should i be surprised?

Which Chronicles of Narnia character are you most like? created with QuizFarm.com

You scored as Lucy Pevensie Lucy Pevensie 77% Mr. Beaver 64% Oreius 60% Peter Pevensie 54% Susan Pevensie 53% Aslan 50% Ginarrbrik 47% Mrs. Beaver 43% Mr. Tumnus 40% Edmund Pevensie 34% The White Witch 17%

P.S. - On Caspian

Just for fun... http://quizfarm.com/test.php?q_id=124581

Which Chronicles of Narnia character are you most like?

You scored as a Peter Pevensie

Peter Pevensie 77% Lucy Pevensie 73% Aslan 60% Oreius 54% Mrs. Beaver 53% Edmund Pevensie 50% Susan Pevensie 50% Mr. Beaver 40% Ginarrbrik 37% Mr. Tumnus 30% The White Witch 7%

Farewell to Caspian

I did finish this book and had every intention of posting on it; sorry it ended up being so late. I enjoyed rereading this book, same as I enjoy rereading or listening to any of this series. It is a bit of an interesting format, much of the first half of the book being spent retelling another tale to bring the four kings and queens up to speed on the happenings in Narnia. The battle is, I suppose, the climax, and yet it happens so fast I am always surprised by how quickly it is over. I actually wondered how closely the movie would follow the story, seeing how the telling of the history of Caspian would have to be done a certain way to entertain an audience. I knew from previews that there would be a few deviances from the story, but didn't realize just how much until I read a recent article in WORLD magazine. It turns out they take quite a bit of liberty with this story because they felt the format it was in just wasn't good for a movie format. Still they make it sound like it will still be a very enjoyable film and that only the most loyal purists will be disappointed. I for one and very eager to see how they do it (I won't spoil it for those of you going to see it with the info on the differences I read about) since I do agree the format of the book isn't great for a movie.

As for Peter and Susan not returning to Narnia, that part always makes me very, very sad. I really am not sure what it is that Peter and Susan say that the others will understand later, but perhaps it's the realization that they have to grow up and live out their lives in their own world now that they are older. Unfortunately for those of us who have read all of the seven books, we know this scene is extra poignant because of what happens later for one of the characters (I won't ruin it for those of you who haven't read all the way through.) It makes me so very sad so that I'm eager to hurry up to the next book where Edmund and Lucy return so that the adventures can continue.

One other interesting note...does anyone else feel like they are making Caspian older, buffer and sexier on screen than he is in the book? He sure doesn't look like any of those in the previews, in fact he almost looks older than Peter! Oh well, I'm sure it's part of the movie...though seriously, why the heck did they make Mr Tumnus sexy int he first movie? What were they trying to imply by that anyhow?

Kings, Queens and a Prince

Before I talk about Prince Caspian, I guess I should say a little about the first book, The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. I don't know how anyone can not love this book, this story. It is such a beautiful picture of imagination, redemption, courage, adventure and childhood joy. I love Aslan in such a way that even as an adult I can almost imagine he is real, and in a sense he is. Lewis's depiction of the Great Lion as a messianic figure may be nothing new, but it is especially poignant. As a child it was easier for me to understand the love and sacrifice of Christ as seen by the literary character of Aslan. In short, I think even to this day I understand Christ best when I see or read about Aslan....the longing his character describes in me in well, indescribable. Certainly if I ever wished a fictional character to be real, it is Aslan.

On to Prince Caspian. Architypically this is the story of a boy coming of age, but of course it really is so much more. For some reason no matter how many times i read this book (or listen to it) I have no trouble easily remembering the first half to two-thirds of the story as well as the very end, but somewhere in there near the middle to end things get a little fuzzy. I have no idea why. I find the beginning of Prince Caspian very sad in a way. Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy suddenly find themselves drawn back into Narnia, something they must have been longing for since they left. When they arrive, however, they aren't even sure if they are in Narnia any more. The woods have grown up, the peninsula has turned into an island, the orchard gone wild and their beloved Cair Paravel has turned into ruins. Their friends are gone and they didn't even return as the mighty kings and Queens 9at at least the age) that they had left Narnia. As a child I was certainly disturbed by all this, as an adult I find it very poignant.

Prince Caspian himself as a boy I find a bit uninteresting, but I think he improves upon age. I think the Hollywood producers must have found him a bit dull myself seeing as how he is going to be depicted in the upcoming movie. I do like the other characters that surround him, Trumpkin, Truffle Hunter ( great name!) and Dr. Cornelius. I think though, that I'm looking forward to getting past all of the introductory information and moving on to the heart of story. I'm so familiar with the story that the intro stuff gets repetitive.

Prince Caspian: Part 1

That was an enjoyable read. A lot of setting the table though, so not too much to comment upon. I find it interesting the couple of comments that in my mind said, go buy the first book. i.e. such and such happened in The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. I'm probably too cynical, probably more meant if people were confused and needed background info. right? I wonder how often people end up accidentally in the middle of a series anyway? Is it often that someone grabs what turns out to be the third book in a series by accident (or intentionally?)...

Anyway, back to Prince Caspian, can I just say I love Lewis' intro. to the dwarf telling the story of Prince Caspian. His lines about the fact that this wasn't exactly how the story was told, the children obviously interrupted and asked questions along the way and some pieces were filled in later.

I have to say, I don't see anything racial at all about red and black dwarfs. Who would the red dwarfs be anyway? Seeing as Lewis is British, I'm guessing not Native Americans. I think the use of colors to differentiate bad guys and good guys is merely an easy way for us to tell them apart. Call me naive, but even is genres like Westerns with the black hat/white hat differentiation I don't see that as being racial. If anything I think it points further back to biblical/religious models of the battle between the light/good and darkness/evil. Just my two cents.

To begin at the beginning

I guess I'll be first. I didn't reread The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe or see it (don't actually have the film), but I'm pretty sure I know it well enough for any discussion.

But the first five chapters of Prince Caspian were great. I'd forgotten just how much I do like these books. In fact I read all the way through chapter eight because I was enjoying myself so much. But I will stick to 1-5.

I like the grab into Narnia at the train station. That scene is so very vivid in my mind from when I first read it. I've watched the trailer of the film and it looks just right. :)

I like the whole story within a story. I wonder if they'll do that for the movie. You almost forget that Trumpkin is telling the story of Prince Caspian once you're into it.

Something I noticed (the effects of this program no doubt) is that older children's books don't focus as much on internal struggle and character development as modern books do. There is no confusing the characters or anything, but there very little in depth character study. It's not a complaint, because these books are great, just an observation.

Does anyone think black dwarves vs. red dwarves is a little stereotypical? Maybe it wasn't then, but I find my racial awareness being offended by that.

I'm enjoying myself, Chris, thanks!

Prince Caspian Schedule

March 21st - this is your break week, although feel free to begin reading (or watching) because

March 28th - The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe can be posted upon.

April 4th - The first section of Prince Caspian (I'll flesh out a schedule for Prince Caspican ASAP, don't have the book in front of me though. I'm perfectly content though if someone has the book in front of them and wants to make a suggestion on the breakdown though)