Once Upon a Wardrobe

I read a few chapters, but the invented story of George and Megs was too artificial and contrived. I could not believe in them, nor in the idealized Saint Jack Lewis (would he really smile wholeheartedly upon an unknown girl who entered his study? Would he not look at least a little surprised or quizzical, if not annoyed?) I'd rather read a straight biography that explains how Narnia came to be, citing original sources instead of the made-up imagination of a made-up boy.

Can I just also mention here that authors, if they want to insert some kind of comment on their own books in the Review section on Goodreads (not a review, you can't review your own book!), should not rate said books written by themselves five stars. That is just pathetic.

I thought this was a great read! I actually had a couple of real tears at the end. I thought the bit that the stepson of CS Lewis wrote at the end was really interesting! I would like to read more of her books!

It was an enjoyable read. A little simplistic but that's part of its charm. I liked the characters and the setting.

Having finally finished all of the Narnia series, I'm ready to branch out and explore Narnia and C.S. Lewis inspired books. Though this one is really a Christmas book, I've read it at the end of Spring. 

This story was heartwarming and, in keeping with the tone of The Chronicles of Narnia, bittersweet. Megs' love for her brother George is touching. And in her quest to answer his questions about his favorite book, she discovers something about life herself as well as her own talents for storytelling. Though not set in the world of Narnia, Once Upon A Wardrobe puts into words that wonderment so many people feel when they read and reread the series. How does Narnia compare to the real world? Who is Aslan? Could a place like Narnia be possible? While a part of me does wish I waited for Christmastime to read this, it made for a good comfort read to wrap up a busy month. 

George has a heart condition that makes it inevitable that he was not live long. He is fascinated with the new book, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, and his older sister, Megs, is determined to meet the author who teaches at the university she attends and to ask him the question George has posed to her: “Where did Narnia come from?” She does, and C. S. Lewis answers the question by sharing a series of stories about his own life that suggest answers.

I would have enjoyed this story much more, I think, had I not already been very familiar with the events of C. S. Lewis' life and if I wasn't clear where the story about George was going from the very beginning.

I started and finished this on the same day! It was so good and so much fun to read. Any fan of C. S. Lewis should enjoy it!