The World According to Narnia: Christian Meaning in C. S. Lewis's Beloved Chronicles

While there are dozens of new books out there that explore the Chronicles of Narnia, what differentiates this one is the author's personal background. A former English professor himself, Rogers has written his own fantasy-adventure series, the Wilderking Trilogy. Rogers says, "Lewis uses fantasy to talk about the real world because it takes imagination to see what's true and real in this world too...From where we sit, the things of earth look so real and solid that it's hard to believe there's something more real and more solid...It takes a certain amount of imagination to see that God imbues every blade of grass, every conversation, every relationship with eternal meaning." Each chapter focuses on one of the seven Chronicles of Narnia, and Rogers leads you into a deeper awareness and appreciation of the symbolism. Here are some non-fiction books written by C.S. Lewis that you'll see cited in THE WORLD ACCORDING TO NARNIA: -Mere Christianity -Miracles -A Preface to Paradise Lost -The Screwtape Letters -Of Other Worlds -God in the Dock -Surprised by Joy -The Abolition of Man -Pilgrim's Regress -The Four Loves -They Asked for a Paper -The Great Divorce -The Weight of Glory This is not a book to be read through once, then put on your shelf. It's a reference guide that you'll appreciate every time you need a fresh reminder of what lies beyond the wardrobe door. (Which will come in handy, as another film, Prince Caspian, is already in the works.) What I take away most of all from reading this book is a deepening of my faith, an awareness of things that are real that I can't see. This is the kind of faith I want to pass along to my children. I want to point them to the right books because as Rogers explains about Narnia, "the children know what to do because they have read the right imaginative stories."

Rogers has hit a home run with his exposition of the Chronicles of Narnia. My 6 year-old son and I have been reading through the Chronicles since mid-summer in anticipation of the movie's December release and have both been thoroughly captivated. Knowing little about them prior to this, I have cherished sharing these adventures with my son, both of us for the first time, and have also greatly appreciated Rogers' thoughtful reviews of each book. As mentioned by others, his writing style is eminently readable and his insights refreshing. While this book may not be the "go to" resource for the Lewis scholar, it's perfect for those wanting a deeper appreciation of the Chronicles of Narnia and helps put them in the context of Lewis' other Christian-themed writings. Well done, Dr. Rogers!!!

I loved this book. Reading The World According to Narnia, I was able to relive all the best parts of the Narnia books - quickly! I feel like I now better understand the Christian truths C.S. Lewis was conveying. This book is scholarly, but very readable, moving, and inspiring. I am more ready to enjoy the movie!!