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MAP's Reviews > Once Upon a Wardrobe
Once Upon a Wardrobe
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Are you someone who read The Chronicles of Narnia once or twice as a kid and never gave it another thought? You might like this book. Are you someone who has read not one but THREE biographies of C.S. Lewis (AN Wilson, Alister McGrath, and Lewis' own autobiography Surprised by Joy)? Then this book is worthless.
At least, that's all I can figure. My friends' list is littered with 4 and 5 star reviews and meanwhile I am barely eking out a 2 star. It is essentially a fictionalized account of Lewis' early life with the framing device of a 17 year old university student trying to find out the inspiration for Narnia for the sake of her ill 8 year old brother. So it just reiterates anything you already know about Lewis' life while conveniently whitewashing anything that would make him...well, human.
Which leads me to my next problem - how the book is written. Lewis, George, Padraig, and basically everyone except Megs talks in pseudo-philosophical tea towel sayings instead of normal human language. Lewis is always smiling cryptically and dropping some vague "wise" turn of phrase meant to blow Megs' (and our, presumably) mind. And speaking of Megs! One of the reasons this book is so ridiculous is 1) I cannot believe there is an 8 year old out there that precocious and 2) I cannot believe there is a 17 year old university student that STUPID. I'm sorry, does she really not understand that authors of fiction...make things up?
I'm so glad everyone else liked this book. Meanwhile my Oscar the Grouch ass will slam the trash can lid down over my head and grumble.
At least, that's all I can figure. My friends' list is littered with 4 and 5 star reviews and meanwhile I am barely eking out a 2 star. It is essentially a fictionalized account of Lewis' early life with the framing device of a 17 year old university student trying to find out the inspiration for Narnia for the sake of her ill 8 year old brother. So it just reiterates anything you already know about Lewis' life while conveniently whitewashing anything that would make him...well, human.
Which leads me to my next problem - how the book is written. Lewis, George, Padraig, and basically everyone except Megs talks in pseudo-philosophical tea towel sayings instead of normal human language. Lewis is always smiling cryptically and dropping some vague "wise" turn of phrase meant to blow Megs' (and our, presumably) mind. And speaking of Megs! One of the reasons this book is so ridiculous is 1) I cannot believe there is an 8 year old out there that precocious and 2) I cannot believe there is a 17 year old university student that STUPID. I'm sorry, does she really not understand that authors of fiction...make things up?
I'm so glad everyone else liked this book. Meanwhile my Oscar the Grouch ass will slam the trash can lid down over my head and grumble.
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Reading Progress
November 14, 2022
– Shelved as:
to-read
November 14, 2022
– Shelved
March 23, 2023
– Shelved as:
maybe
August 15, 2023
– Shelved as:
to-read
February 4, 2024
–
Started Reading
February 4, 2024
–
4.38%
"Ok everyone likes this book and I love the narnia books but I’m already annoyed because 1) 8 year olds don’t talk like that 2) physics majors don’t narrate like 40 something authors trying to sound florid"
page
14
February 4, 2024
–
25.0%
"Oh boy Minto was mentioned. I can’t decided what’s worse - Lewis telling the 17 year co-ed about his long affair with the mother of his ear buddy or glossing over it.
I’m going to get through this book but if I had realized it was just a damn biography of Lewis’ life, which I’ve already read THREE of, I would not have picked it up"
page
80
I’m going to get through this book but if I had realized it was just a damn biography of Lewis’ life, which I’ve already read THREE of, I would not have picked it up"
February 4, 2024
–
45.31%
"Everyone in this book speaks in pseudo philosophical tea towel sayings. No one talks like a real person."
page
145
February 6, 2024
–
55.63%
"Oh yes, Jack visited Mrs. Moore out of LOYALTY. Loyalty. Not because he was in a scandalous relationship with her. Loyalty."
page
178
February 6, 2024
– Shelved as:
biographical-fiction
February 6, 2024
– Shelved as:
fiction
February 6, 2024
– Shelved as:
historical-fiction
February 6, 2024
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-5 of 5 (5 new)
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message 1:
by
Rosh
(new)
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rated it 3 stars
Feb 06, 2024 11:03AM
I don't know much about C.S. Lewis's life, but I completely agree with your feedback about this book. If I had read it today, it would be a 2 star for me. I was a bit more generous back then. I can't understand the high ratings for this one.
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I am struggling at 36 percent in. Can I join you in the trash can 😂
There’s plenty of room! Come on in! 😅
Great review! I enjoyed the book. Sorry it wasn’t as good for you, but I appreciate your honesty.
I so appreciate your honest review. I am one of the people who has read many, MANY books on Lewis as well as most of his own books. And as a lover of Narnia & Lewis I read Becoming Mrs. Lewis and hated it. I had higher hopes for this one thinking maybe her writing improved. I am happy to see an honest review!
