The Chronicles of Narnia - The Last Battle (C.S. Lewis)

The final book of the Chronicles of Narnia tells the tale of the final days of this magical country. Set some hundreds of years since the reign of King Rilian the Disenchanted.

This time, the most terrible thing that could happen to Narnia has once again happened and Jill and Eustace came to the rescue with the help of Professor Digory Kirke, Aunt Polly, Peter, Edmund and Lucy and of course, the great Aslan himself.

This final installment of the Chronicles of Narnia showed how a superficial world could end while there is a new and more wonderful life waiting ahead of you. No matter how hopeless you get in your known world, there will always be a real world wherein you can get your hopes higher and live your life longer.

I loved the last chapter of this book where they were able to meet the most legendary people who ruled Narnia. There were the first King and Queen - Frank and Helen - before Jadis the White Witch took over. There was Fledge, the winged horse with whom Polly and Digory flew with as they searched for the golden apple to protect Narnia. Then there was Mr. Tumnus the Faun, Lucy's first ever friend when she first set foot into Narnia. There were Caspian the Seafarer, Nikabrik the Good Dwarf, Reepicheep the Noble Mouse, Trufflehunter the Badger, Mr. and Mrs. Beaver, King Rilian the Disenchanted, Cor, Aravis and Corin of Archenland and many others. Of course, if you were able to read everything from the Magician's Nephew until The Silver Chair, then you will be as excited as I was upon seeing their names being mentioned again.

It may be a very deadly ending for the superficial Narnia where the non-believers of Aslan suffered but it was a very good start for those who kept their hearts and faith into the great lion who started and ended Narnia.

The Chronicles of Narnia - The Silver Chair (C.S. Lewis)

In reading all the seven books of the Chronicles of Narnia, I never quite understood how time travels when you are not in the magical country of Aslan.

It has been around eight decades since Digory Kirke had the magical wardrobe created and the Pevensies accidentally discovered it. By that time, it was thousands of years since Frank the cabbie and his wife Helen have ruled Narnia. By the time the Pevensies arrived in the country, they never knew about how Narnia was created and all they knew was that it has been ruled by the evil witch who made it snow in the entire country for a hundred years.

Of course, they have restored peace in Narnia and left without meaning to, back into their own world. Then as they went back to the magical country a year later, they found out that it has already been 1300 years since they last left.

When Edmund and Lucy came back to join King Caspian in the voyage of Dawn Treader, it was only three years after their last visit when it has already been a year in the Pevensie world.

And of course, when Eustace, the Pevensie cousin and his friend Jill Pole came into Narnia, it was another century since he last joined King Caspian in the journey to the End of the World. The King at this moment was already too old and should be succeeded by his missing son whom Eustace and Jill have to rescue.

And apparently another year after in the normal London world, it was yeat another thousands of years in Narnia where the present King Tirian admitted that King Rilian was his great grandfather's great granfather.

But anyway, I only had that kind of time-table because just like what Eustace Scrubb said, it was really hard to determine how time works in Narnia when they are in their own world.

The Silver Chair tells a story about The missing Prince of Cair Paravel, King Caspian X's only son, Rilian.

This time, the Pevensie's weren't allowed to go into Narnia anymore because they were already too old to be in the country. This time, it was their cousin Eustace and his friend Jill's chance to experience the wonderful world of Narnia and to do what Aslan wanted them to do: to rescue Prince Rilian from the enchantments of an evil witch who named herself as the Queen of the Underworld.

It was really a nice story except for the fact that Eustace never had the chance to talk to King Caspian before the latter died of old age.

Also, both kids weren't too drawn into Narnia unlike the Pevensies who have actually loved Narnia since their first visit in the country.

But there were more mysteries in this book that made me wonder how come more and more creatures have desired to rule the country when they knew about Aslan and the ancient Kings and Queens of the Narnia.

But all the while, the two kids were brave enough to be able to rescue the Prince simply by believing on Aslan and not doubting anything that he wished them to do and see.

The Chronicles of Narnia - The Voyage of Dawn Treader (C.S. Lewis)

A year in the Pevensie world and exactly three years in Narnia.

King Caspian X was actually ruling Narnia in a fairly peaceful way but The Voyage of Dawn Treader didn't take place in the magical country, but in the sea.

This tells the adventure of King Caspian upon his search of the ten Lords of Narnia whom his evil uncle Miraz banished while he ruled the country. Caspian was doing this in fulfillment of his promise to Aslan in the previous book.

The Pevensie kids who returned to Narnia during this adventure were only Edmund and Lucy for Peter was studying for an exam with Professor Diggory Kirke and Susan has gone to America for her studies. In short, the two were already old enough to go back to Narnia.

Lucy and Edmund weren't the only ones who came back, but they were accompanied by a rather reluctant cousin of theirs, Eustace Clarence Scrubb. Now that name would be too important for the last two books of Narnia for the Pevensies wouldn't be returning anymore because probably by that time, Edmund and Lucy have already both outgrown their age and like Susan and Peter, would be too old to go back to Narnia anymore.

The Dawn Treader's journey in search for the banished Narnian Lords was so much of an adventure and it was really fun to read until the last chapter. Every island that they will step into would hold magic or an uncommon experience that not all of them could forget.

Even the "evil" Eustace was able to appreciate the beauty of the lands held by Narnia and how powerful Aslan is.

Kidapawan Trip. September 14-16, 2008

First of all, I didn't know that I was the only one whom Dhawell invited among our college friends. I was surprised since I would be staying in his house for two nights and apart from his dad, younger bro and cousin, I haven't met most of his family yet.

It was not so bad though. Although I only knew a few people among his high school friends, I still managed to get along with them somehow and it was fun.

Then the next day, we went to Lake Agco with Dhawell's family. I know, ang epal-epal ko but it's ok. It was just like I was a very distant relative! LMAO! =p

Lake Agco was in the foot of Mt. Apo. The lake, of course was boiling hot with steam coming from underneath the earth. But the heat of the lake can compromise to the freezing temperture of the atmosphere since we are by the mountain and it was raining when we arrived.

We could see our bodies steaming with smoke when we climb out of the hot pool then feel our muscles grown rigid and numb when we submerge into the freezing pool water.

It was great. Such a brief trip since Dhawell has to go back to Davao and has to return to Manila by tomorrow, but at least, finally, I have been to Kidapawan! =]

The Chronicles of Narnia - The Horse and His Boy - (C.S. Lewis)

This is supposed to be the sequel to The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe but I suppose this wasn't much important because the story didn't revolve around the Kings and Queens of Narnia - that is, the Pevensie kids - but around an Archenlander boy who was kidnapped and made to live in Calormen as a peasant.

It mostly told the adventure of this kid, Shasta and a Tarkheena named Aravis who also ran away. Together with two Narnian talking horses Bree and Hwin, they set out from Calormene and Tashbaan towards the North going to Narnia.

It wasn't too much exciting to read but it was quite good although I believe it's not worth making into a movie for it only involves the long travels of the Horse and His Boy.