What is your favorite Chronicles of Narnia book and why?
This is so hard. I’ll tell you my top three and then which one is my current favorite, because it is subject to change, sorry!
I love The Magician's Nephew because it's exactly what it should be. It's simple, and it sets up the perfect origin story for the idea of Narnia, other worlds, and what that should look like if you're doing a fantasy story to teach children the truth through allegory. I love the shining gold and yellow rings as transportation devices, I love how easy it is to understand the Wood Between the Worlds and how the rings work, I love that Uncle Andrew has distant familial ties to evil magic, and that's why he even knows about all of this stuff, I love the relationship between Digory and Polly, I love the housemaid (who had never had such a day before) and I love that what Jadis and Andrew meant for evil, Aslan worked out for good, using a grubby arrogant little boy who had no idea what he was dealing with. I love the parallels between Uncle Andrew and Digory, and between Jadis and Polly. And bar none, absolutely bar none, the very best part of the entire book is when Digory is desperately wanting Aslan to help save his mother's life even though he screwed everything up, and he knows he doesn't even deserve to ask, but he wants it so badly, and it's not a bad thing to want, he's so sad about the entire situation and about the hopelessness of it all, and he looks up and sees Aslan crying. Because Aslan knows. He knows better than Digory does. I have to stop reading and cry every time I read that part; never fails.
I love The Silver Chair mainly because of Eustace but also because of the Puddleglum Speech. Eustace and Peter are constantly fighting it out to be my favorite character. I love Peter because of who Peter just naturally is as a character, but I love Eustace because I've been Eustace. (I've been Edmund too, but oh boy, have I been Eustace.) I love the way Jill and Eustace are called into Narnia, and I adore Puddleglum, and I will never forget his speech when the witch is tempting them all. I will never get a tattoo, but if I did, it would say "I'm on Aslan's side even if there isn't any Aslan to lead it. I'm going to live as like a Narnian as I can even if there isn't any Narnia." I love Jill wrestling with keeping her mind on Aslan's instructions, especially when things get hard, and I love Puddleglum being so dismal and silly the whole book, except when it comes to the really important point in their adventure, when he turns out to be the most faithful of all of them. I love Eustace's obvious change from how he was during his first journey through Narnia, and who he is now. I love Caspian saying you can't be a ghost in your own country, because he's finally home. I love the owls, and when I can't fall asleep at night, I think about Jill's first night in Narnia in that comfy room with the fire.
I love The Last Battle because, out of everything I've ever read about the End Times, this little children's book is the only thing that makes me think and feel the way I know I'm supposed to feel about Jesus' second Advent. I'm supposed to feel the way those final chapters make you feel - when they're all finally in Aslan's Country. I'm supposed to be overjoyed at the idea of going Home and being where I belong, and stand firm even when things get scary. I'm not there yet, but The Last Battle gives me a glimpse of what it would be like to get there, and I want that! [I know it's not all theologically sound - Emeth, specifically, and his whole story is the worst. I know Lewis was thinking about Matthew 25, and I know he had some other verses he believed backed up what he was trying to say with Emeth, but the whole thing, regardless, is way too confusing even if inclusivity were the truth (it's not, from what I glean from Scripture), and it muddies waters that people really don't need further muddied. So a failure in writing, I'd say (while covering my face because what do I even know, really?). But it's helpful because it reminds me that C.S. Lewis was not perfect and he got it wrong sometimes, and made mistakes, and that's a good reminder for me and others - often, everyone treats him like a second Paul, and he wasn't, and I think he'd hate to be compared to him.] I love Eustace being brave and kicking and fighting even up to the end, when he's literally killed in Narnia (I cry every time) and I love Jill turning her head so she won't get her string wet. I love Tirian so much, and I love that we get to see the Pevensies (sans Susan) and Digory and Polly and Fledge and the Beavers and Tumnus and Reepicheep - it's such a joyful, joyful finale, even when it's all scary for a little bit and hope seems lost. It's wonderful, and I'll stand by it as a whole (even though people don't like the "Susan problem" and even though Emeth was a mistake).
But for right now, all of that said, The Silver Chair is my favorite. It's my favorite now because of how it depicts pushing on in faith even when things are hard, even when you stumble and screw up, you get back up and keep trying and when it counts, you'll be able to stand firm because when your strength fails, the Lord's never does. Love it.
Thank you, great question!
