The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe is a book which was always on the periphery of my life. I read a lot as a kid, and I had heard of it, but the booThe Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe is a book which was always on the periphery of my life. I read a lot as a kid, and I had heard of it, but the book wasn't one a lot of my friends were talking about. In fact, I don't know if I really thought about the book as something readable until high school. Now, in my mid-thirties, I've finally picked up C.S Lewis's beloved classic. And I'm embarrassed to say, I'm only moderately intrigued.
Don't get me wrong, I understand why it's a classic. This is a perfect book for a young reader who wants to explore a new world and go on an adventure! 2nd grade Jackie would have devoured this book. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe takes the reader to a land which feels both familiar and foreign, both comforting and uncomfortable at the same time. Talking animals! Children heroes! Evil villains! Every mythological beast and being you've never heard of! Narnia is a complete delight.
But, I am no longer 8 years old. And the magic I expected of Narnia fell flat. The heavy-handed Christian allegory was so over-the-top that I was constantly rolling my eyes. It kept pulling me out of the story and ruining the magic I so desperately wanted to connect with. Lewis does an incredible job boiling Christianity down into a fable for the young and unfamiliar with Christian beliefs. I fall into neither of these categories. … Let's just say my experience enjoying this adventure was muted by The Message which was consistently being hammered in my ears.
Despite my complaints, I did enjoy this story. It's a well-written children's adventure story. A short and sweet tale, you can easily read The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe in a single sitting. And this reading is not without its merits. Lewis does an incredible job finding love and joy in all the nooks and crannies possible within Narnia. When I wasn't distracted by The Message, I found the love between siblings and the inhabitants heartwarming. After all, sometimes all your need is a good mug of tea to calm your soul....more
On my quest to read all the Newbery award winners I have picked up Rabbit Hill by Robert Lawson. Published in 1944, in the waning days of World War IIOn my quest to read all the Newbery award winners I have picked up Rabbit Hill by Robert Lawson. Published in 1944, in the waning days of World War II, Lawson's seemingly idyllic children's book is obviously a product of that time. Post-Great Depression and Post-War, life is not returning to what it was and American citizens were afraid for their future. With this in the back of my head, I picked up Rabbit Hill and was pleasantly shocked by how Lawson addressed these concerns head-on while still appealing to a youthful audience.
I love the audiobook narrator! Barbara Caruso's vivid and animated reading really helped me connect with this older style of writing. Lawson's writing is simple, innocent, and focused on an idyllic lifestyle. I needed Caruso's gentle narration to help me let go of my expectations and relax in a world which, to me, does not exist any longer. Besides, Caruso not only provides unique voices for all the characters, but she even sings the tune Little Georgie makes up! "New folks comin' oh my" is still suck in my head today.
The downside to listening to the audiobook is that I missed all of Lawson's illustrations while reading. I hunted down a physical copy after listening to the audiobook and let me just say: These illustrations are wonderful! Reminiscent of The Wind in the Willows, each illustration is vivid and helps break up the text in a meaningful way for the reader. Some full-page illustrations exist, but most appear between text breaks.
Keeping the historical context in which this book was written in mind, Rabbit Hill provides a great message. The obvious themes of charity and kindness pulling a community together in times of need, as well as that of trusting the stranger, will come out to any young reader. But reading between the lines a bit more, I see a community of homeless and destitute people post-war. Rabbit Hill provides a hope for the future that we can only find by working together.
As a Newbery winner, I can understand why it might have won in 1945. America needed something happy, peaceful, and encouraging to promote in literature. But the book is a little foolish and simplistic overall. Lawson uses a larger vocabulary and subtle themes I don't imagine an ideal age range for this book would understand. Perhaps I'd read this aloud to a 6-8-year-old. While this tale aged well for me, I don't think today's children will find the same innocent joy children of the late 1940's might have found. ...more
As part of my Great Newbery Quest, I had the honor of reading The Cat Who Went to Heaven this brief fable. The storyline isn't particularly complex orAs part of my Great Newbery Quest, I had the honor of reading The Cat Who Went to Heaven this brief fable. The storyline isn't particularly complex or even essential to the story, but The Cat Who Went to Heaven is a fable illustrating many tales of the Buddha. Using the painting as an imputus, the artist meditates on all the aspects of the Buddha's life. He believes by "reliving" these moments he will truly understand the Buddha and be able to put his essence into the silk.
While on the surface, the themes of this book are patience and compassion, there is so much more in the tales of the Buddha. The tales of the Buddha are complex and subtle. Not something I'd typically expect children to understand. But Coatsworth focuses on the fables associated with the animals in Buddha's life. I found, as an adult with a moderate understanding of the Buddha and some familiarity with these tales, I could glean quite a bit from this presentation. Presented in this simple form, it's easy for anyone to find something meaningful in these fables. I feel like Coatsworth does justice to these tales and fables in a way which would be meaningful to a young child.
Between portions of the story, Coatsworth includes poems written by the Housekeeper. This adds a layer of depth I wasn't expecting. First of all, it emphasizes the importance of poetry as another form of art. This is an important art form for the Japanese and well as the Buddhists. It also added a secondary perspective without removing the focus from the artists and his painting. The housekeeper is given no name but her poems display a sense of compassion and concern to both the artists and Good Fortune we wouldn't have seen elsewhere. It certainly adds a new level of empathy.
The version I read includes illustrations from Lynd Ward. These are not the original illustrations from the 1930 printing, but I felt they were beautiful in their own right. I appreciate how they add emphasis to the story without taking away from the text. It's just enough to keep a younger reader engaged who is just leaving picture books.
A great introduction to both Buddhism and fables, I would highly recommend this to any child who is almost ready to branch into chapter books. It is also a great teaching tool. And, if you adults are looking for a fun fable to read on a rainy night, I strongly encourage you to check it out....more
Jackie B. -
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fable
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