Chronicles of Narnia

This week I watched The Chronicles of Narnia, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe again. It is such a beautiful movie; I can watch it again and again. I especially like to watch it while wearing my flannel cupcake p.j.s and drinking hot tea. It makes me feel very British as I wrap my hands around my tea cup and snuggle into my couch that looks like it could be from the study where C.S. Lewis wrote the books. I enjoy this so much that sometimes in summer I will cut my air conditioner waaaaaaay down to the Arctic freeze setting so I can get this wintery experience.

Somehow, as a child, I never read these books. Perhaps it seemed too much like a "boy book" or maybe it was simply that I didn't read any fantasy-- but at any rate, I never knew about this series. When the movie came out it looked so gorgeous that it drew me in. Then I read and fell in love with the books. I even read the one that comes before this one, The Magician's Nephew. I love the rich descriptions that the movie brought to life but, even more, I fell in love with beautiful use of language and superb characters.

I would love to be the Daughter of Eve, from the City of War Drobe in the Land of Spare Oom. Or be Lucy who was curious, adventurous, and yet found time to be kind. I think it would be great to have a big brother like Peter who always took up for me and tried to smooth my way; as well as, a sister like Susan who was always trying to keep us all together. Even a brother like Edmund would keep things interesting.

There has been much made of the symbolism in this book, especially after the movie was released. Many people draw parallels between Aslan and Jesus. It is also easy to compare the wayward Edmund to the self-absorbed way many of us go through our lives. We don't mean to cause trouble, but we want a cushy life for ourselves. I can see where these idea come from, but for me the beauty of the language and the fantastic movie the book makes in my head far outweighs any cerebral exercise in spiritualism.

The characters of the children in this book are very distinct. There is also the absent minded Professor, a stern housekeeper, the MacReady, and a cast of fantasy characters from a talking beaver to the evil White Witch who styles herself the "Princess of Narnia."

Have you read these books or seen the movie? If so, what character would you be? If not, I encourage you to give them a try!