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Rate: 5/5

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Medium: Audiobook

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Overview (No Spoiler):

When I was in elementary I started having a voracious reading appetite, but I had only been interested in short, quick reads like The Boxcar Children or Animorphs. During one scholastic book fair, I remember begging my mom for an Animorph book, but she only agreed if she could buy me two series that I would promise to read. That bargain changed my life more than I ever could have imagined. She bought me Lord of the Rings, along with The Chronicles of Narnia. I remember reluctantly reading The Magician’s Nephew, and full of skepticism. That said, when Polly first touches the magical rings, a new level was unlocked in my imagination.

I have been so excited to introduce my kids reading, especially to a series I love so much and that has had such an influence in my own life. I even have a small lamp post tattoo (along with a Red Rising and Game of Thrones symbol, the Deathly Hallows, and the Tree of Gondor).

My Quinn has just turned three and usually on long drives we listen to Taylor Swift or Lady Gaga, however I made the call a month ago to start listening to The Magician’s Nephew. After reading Mark Lawrence’s The Book that wouldn’t Burn, where he was inspired by the place between worlds, I felt such notholgia to pick up Lewis’ classic to see if it was as good as I remembered. Along the way I would get to see how Quinn would take to listening to audiobooks. A win, win!

The experiment was a huge success, though it has taken us so very long to make our way through this audiobook. We had to pause every few sentences for Quinn to talk through what was happening or ask questions. I don’t mind this pacing in the least. If anything I’m amused as I had a reputation growing up for asking too many questions during movies. Quinn animatedly talks to teachers about whatever tiny section we have listened to that morning. She actively asks about Polly and Diggory and giggles at how bad Jandice is. We are going to try Harry Potter next and I can’t wait to hear what she says about that read.

The Magician’s Nephew is just as much a treasure this time around as it has been the past four times I’ve read it. This time might have been my favorite with sharing it with Quinn. The place between worlds is just as imagination inspiring this time around too, as the potential of those worlds is still overwhelming. This time though this time I viewed the in between place through the eyes of Lawrence and his recent novel. 

Overall, The Magician’s Nephew will always be my go-to recommendation to awaken a child’s love of books as this classic never grows old.

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Additional Insight (Spoilers Abound):

• One main question. What happened to the poor hamster?
• What happened to the Cabby and his wife’s people when Jandice took over in The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe?

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