The Chronicles of Narnia Complete 7 Volume CD Box Set (Unabridged)

C. S. Lewis

These are children's books but the author's language and astuteness will captivate anyone of any...more

These are children's books but the author's language and astuteness will captivate anyone of any age. The allegory is pretty transparent but the message is pure, unlike most Christian novels of today. Lewis' understanding of the religion is mostly unfettered by politics or prejudices (with the exception of the nemesis Calormenes, who are obviously fashioned after Middle Eastern Muslims). Even the closemindedness of this redeemed itself in the end, when Lewis makes it apparent that he accepts a "it's not what religion you follow, it's what's in your heart that matters" doctrine, and that's the message he is trying to get across in these stories. As somewhat of a skeptic of all religion, the Narnian experience was a little lessened for me. However, if I were a practicing believer in Christianity I would find these books enchanting and unflawed.    hide

I have read these books about two dozen times, no kidding. About every two years, I pick them up...more

I have read these books about two dozen times, no kidding. About every two years, I pick them up and read through the entire series, something I've done since about fourth grade. Lewis was a prolific Christian author, very well known for his Screwtape Letters and Mere Christianity, but I think the Chronicles will always be his greatest and best-loved contribution to world literature. Yes, there are some allegorical elements to the books, and Lewis made no secret of his desire to teach some of the basic truths of Christianity through the subtle medium of children's stories; however, the stories are quite good on their own, and have been enjoyed by many readers who are not Christian. Over the course of these seven books, readers encounter love, betrayal, creation, law, evil, good, imagination, sin, redemption, heaven, hell, purgatory, magic, humor, and much more. Not as epic in scope as the Lord of the Rings trilogy, written by Lewis's good friend J.R.R. Tolkien, the Chronicles of Narnia are, in some ways more direct and entertaining storytelling. When reading the books, I almost feel as if Lewis is right there in the room reading them to me. If you have children, read them these books! If you don't have children, give them a try yourself!   hide

Don't be put off this series by the religious overtones the author injected into them. Lewis, as...more

Don't be put off this series by the religious overtones the author injected into them. Lewis, as a well known Christian, really tried to write these books so they would instill the theories behind Christianity into future generations - and it's a little off putting at times. As someone who has a reserved parking space in Hell waiting for him (I have absolutely zero interest in religion, or having it crammed down my throat), I should hate this series, but I don't. Rather than feeling like it's trying to make me a christian, I feel like these books simply try to make you a better person. The ideologies are quite dated now, and the books are firmly in the 1940s / 1950s with their attitudes, but the story is solid, and it will bring you back time and time again.   hide

I read the chronicles of narnia once when I was younger but it blew me away when I read it again as...more

I read the chronicles of narnia once when I was younger but it blew me away when I read it again as an adult and as a christian...every time I read them i get goose bumps (and sometimes even tear up a little). C.S. Lewis is brilliant - this is so much more than a fairy tale. It's overtly christian; I don't think he tried to be subtle about it. What is subtle are the more nuanced elements of a person's encounter and walk with Christ. I sometimes think that although he wrote it for all types of people, it hit me so much harder as a Christian because I caught a lot of things that I missed before. Either way, I think you'll finish them wanting to read them again :) just a great story altogether.   hide

Second only to Lord of the Rings and even that's debateable. It's close. Two completely different...more

Second only to Lord of the Rings and even that's debateable. It's close. Two completely different kinds of books, stories, and genre. CS Lewis wrote the books in a certain order and, despite that, a reader will gain far more from the entire series if you read them in chronological order of events inside the story. Magician's Nephew would be the first book you would read. Reading the series in "chronlogical timeline order" vs "order the books were written in" is a powerful and truly one of a kind reading experience rivaled only by Lord of the Rings. LOTR and Narnia are the two best fiction books I have ever read in my life and probably ever will.    hide