I’ve done a few book reviews here, so I’d like to take a minute to note that publishers do not compensate me for any of the reviews. I’m only supplied with the book. Furthermore, I have a few books that I’ll post about later that was not sent to me by a publisher, but I want to mention just because they have encouraged me and are a worthwhile read.

A few weeks ago, there was a little talk going around on Harry Potter, fantasy literature, and the Christian’s response to it. The fantasy work of C.S. Lewis stands the test of time and scrutiny, and so I was interested in a literary analysis of The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. Since my husband is most familiar the Narnia series and his knowledge on the series exceeds my own, I asked him to write this review. Plus, he’s a lot smarter than me.

RykenReview of A Reader’s Guide Through the Wardrobe, by Leland Ryken and Marjorie Lamp Reed
By Greg Scott

I was interested in reading this book for two reasons. First, and to my great enrichment, I had used one of Dr. Ryken’s books on literary criticism and Scripture when I was in seminary. I enjoyed that book immensely, and not being well versed in the art of literary criticism in general and particularly applying those techniques to the interpretation of Scripture, Dr. Ryken led me on a fascinating and illuminating journey which greatly enhanced my delight in and understanding of the Bible. Second, like so many others, I have greatly enjoyed the Chronicles of Narnia over the years and even more so now as I have experienced them anew through the imagination of my young children.

As an aside, you may have guessed that I would highly recommend Dr. Ryken’s books on literary criticism and the Bible. Pick one up and read it. You will find great enrichment for your devotional life.

As far as the book at hand, my personal experience was that it did nothing to further my enjoyment of The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. This is not to disparage A Reader’s Guide; Ryken and Reed accomplish what they set out to. I would highly recommend this literary criticism of C.S. Lewis’ classic tale, especially if you are inclined toward the subject. Perhaps if you are so inclined you will find your delight in the story enriched. However, as I am not so disposed, this work was just too technical and textbook-like to be used as an aid for my enjoyment of Lewis’ tale.

There are several features that I found very interesting, nevertheless. For example, there are vignettes spread throughout the book which offer insights into the elements, such as the family wardrobe and the lamp post outside his home, that helped shape Lewis’ imagination as he crafted this classic story. There are also some interesting photographs of Lewis and his family from childhood into later life.

The authors present a chapter on the development of the Narnia stories and the chronological unfolding of their publication. There is also an interesting discussion of the reception of the Narnia stories by those favorable and by those not so propitious along with a discussion of some of the criticism that Lewis’ contemporaries and colleagues offered upon his tales.

Finally, if you are not interested in any of these features of the book but you happen to find yourself passing by one of those mall bookstores with a hankering for a cup of coffee with a few minutes to spare, I suggest you pick out this book and review the authors’ treatment of the comparison of the Narnian stories and the Harry Potter stories of J.K. Rowling. It is an interesting discussion that provides some good food for thought for the contemporary Christian.

For more reviews of this book and others, visit Diet of Bookworms.