Can anyone in their 30s talk about The Chronicles of Narnia without now recalling the SNL Digital Short Lazy Sunday starring Andy Samberg and Chris Parnell? Because the minute I say the name of the series, that’s all I hear, them yelling about going to watch the movie version of the first book. As I started to write this review, I went and looked up the video and it still got a giggle, so well done to the future Mr. Jake Peralta.
Buuuut anyhoo. Why a I revisiting this childhood classic? My 11 year-old son is outta library books, and of course we won’t be darkening the doors of the library in Illinois any time soon, so I took a gander in our home library for something he might like to read. And lo and behold I find this series, a favorite from my youth. He’s a fan of dragons and magic and fantasy tales (Star Wars/Star Trek/Harry Potter fan) so figured this would be a lock and for once it seems I pegged his reading interests, or at least, I have thus far.
We read this together (i.e., he read, then I would see what page he had gotten to and catch up) and though we didn’t talk much about it yet, it was a neat shared experience. I remember loving this story about children who find a magical land through an ordinary wardrobe, and was excited to walk back into it. As most things from childhood, it wasn’t exactly as I remembered it, obviously my reading comprehension is higher now, so I quickly zipped through the pages. It didn’t provide the same engrossing experience that I remember but with talking animals, fantasy creatures, and the epic battle between good and evil (heaven and hell, jesus and el diablo) it’s a story that still sells.
I won’t really be delving into Lewis’ christianity angle, but with our without that context it’s a grand tale of adventure and coming of age, and I’m excited to continue on the journey: fingers crossed he remains engaged through the series.
