The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (rack) (Narnia) [Englisch] [Taschenbuch]

First I have to say that the books aren't for everyone. They've got some special characteristics that won't suit everybody. First of all you have to know, that the chronicles of Narnia aren't comparable to Lord of the rings. They've got a whole different kind of setting and the stories are much different (This is a remark not a scoring). Secondly, the books are written for children, therefore it's a childish way of story telling (what still can be very lovely to read for an adult) and thirdly there are always educational notes from Lewis. He tries to teach something to the readers what can be very bothering if you don't like that. I for myself can say, that I liked all these things very much and that they constitute a very special part of the whole magic of Narnia.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is the best known book of the chronicles. And the story is really beautiful. And it's not just a story. There are a lot of symbols and hidden messages in the story. Some are very deeply christian. But I believe, that also for people who can't identify with the christian parts of this book, there are a lot of good messages behind the story. For example how addiction can make you blind or how love can change the minds of people (Lucy and Mr. Tumnus).

So in the end I would say, this is a book for everyone who loves fantastic and wonderful stories, child or adult. Lewis paints a wonderful story with such love and humor, that I could hardly put away the book. I would say, everyone should give this book a chance. I'm sure that for a lot of people it won't remain with the giving of a chance, but that they too will fall in love with Narnia.

Eine Anmerkung für Deutschsprachige:
Da das Buch für Kinder geschrieben wurde, ist es ein verhältnismässig einfaches Englisch. Zwar ist die Sprache, durch ihr teils etwas mittelalterliches Flair nicht immer ganz unkompliziert. Deshalb kann es auch mal vorkommen, dass man eine Passage zwei oder drei mal lesen muss, bis man sie versteht, wer aber ein gewisses Grundenglisch besitzt sollte keine Mühe haben der Geschichte folgen zu können und sollte auch einen grossen Teil der liebevollen Details verstehen. Ein empfehlenswertes Buch also auch für jene, für die Englisch eine Fremdsprache ist!

First I have to say that the books aren't for everyone. They've got some special characteristics that won't suit everybody. First of all you have to know, that the chronicles of Narnia aren't comparable to Lord of the rings. They've got a whole different kind of setting and the stories are much different (This is a remark not a scoring). Secondly, the books are written for children, therefore it's a childish way of story telling (what still can be very lovely to read for an adult) and thirdly there are always educational notes from Lewis. He tries to teach something to the readers what can be very bothering if you don't like that. I for myself can say, that I liked all these things very much and that they constitute a very special part of the whole magic of Narnia.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is the best known book of the chronicles. And the story is really beautiful. And it's not just a story. There are a lot of symbols and hidden messages in the story. Some are very deeply christian. But I believe, that also for people who can't identify with the christian parts of this book, there are a lot of good messages behind the story. For example how addiction can make you blind or how love can change the minds of people (Lucy and Mr. Tumnus).

So in the end I would say, this is a book for everyone who loves fantastic and wonderful stories, child or adult. Lewis paints a wonderful story with such love and humor, that I could hardly put away the book. I would say, everyone should give this book a chance. I'm sure that for a lot of people it won't remain with the giving of a chance, but that they too will fall in love with Narnia.

Eine Anmerkung für Deutschsprachige:
Da das Buch für Kinder geschrieben wurde, ist es ein verhältnismässig einfaches Englisch. Zwar ist die Sprache, durch ihr teils etwas mittelalterliches Flair nicht immer ganz unkompliziert. Deshalb kann es auch mal vorkommen, dass man eine Passage zwei oder drei mal lesen muss, bis man sie versteht, wer aber ein gewisses Grundenglisch besitzt sollte keine Mühe haben der Geschichte folgen zu können und sollte auch einen grossen Teil der liebevollen Details verstehen. Ein empfehlenswertes Buch also auch für jene, für die Englisch eine Fremdsprache ist!

This book takes place during World War II, many years after the events of The Magician's Nephew, and tells the story of four young siblings, Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy. They are exploring the big house of an old Professor (which I'm guessig is Digory from the first book) where they've been sent during the air-raids, when Lucy enters the old wardrobe in en empty room upstairs to hide in it.

Only this wardrobe is actually a direct passage to the world of Narnia, and Lucy finds herself in a forest on a snowy night, the only light that of a lamppost. There she meets a Faun named Tumnus, who is indeed very amazed to meet a legendary Human, an invites her to tea. In the cozy warmth of his home, he tells her of the evil White Witch, who is turning everyone who opposes her to stone, and whose spell on Narnia makes it always winter and never Christmas.

When Lucy finally gets out of the wood and then out of the wardrobe again, no time has actually passed, and of course, when she tells her story to her brothers and sister, none of them believes her. Edmund in particular likes to make fun of her.

On another, rainy day, when they're all playing hide-and-seek in the huge mansion, Edmund decides to hide in the wardrobe and he too finds himself in Narnia. But instead of the Faun, he meets the White Witch, who lures him with Turkish Delight (his favourite sweets) and by making him believe that he can become King if he brings her his brother and sisters.

The book then tells the adventures of the four kids in Narnia, meeting a friendly couple of talking badgers and all kinds of other fantastic animals and creatures, among then the powerful Lion King Aslan, and helping them save the world from the evil usurper Queen.

Reading the series in the chronological order rather than in the publication order, I found that The Magician's Nephew was actually a kind of spoiler for The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. I think that I would have been more enchanted, amazed and curious about the world of Narnia if I hadn't read all about its creation in the first book. I would have wondered about the lamppost, for example (and it would have been nice to read about the Lion's song later). Knowing about it in advance, I'm sure I found it a tad duller, because I wasn't discovering it at the same time as the kids. This is a nice story, and I know it's a Classic, but I must say it's not as captivating as I thought it would be.

I advise you read it in the publication order: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe; Prince Caspian; The Voyage of the Dawn Treader; The Silver Chair; The Horse and His Boy; The Magicians Nephew; The Last Battle.