had the impression that this particular book was scary or the darkest of the series. Blame it on the BBC series that I saw on YTV as a kid.I thought the Queen was going to be as dark and mean as the one from The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. However, I felt it was a bit boring.
June 2, 2022
If it were at all possible for me to go to a fictional land and then potentially set-up home there, I would choose Narnia or Middle Earth (obviously). C.S. Lewis and Tolkien created places and their stories within them which I have adored since childhood, and in this uncertain world, they have always been a certainty for me. This is my fourth or fifth read-through of this series, and even though this may have been my most enjoyable experience of reading about Narnia, it did become apparent that this may be my least favourite of the series.
I know exactly what I missed too; The Penvensies. Eustace and Jill were entertaining enough, but I feel something was distinctly lacking here, despite the fact that I'm actually quite fond of Jill. I find her to be 'real' in comparison to other characters such as Lucy, for instance. I like Lucy, but at times, she was portrayed as a little too cutesy and perfect for me. Jill has many interesting imperfections that I can certainly relate to.
The writing is wonderful, and I love the beautiful descriptions of the environment, but I've said this about all of the Narnia books. They are so vividly atmospheric.
But probably one of my most favourite parts of any of these books, is seeing my beloved Aslan. He will always be my favourite.
I know exactly what I missed too; The Penvensies. Eustace and Jill were entertaining enough, but I feel something was distinctly lacking here, despite the fact that I'm actually quite fond of Jill. I find her to be 'real' in comparison to other characters such as Lucy, for instance. I like Lucy, but at times, she was portrayed as a little too cutesy and perfect for me. Jill has many interesting imperfections that I can certainly relate to.
The writing is wonderful, and I love the beautiful descriptions of the environment, but I've said this about all of the Narnia books. They are so vividly atmospheric.
But probably one of my most favourite parts of any of these books, is seeing my beloved Aslan. He will always be my favourite.
April 7, 2021
So far the best of the Narniad in terms of drama and plotting. I would give my EYETEETH to see a couple of good actors unleashed on the whole Silver Chair segment.
Rilian is a pitch-perfect Arthurian knight lifted straight out of Thomas Malory and Puddleglum is a 17th century Puritan and they are endlessly delightful alone and even more so together.
Utterly magical and unforgettable. Catch my tweet thread on the whole book here: https://twitter.com/suzannahtweets/st...
Rilian is a pitch-perfect Arthurian knight lifted straight out of Thomas Malory and Puddleglum is a 17th century Puritan and they are endlessly delightful alone and even more so together.
Utterly magical and unforgettable. Catch my tweet thread on the whole book here: https://twitter.com/suzannahtweets/st...
February 10, 2022
For some reason Goodreads has this book as #4 in the Chronicles of Narnia and it isn't it's #6, so I hope that can be corrected.
#4 = Prince Caspian.
Prince Caspian is in this book although he's King Caspian X whose son Prince Rilian has disappeared.
Eustace Scrubb and Jill Pole escape from bullies at their Experiment House school through a mysteriously open door in a wall which leads to an open moor and a massive cliff and a very large lion called....Aslan.
Eustace jumps off a cliff and Jill is given some instructions by Aslan to find the missing Prince Rilian, the heir to Caspian's throne. Jill and Eustace both end up in Narnia where their adventure begins.
Jill doesn't pass the instructions on to Eustace in time, but they do meet an owl called Glimfeather who transports them to a Parliament of Owls. Then they meet a marsh-wiggle called Puddleglum, who is brave and pessimistic in equal measures.
Jill, Eustace, and Puddleglum cross Ettinsmoor, avoid ending up in a pie in Harfang - the ruined city of the Giants, and finally come face to face with an evil witch who must be defeated if Prince Rilian is to be saved (Hint: This involves The Silver Chair of the title).
What happens next...? Well read the book, because it's really good and recommended, and I'll have to start at #1 and read them in the correct order.
Back in the real world at the very end of the book, there's an inquiry into how the headmistress of The Experiment House was running her school. 10 people were expelled due to bullying. The Headmaster's friends saw that she was no good at being a Headmaster, so they made her an inspector so she could interfere with other headmasters. When they found she wasn't much good at that, they got her into Parliament where she lived happily ever after!
#4 = Prince Caspian.
Prince Caspian is in this book although he's King Caspian X whose son Prince Rilian has disappeared.
Eustace Scrubb and Jill Pole escape from bullies at their Experiment House school through a mysteriously open door in a wall which leads to an open moor and a massive cliff and a very large lion called....Aslan.
Eustace jumps off a cliff and Jill is given some instructions by Aslan to find the missing Prince Rilian, the heir to Caspian's throne. Jill and Eustace both end up in Narnia where their adventure begins.
Jill doesn't pass the instructions on to Eustace in time, but they do meet an owl called Glimfeather who transports them to a Parliament of Owls. Then they meet a marsh-wiggle called Puddleglum, who is brave and pessimistic in equal measures.
Jill, Eustace, and Puddleglum cross Ettinsmoor, avoid ending up in a pie in Harfang - the ruined city of the Giants, and finally come face to face with an evil witch who must be defeated if Prince Rilian is to be saved (Hint: This involves The Silver Chair of the title).
What happens next...? Well read the book, because it's really good and recommended, and I'll have to start at #1 and read them in the correct order.
Back in the real world at the very end of the book, there's an inquiry into how the headmistress of The Experiment House was running her school. 10 people were expelled due to bullying. The Headmaster's friends saw that she was no good at being a Headmaster, so they made her an inspector so she could interfere with other headmasters. When they found she wasn't much good at that, they got her into Parliament where she lived happily ever after!
September 3, 2023
Started reading to the girls on Sept. 19, 2017. Took a break (Nov. 2017?) after four chapters. Moved to Virginia. Started from the beginning again on Aug. 27, 2018. Noticed this in Chapter 1. Bibles aren't encouraged at Experiment House (Ch. 1). In Chapter 2, Aslan tells Jill that she would not have called to him if he were not already calling to her (cf. 1 John 4:19). Aslan drills Jill on her memory of the signs (cf. WoG section on the third kind of motivation—starts painfully or even like a mercenary, but ends in delight).
I fought back tears at the section where the old owl tells about Caspian and Drinian in Ch. 4. Finished the Puddleglum chapter in late October, then read this the next day (I may have contributed to the Doug Wilson comment: see here and here). I like Puddleglum's "There are no accidents" comment toward the end of Ch. 10 (cf. Livi's "wreck yourself"—last two words taken out of context?); I'm not sure what point Lewis is trying to make regarding how we interpret signs, but I'd like to consider the matter further.
Chapter 11 is one of the most dramatic chapters in all of the Chronicles; my voice broke as I got to Rilian's initial utterance of Aslan's name.
In Chapter 12, I found it interesting that Jill is both the one who resists the longest and the one who explicitly succumbs to the witch-smoke first. The lamp/sun and cat/lion problems are very Platonic (Republic, Book 10). Ch. 12 is where the Puddleglum event occurs (see above). The link above includes this explanation for Puddleglum's comment that he prefers a make-believe world to the witch's Underworld: "our deepest desires are burning signposts pointing to the meaning of the universe and ultimate truth." Puddleglum isn't an existentialist; his desires have been shaped by truth, goodness, and beauty, and his desires point to a reality that really exists, even if he can't prove it systematically to a skeptic. There's also an interesting point about how pain wakes us up out of enchantments (cf. Lewis's comment in The Problem of Pain regarding God's shouting in our pain).
In Ch. 13, while still in the Underworld, Jill and Eustace use their Christian names, which is unique, since they're used to using surnames at the Experiment House. The narrator is inconsistent, and I'd like to figure out exactly what occurs. Based on my memory and a quick skim, it looks like Jill and Eustace consistently refer to each other by surnames, but while the narrator usually (not always, especially in Ch. 1) refers to Eustace as "Scrubb," he usually (always?) refers to Jill as "Jill." I don't know why. From that moment on, the narrator refers to Eustace (exclusively?) as "Eustace." I noticed in large part because, in an effort not to confuse my two younger girls (ages 4 and 2) as I read aloud, I switched every "Pole" and "Scrubb" to "Jill" and "Eustace." In this chapter, Prince Rilian tells the story of Corin Thunder-fist of Archenland (The Horse and His Boy).
I had forgotten much of Ch. 14 (esp. Bism). Jill's claustrophobia (Ch. 7 [trenches] and Ch. 10 [dark crack]) keeps Rilian's heart from being pulled in the wrong direction yet again (the Lady of the Green Kirtle lured him away, as we discover in Ch. 4).
In Ch. 15, the dwarfs wear fur-lined hoods, and a dryad gives Jill a furry coat. (I also thought of the fur coats that the children wear, and the Witch's wearing of Aslan's mane, both in LWW.) Seems strange to wear fur coats in Narnia, with so many talking animals. But Narnians seem okay with it.
Toward the end of Ch. 15: "The quest had been worth all the pains it cost" (and Jill gets tears in her eyes at all the cheering and laughing and catching up). A page or two earlier, Lewis notes that it took only about ten minutes after being rescued for the Underworld to seem like a dream (cf. their experience of the cold and the warmth of Harfang in Chs. 6–7; cf. how easily they forget—under the witch's influence—obvious parts of the real world, such as the sun). Surely this says something about the fragility and unreliability of our consciousness and physical experience: the Underworld seemed like such an oppressive and all-consuming reality for them for however long, and yet all it takes is ten minutes for it to seem like it never even happened. I imagine Heaven will be something like this.
Chapter 16 ("The Healing of Harms") is quite moving in different ways: sadness, solemnity, humor, justice. Aslan weeps for the dead Caspian. Interesting bit about not being a ghost in one's own country. One day Eustace and Jill will return to stay. Rilian cannot have wrong desires in Aslan's country. Jill and Eustace are told to use a riding crop and the flat part of a sword, respectively, on the bullies at Experiment House: Aslan says, "But use only the flat [of the sword], for it is cowards and children, not warriors, against whom I send you." So, yes, terrify/terrorize the bullies, but not so as to kill them [distinguish between poetic justice and vigilante justice]. The dull autumn day is mentioned again. The headmistress is made to look like the fool that she is, and after a number of bullies are expelled, the influential friends of the headmistress realized that she wasn't any good at her job and made her an Inspector; but she wasn't any good at that, so the friends got her into Parliament. Puddleglum's dourness is comical [Kate: That's so Puddleglum.]. Back in Narnia, the rising sea in the Underworld has stopped rising and now covers the ancient castle/city; Narnians sail merrily on the sea and tell stories (cf. 2 Kings 10:27; cf. the parliament of owls, which included a very accurate account of Narnian history). Concludes by drawing the reader in.
I fought back tears at the section where the old owl tells about Caspian and Drinian in Ch. 4. Finished the Puddleglum chapter in late October, then read this the next day (I may have contributed to the Doug Wilson comment: see here and here). I like Puddleglum's "There are no accidents" comment toward the end of Ch. 10 (cf. Livi's "wreck yourself"—last two words taken out of context?); I'm not sure what point Lewis is trying to make regarding how we interpret signs, but I'd like to consider the matter further.
Chapter 11 is one of the most dramatic chapters in all of the Chronicles; my voice broke as I got to Rilian's initial utterance of Aslan's name.
In Chapter 12, I found it interesting that Jill is both the one who resists the longest and the one who explicitly succumbs to the witch-smoke first. The lamp/sun and cat/lion problems are very Platonic (Republic, Book 10). Ch. 12 is where the Puddleglum event occurs (see above). The link above includes this explanation for Puddleglum's comment that he prefers a make-believe world to the witch's Underworld: "our deepest desires are burning signposts pointing to the meaning of the universe and ultimate truth." Puddleglum isn't an existentialist; his desires have been shaped by truth, goodness, and beauty, and his desires point to a reality that really exists, even if he can't prove it systematically to a skeptic. There's also an interesting point about how pain wakes us up out of enchantments (cf. Lewis's comment in The Problem of Pain regarding God's shouting in our pain).
In Ch. 13, while still in the Underworld, Jill and Eustace use their Christian names, which is unique, since they're used to using surnames at the Experiment House. The narrator is inconsistent, and I'd like to figure out exactly what occurs. Based on my memory and a quick skim, it looks like Jill and Eustace consistently refer to each other by surnames, but while the narrator usually (not always, especially in Ch. 1) refers to Eustace as "Scrubb," he usually (always?) refers to Jill as "Jill." I don't know why. From that moment on, the narrator refers to Eustace (exclusively?) as "Eustace." I noticed in large part because, in an effort not to confuse my two younger girls (ages 4 and 2) as I read aloud, I switched every "Pole" and "Scrubb" to "Jill" and "Eustace." In this chapter, Prince Rilian tells the story of Corin Thunder-fist of Archenland (The Horse and His Boy).
I had forgotten much of Ch. 14 (esp. Bism). Jill's claustrophobia (Ch. 7 [trenches] and Ch. 10 [dark crack]) keeps Rilian's heart from being pulled in the wrong direction yet again (the Lady of the Green Kirtle lured him away, as we discover in Ch. 4).
In Ch. 15, the dwarfs wear fur-lined hoods, and a dryad gives Jill a furry coat. (I also thought of the fur coats that the children wear, and the Witch's wearing of Aslan's mane, both in LWW.) Seems strange to wear fur coats in Narnia, with so many talking animals. But Narnians seem okay with it.
Toward the end of Ch. 15: "The quest had been worth all the pains it cost" (and Jill gets tears in her eyes at all the cheering and laughing and catching up). A page or two earlier, Lewis notes that it took only about ten minutes after being rescued for the Underworld to seem like a dream (cf. their experience of the cold and the warmth of Harfang in Chs. 6–7; cf. how easily they forget—under the witch's influence—obvious parts of the real world, such as the sun). Surely this says something about the fragility and unreliability of our consciousness and physical experience: the Underworld seemed like such an oppressive and all-consuming reality for them for however long, and yet all it takes is ten minutes for it to seem like it never even happened. I imagine Heaven will be something like this.
Chapter 16 ("The Healing of Harms") is quite moving in different ways: sadness, solemnity, humor, justice. Aslan weeps for the dead Caspian. Interesting bit about not being a ghost in one's own country. One day Eustace and Jill will return to stay. Rilian cannot have wrong desires in Aslan's country. Jill and Eustace are told to use a riding crop and the flat part of a sword, respectively, on the bullies at Experiment House: Aslan says, "But use only the flat [of the sword], for it is cowards and children, not warriors, against whom I send you." So, yes, terrify/terrorize the bullies, but not so as to kill them [distinguish between poetic justice and vigilante justice]. The dull autumn day is mentioned again. The headmistress is made to look like the fool that she is, and after a number of bullies are expelled, the influential friends of the headmistress realized that she wasn't any good at her job and made her an Inspector; but she wasn't any good at that, so the friends got her into Parliament. Puddleglum's dourness is comical [Kate: That's so Puddleglum.]. Back in Narnia, the rising sea in the Underworld has stopped rising and now covers the ancient castle/city; Narnians sail merrily on the sea and tell stories (cf. 2 Kings 10:27; cf. the parliament of owls, which included a very accurate account of Narnian history). Concludes by drawing the reader in.
January 10, 2021
Ah, my favorite quote: "For though the whole fire had not been put out, a good bit of it had, and what remained smelled very largely of burnt Marsh-wiggle, which is not at all an enchanting smell."
Coming back to Narnia always takes me by delightful surprise. It is not precisely nostalgia. Younger Amy didn't care much for The Silver Chair.
But I love it now.
It feels much too short and yet a perfect length all at the same time. It is a story, delightful for children but appealing to adults too. It wins my heart with characters I'm genuinely attached to and a beautiful, mythical world that I long to visit.
This read I was struck by the interesting theology presented by Jill's entrance into Narnia. I was also struck by how very human Eustace and Jill are. Particularly Jill. She might be in a mythical land but she's not particularly keen on the adventure. She wants a hot bath, soft bed, and good dinner...not to go tromping after a lost prince. If there is one thing that seems to come strongly in these stories, it is a realistic understanding that adventure is not always exciting moments, but a great many uncomfortable ones.
Coming back to Narnia always takes me by delightful surprise. It is not precisely nostalgia. Younger Amy didn't care much for The Silver Chair.
But I love it now.
It feels much too short and yet a perfect length all at the same time. It is a story, delightful for children but appealing to adults too. It wins my heart with characters I'm genuinely attached to and a beautiful, mythical world that I long to visit.
This read I was struck by the interesting theology presented by Jill's entrance into Narnia. I was also struck by how very human Eustace and Jill are. Particularly Jill. She might be in a mythical land but she's not particularly keen on the adventure. She wants a hot bath, soft bed, and good dinner...not to go tromping after a lost prince. If there is one thing that seems to come strongly in these stories, it is a realistic understanding that adventure is not always exciting moments, but a great many uncomfortable ones.
October 6, 2023
I love the story of this one. I really like Jill and Eustace together as a team and Puddleglum is so endearing.
Aslan's parts are always good.
A great time!
Aslan's parts are always good.
A great time!
August 31, 2023
August 2023 Review
—Mentions The Horse and His Boy by name. I had forgotten Lewis apparently wrote them around the same time. Also setup here for The Last Battle, which makes me think that, after writing the first three, and after deciding he would write more, Lewis planned out the last four all around the same time.
—Lewis somehow manages to use the most pessimistic character to create the most humor in the book. "Respectowiggle!" "Repectabiggle!" "Reshpeckobiggle!"
September 2021 Review
Reread in September 2021. I was looking for major themes this time, and I found so much. There's providence, fate, changing perspectives, double sightedness, opposites. I think I want to write an essay about it, and I don't even know where to begin.
January 2019 Review
Reread in Jan 2019. Absolutely delighted all over again.
February 2015 Review
Reread in Feb 2015. Revisited this one, and it's been reinforced as one of my top favorites of the seven. It holds some of my favorite quotes, and some true Lewis originality. Romantic attitudes, Shakespearian language, Platonic ideas, English schoolchildren, Biblical sanctification... it all comes together in a beautiful tale. While it may seem archaic or simplistic on the outside to our modern ears, I wish more people would study this as a serious "adult" book, see the layers of rich meaning, and come to love these deep stories as I do.
Quotes:
"Many sink down to the Underworld, and few return to the sunlit lands."
"But there's one more thing to be said, even so. Suppose we have only dreamed, or made up, all those things—trees and grass and sun and moon and stars and Aslan himself. Suppose we have. Then all I can say is that, in that case, the made-up things seem a good deal more important than the real ones. Suppose this black pit of a kingdom of yours is the only world. Well, it strikes me as a pretty poor one. And that's a funny thing, when you come to think of it. We're just babies making up a game, if you're right. But four babies playing a game can make a play-world which licks your real world hollow. That's why I'm going to stand by the play world. I'm on Aslan's side even if there isn't any Aslan to lead it. I'm going to live as like a Narnian as I can even if there isn't any Narnia."
—Mentions The Horse and His Boy by name. I had forgotten Lewis apparently wrote them around the same time. Also setup here for The Last Battle, which makes me think that, after writing the first three, and after deciding he would write more, Lewis planned out the last four all around the same time.
—Lewis somehow manages to use the most pessimistic character to create the most humor in the book. "Respectowiggle!" "Repectabiggle!" "Reshpeckobiggle!"
September 2021 Review
Reread in September 2021. I was looking for major themes this time, and I found so much. There's providence, fate, changing perspectives, double sightedness, opposites. I think I want to write an essay about it, and I don't even know where to begin.
January 2019 Review
Reread in Jan 2019. Absolutely delighted all over again.
February 2015 Review
Reread in Feb 2015. Revisited this one, and it's been reinforced as one of my top favorites of the seven. It holds some of my favorite quotes, and some true Lewis originality. Romantic attitudes, Shakespearian language, Platonic ideas, English schoolchildren, Biblical sanctification... it all comes together in a beautiful tale. While it may seem archaic or simplistic on the outside to our modern ears, I wish more people would study this as a serious "adult" book, see the layers of rich meaning, and come to love these deep stories as I do.
Quotes:
"Many sink down to the Underworld, and few return to the sunlit lands."
"But there's one more thing to be said, even so. Suppose we have only dreamed, or made up, all those things—trees and grass and sun and moon and stars and Aslan himself. Suppose we have. Then all I can say is that, in that case, the made-up things seem a good deal more important than the real ones. Suppose this black pit of a kingdom of yours is the only world. Well, it strikes me as a pretty poor one. And that's a funny thing, when you come to think of it. We're just babies making up a game, if you're right. But four babies playing a game can make a play-world which licks your real world hollow. That's why I'm going to stand by the play world. I'm on Aslan's side even if there isn't any Aslan to lead it. I'm going to live as like a Narnian as I can even if there isn't any Narnia."
April 26, 2019
Lo siento pero este libro es el peor de la saga.
Nada de lo que sucedió en este libro me gusto, me aburrió muchísimo, los personajes se me hicieron tan grises, lo que sucedió en la trama me hacia pensar que no sucedió en Narnia, no había magia, no había esa sensación de ilusión, no lo disfrute en absoluto, hubo partes demasiado pesadas, fue el libro que más pesado y lento se me hizo.
Eustace regresa con una amiga de la escuela, Jill. Para encontrar al Príncipe desaparecido, cuya desaparición ha provocado la desaparición de otros miembros numerosos en su búsqueda. Su viaje los lleva a la tierra de los gigantes y al mundo subterráneo.
Otro punto negativo es la superioridad masculina que esta siempre presente en la serie... Algo que puedo aceptar hasta cierto nivel, pero en este libro parece que Lewis se desvive por degradar a las mujeres. Este es el primer libro (cronológicamente) que no presenta a Lucy, el personaje femenino era fuerte y valiente. En cambio, en este tenemos a Jill. Y seamos sinceros, Jill es una cobarde. Eso fue algo con lo que no pude en todo el libro.
Para ser el penúltimo libro no estuvo al nivel que se necesitaba, ya que me daba igual lo que sucedía con los personajes, espero que el siguiente que es el ultimo este mucho mejor, simplemente por ser el final de la saga.
Nada de lo que sucedió en este libro me gusto, me aburrió muchísimo, los personajes se me hicieron tan grises, lo que sucedió en la trama me hacia pensar que no sucedió en Narnia, no había magia, no había esa sensación de ilusión, no lo disfrute en absoluto, hubo partes demasiado pesadas, fue el libro que más pesado y lento se me hizo.
Eustace regresa con una amiga de la escuela, Jill. Para encontrar al Príncipe desaparecido, cuya desaparición ha provocado la desaparición de otros miembros numerosos en su búsqueda. Su viaje los lleva a la tierra de los gigantes y al mundo subterráneo.
Otro punto negativo es la superioridad masculina que esta siempre presente en la serie... Algo que puedo aceptar hasta cierto nivel, pero en este libro parece que Lewis se desvive por degradar a las mujeres. Este es el primer libro (cronológicamente) que no presenta a Lucy, el personaje femenino era fuerte y valiente. En cambio, en este tenemos a Jill. Y seamos sinceros, Jill es una cobarde. Eso fue algo con lo que no pude en todo el libro.
Para ser el penúltimo libro no estuvo al nivel que se necesitaba, ya que me daba igual lo que sucedía con los personajes, espero que el siguiente que es el ultimo este mucho mejor, simplemente por ser el final de la saga.
November 21, 2009
The last two books are definitely not in line for my favourites. There are various factors -- one of which is simply that I don't like seeing Narnia come to an end! But the main one is that I don't find Jill, Eustace and Puddleglum that compelling as main characters. Or Rillian, for that matter, even though he's Caspian's son. They're quite realistic and human, and lack the nobility that Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy have, I think. Perhaps too realistic. I want to kick Jill a lot of the time for making excuses and not doing what she knows is right. Nobody else is much better. Puddleglum is an interesting idea for a character, but I don't find him that compelling.
It doesn't help that this book is fairly dreary. Snow, stone, cold, giants, underground, sunless seas... there are some beautiful, beautiful sections, like the description of Bism, and little gems about Narnia, like about how serious it is to ask a centaur to stay for the weekend. Overall, though, I find it hard to get into and sympathise with the characters.
I do find myself tearing up, even now, at Caspian's death and renewal.
It doesn't help that this book is fairly dreary. Snow, stone, cold, giants, underground, sunless seas... there are some beautiful, beautiful sections, like the description of Bism, and little gems about Narnia, like about how serious it is to ask a centaur to stay for the weekend. Overall, though, I find it hard to get into and sympathise with the characters.
I do find myself tearing up, even now, at Caspian's death and renewal.
February 14, 2021
Volvemos a Narnia, con más cambios en los protagonistas de la historia. Esta vez nos encontramos con una narración muy mágica y a la vez muy intensa. El reencuentro con algunos personajes la hace muy conmovedora, sin que por esto se pierda la emoción en las diferentes aventuras que se desarrollan en la novela. Se queda entre mis favoritas de la saga.
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