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Review: The Last Battle

// May 25th, 2012 // Comments // Books, Family, Uncategorized

The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have finished my journey through the seven books of the Chronicles of Narnia in seven days. Quite an enjoyable trip!

This was the only book I rated four stars of the series. This is not because the story isn’t as good or as well written. I rather enjoyed it! The only reason I have marked it down is because I didn’t enjoy the pessimistic view of Lewis’s eschatology. It certainly came out in this story. Of course, many are upset by his welcoming the Calormene into Aslan’s country based on his faithful service to the god Tash. I don’t really understand why Lewis would write this, but it doesn’t detract from the story. These were probably the only two bits of Lewis’s theology that I either disagreed with or didn’t understand in the whole of the series.

I did notice one other thing throughout my reading of the series. Lewis spends much more time telling the story of the adventure than he does the results of the adventure. You will find that he tends to wrap things up ever so quickly in the final pages of the books. I think Lewis most certainly feels that the greater joy is found in the adventure than it is in the conclusion.

I am now off to read my companion tour guides to Narnia, Douglas Wilson’s What I Learned in Narnia and Michael Ward’s Planet Narnia.



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Review: The Magician’s Nephew

// May 24th, 2012 // Comments // Books, Family, Uncategorized

The Magician’s Nephew by C.S. Lewis

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Today is day six, and I’ve finished the sixth of the seven Chronicles of Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew. This one is one of the favorites of my children. It is thoroughly enjoyable.

The Magician’s Nephew is the Genesis of Chronicles of Narnia. It has inspired me to want to read Silmarillion, the Genesis of Middle Earth. Reading how these great authors describe the genesis of their own worlds brings evokes thoughts of the beauty of our own Genesis in our minds.

The idea that Aslan sang Narnia into existence makes it more obvious that God’s speaking our world into existence most certainly would have been His singing it into existence. Oh to have been there to see the stars and trees and creation dancing the divine dance of creation!

This too is a must read.



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Review: The Horse and His Boy

// May 24th, 2012 // Comments // Books, Family, Uncategorized

The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Book five. A fun book and highly recommended, just as are all of the others.

The story of the lion scratching Aravis’ back, or walking along the ledge with Shasta, are great stories, often used as sermon illustrations and lessons. C.S. Lewis is a masterful storyteller and works so much of the truth of Scripture into his stories.

You can’t help but to fall in love with Narnia or her inhabitants.



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My Summer Vacation in Narnia

// May 19th, 2012 // Comments // Books, Family

I’ve got a plan to read through the entire Chronicles of Narnia this summer. Initially, my plan is to read a book a day to complete the trip in a week. I’m on track so far, but this is only day two. I’ve been there before, but it has been a long time since I’ve experienced the whole of Narnia.

In order to get more bang for my buck, I’ve hired a couple of tour guides for my trip. Once I’ve read each of the seven books, I’m going to follow them up with Douglas Wilson’s What I Learned in Narnia and Michael Ward’s Planet Narnia: The Seven Heavens in the Imagination of C.S. Lewis. This may be one of my best vacations ever!

If all goes well, I should have plenty of time this summer for another vacation. Right now, I’m leaning toward a return trip to the Shire and Middle Earth. If it works out, I’ll read J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings series. My tour guide for that trip will be Peter Kreeft’s The Philosophy of Tolkien: The Worldview Behind the Lord of the Rings, which I’ll read after I finish the four Middle Earth books.

I’m not looking for prayers for safe travel, only good travel. Just as Mr. Beaver replied to Lucy when asked if Aslan was safe.

‘Safe?’ said Mr. Beaver. ‘Don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.’

Is the Jesus of Christmas Safe?

// December 25th, 2010 // Comments // Kingdom Theology

“If there’s anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they’re either braver than me or else just silly.”

“Then he isn’t safe,” asked Lucy.

“Safe?” said Mr. Beaver. “Don’t you heart what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? Of course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”

Merry Christmas! All hail the King of kings!