Started: December 26, 2011
Finished: December 27, 2011
What I loved best: The introduction of Narnia. While this book was published sixth in the series, chronologically it is the first. The hardbound collection I have has the books in order of events, not publication so I was able to read this first.
I was hooked, absolutely hooked, at the first sentence: “This is a story about something that happened long ago when your grandfather was a child.”
Because it is written for children, it’s a very fast and easy read. I adore how Lewis refers to characters as “Mother” instead of “his mother” and such. His descriptions and dialogue are just how I would have imagined London to be, and I found myself reading with that English accent. I loved the subtle introduction of characters that will come into more prominence in later books, and even the beginning introduction for the characters in this book.
I audibly gasped and cheered and laughed throughout the story, but more often than not found myself holding my breath to see what would happen next.
I was thrilled with the ending, as the final chapter is titled “The End of This Story and the Beginning of All the Others”. And that’s exactly how it felt.
The foundation had been laid. Now it’s time to continue the journey into Narnia.