The Chronicles of Narnia: Some Thoughts

Twenty years have passed since I first read the Chronicles of Narnia, but I recently replaced a lost set and have started reading them again. I am halfway through book two, Prince Caspian, and will post reviews of each book as I go. Here are a few thoughts I have so far about the series as a whole.

These are short, easily read books. I have read through the Harry Potter series and the Lord of the Rings series within the last couple of years, and the Chronicles of Narnia are on an easier reading level than either of these. However, there is also a layered quality to the stories that make them enjoyable for all ages. Great books that will appeal to any age, intellect, or even religion . . . a very rare feat.

Overarching narrative, short metaphors. The ties to Christianity in Narnia are a little different than I thought they would be. Not only does Christianity provide the backbone for the fairy tale, but their are shorter metaphors interjected throughout the text. Lewis is a master at this . . . I'm already convinced that one can learn more about who God is and how He operates by reading the Chronicles of Narnia than by diving into thick theological tomes.

Seven short books . . .  but I don't believe that I finished the series when I read them last time. The climax of the first book will be hard to beat . . . after all, the entire history of our world hinges on the events that lie under the surface of The Lion, The Witch, & The Wardrobe. Very interested to see how the rest of series plays out and if the suspense and narrative improves with each book, as it does in almost every other popular fantasy series.

Pick them up, and read them. Lewis is one of my favorite authors of non-fiction, and though I have read only one of his fictional works thus far I have no doubt that he will be one of my favorite fiction writers as well.

Also: attended a lecture by Alistair McGrath last December. He is currently researching and writing the definitive biography on Lewis and his works. Very excited to see this in print in the next couple of years.

Does Prayer Change Things?

"In short, no prayer of any human being ever uttered in history ever changed the mind of God in the slightest, because His mind doesn't ever need to be changed.

. . . prayer does change things, all kinds of things. But the most important thing it changes is us. As we engage in this communion with God more deeply and come to know the One with whom we are speaking more intimately, that growing knowledge of God reveals to us all the more brilliantly who we are and our need to change in conformity to Him. Prayer changes us profoundly."(R.C. Sproul, The Prayer of the Lord, 14)

The Human Factor by Graham Greene

Graham Greene, an author who focused on contemporary political and moral issues of his day, was raised Catholic and each of his novels have Christian themes woven throughout. His realistic prose highlights the battle against evil in each man, and The Human Factor is one of his best works.

Maurice Castle, the protagonist of the story, is a conflicted spy. He goes to work each day, pushes papers at the office, and comes home to a loving family each night. The book focuses on family, patriotism, and race, but still has all of the great elements of a spy novel. In fact, many think that it is the greatest spy novel ever written.

This book will provoke you to think about things in ways that only fiction can do. Race, apartheid, loyalty, family, religion, Africa, and many other subjects are turned inside out in the space of just a few chapters. The Human Factor is an espionage novel that will grip you from the first few pages and one you will think about long after you have turned the last page. I highly recommend it.