Blog 3349 – 01.03.2025

The Chronicles of Narnia

Fifty years ago I first read C.S.Lewis’s children’s book series of seven volumes called The Chronicles of Narnia. Over the years, as I do with the really good books that I have encountered, I have read them over and over again till I have them almost memorized.

Over the holidays, I watched again the three movies that have been made from the first three books in the series, in the order that they were originally published. I watched the movies in reverse order since the third book The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (third in the series) was playing on one of the pay streaming services for which I have a subscription. The other two I had to pay a small fee to rent on Prime Video. I had intended to watch The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (the first book published) first, but clicked on Prince Caspian (the second) by mistake. And so that is how I ended up watching the three movies in reverse order. The stories are written in such a way that you can read them in any order for they stand alone quite well.

It has been several years since the third movie was made and I have been hoping that the producers would decide to continue with Book Four, one of my favorites, The Silver Chair. Alas they have not yet.

I decided half way through watching The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe that I wanted to buy a copy of the books to read them again and also to have to give to my granddaughter Emma Grace so in a few years when she is older that my son Jay and his wife Lauren can read the stories to her. They both love the books and know them well.

The copy I ordered, pictured above has all seven books in a hard-bound edition and places book five, The Magician’s Nephew, first for it is the book that tells the story of how the land of Narnia came into being. I have a hard time deciding whether my favorite book is The Silver Chair or The Magician’s Nephew. When I am reading the one I am convinced it is my favorite until I read the other again.

This January first, I began reading the first pages of The Magician’s Nephew and I am in no hurry to finish, but plan to savor every word. Probably my least favor book is the last and that probably because that is where the story ends. Even still and I will not spoil the ending for you, only to leave you with a Lewis quote from the final book, The Last Battle, “Ever onward and ever upward.”

If you have never been, do plan a trip to Narnia, and like me you will encourage your friends and family, especially your children and your children’s children to visit there too.

Your friend and fellow traveler,

David White