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The Chronicles of Narnia (Chronological Order) #3
The Horse and His Boy
Hard to find
188 pages, Paperback
First published September 6, 1954
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100370 people want to read
About the author
C.S. Lewis
1,013 books47.5k followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Clive Staples Lewis was one of the intellectual giants of the twentieth century and arguably one of the most influential writers of his day. He was a Fellow and Tutor in English Literature at Oxford University until 1954. He was unanimously elected to the Chair of Medieval and Renaissance Literature at Cambridge University, a position he held until his retirement. He wrote more than thirty books, allowing him to reach a vast audience, and his works continue to attract thousands of new readers every year. His most distinguished and popular accomplishments include Mere Christianity, Out of the Silent Planet, The Great Divorce, The Screwtape Letters, and the universally acknowledged classics The Chronicles of Narnia. To date, the Narnia books have sold over 100 million copies and been transformed into three major motion pictures.
Lewis was married to poet Joy Davidman.
W.H. Lewis was his elder brother]
Clive Staples Lewis was one of the intellectual giants of the twentieth century and arguably one of the most influential writers of his day. He was a Fellow and Tutor in English Literature at Oxford University until 1954. He was unanimously elected to the Chair of Medieval and Renaissance Literature at Cambridge University, a position he held until his retirement. He wrote more than thirty books, allowing him to reach a vast audience, and his works continue to attract thousands of new readers every year. His most distinguished and popular accomplishments include Mere Christianity, Out of the Silent Planet, The Great Divorce, The Screwtape Letters, and the universally acknowledged classics The Chronicles of Narnia. To date, the Narnia books have sold over 100 million copies and been transformed into three major motion pictures.
Lewis was married to poet Joy Davidman.
W.H. Lewis was his elder brother]
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 15,061 reviews
August 5, 2007
This is probably my favorite of the Chronicles. It takes place during the Golden Age of Narnia, with the Pevensies reigning in their prime, although the story is actually set in the countries to the south of Narnia, which provides for a rather different feel to much of this novel. I always find the visual imagery captivating: riding across the moors at night, entering the towering city of Tashban, spending a night among the tombs of the ancient kings.
December 22, 2008
I feel more conflicted about this book than any of the other Narnia books. On the plus side, the story is stronger and CS Lewis manages to keep his blatant editorializing to a minimum (maybe because none of the characters are transplants from wartime London).
But holy crap, the modern reader will find his racist descriptions pretty hard to swallow. He reintroduces his devious, smelly, turban-clad race, the Calormen. A lost white boy is raised among them and he is sad until he is finally reunited with the beautiful white people of Narnia.
I've read an argument that Lewis isn't *really* racist because he portrays one Calormene character in a positive light. But that's like Sarah Palin gushing about her gay friends to prove she's not homophobic. Inviting a lesbian coworker to your annual moose BBQ is not enough to overcome an active campaign against gay rights. For Lewis, commenting that one Calormene lady is a good storyteller is not enough to over come the contempt he feels towards his own Arab stand-ins.
But holy crap, the modern reader will find his racist descriptions pretty hard to swallow. He reintroduces his devious, smelly, turban-clad race, the Calormen. A lost white boy is raised among them and he is sad until he is finally reunited with the beautiful white people of Narnia.
I've read an argument that Lewis isn't *really* racist because he portrays one Calormene character in a positive light. But that's like Sarah Palin gushing about her gay friends to prove she's not homophobic. Inviting a lesbian coworker to your annual moose BBQ is not enough to overcome an active campaign against gay rights. For Lewis, commenting that one Calormene lady is a good storyteller is not enough to over come the contempt he feels towards his own Arab stand-ins.
August 18, 2024
Lame.
Shasta is running away when he meets a Talking Horse named Bree. Bree and Shasta then run into another talking horse and rider pair, Hwin and Aravis. Will they gain the freedom they so desperately seek?
The Horse and His Boy was completely off-brand and boring. In The Magician's Nephew and then The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, my favorite parts were all of the little barbs that the Queen would throw out. However, in The Horse and His Boy, the Queen was not featured, and there wasn't any humor to take her place. For most of The Horse and His Boy, the pair is trying to run away. This book felt very, very similar to Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. Lewis and Tolkien first met in 1926 and eventually formed a friendship serving as each other's first readers. The Hobbit by Tolkien was first published in 1937 which mentions Arkenstone whereas The Chronicles of Narnia was published in the 1950's which mentions Archenland. To be completely honest, I did not enjoy The Lord of the Rings so I did not enjoy The Horse and His Boy.
Additionally, Aslan was doling out punishments, and there were not very many illustrations. The Magician's Nephew had a very clever ending, but The Horse and His Boy had an unremarkable, forgettable one. Here is hoping that the last two books are better!
Overall, The Horse and His Boy did not live up to The Chronicles of Narnia saga.
2025 Reading Schedule
Jan A Town Like Alice
Feb Birdsong
Mar Captain Corelli's Mandolin - Louis De Berniere
Apr War and Peace
May The Woman in White
Jun Atonement
Jul The Shadow of the Wind
Aug Jude the Obscure
Sep Ulysses
Oct Vanity Fair
Nov A Fine Balance
Dec Germinal
Connect With Me!
Blog Twitter BookTube Insta My Bookstore at Pango
Shasta is running away when he meets a Talking Horse named Bree. Bree and Shasta then run into another talking horse and rider pair, Hwin and Aravis. Will they gain the freedom they so desperately seek?
The Horse and His Boy was completely off-brand and boring. In The Magician's Nephew and then The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, my favorite parts were all of the little barbs that the Queen would throw out. However, in The Horse and His Boy, the Queen was not featured, and there wasn't any humor to take her place. For most of The Horse and His Boy, the pair is trying to run away. This book felt very, very similar to Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. Lewis and Tolkien first met in 1926 and eventually formed a friendship serving as each other's first readers. The Hobbit by Tolkien was first published in 1937 which mentions Arkenstone whereas The Chronicles of Narnia was published in the 1950's which mentions Archenland. To be completely honest, I did not enjoy The Lord of the Rings so I did not enjoy The Horse and His Boy.
Additionally, Aslan was doling out punishments, and there were not very many illustrations. The Magician's Nephew had a very clever ending, but The Horse and His Boy had an unremarkable, forgettable one. Here is hoping that the last two books are better!
Overall, The Horse and His Boy did not live up to The Chronicles of Narnia saga.
2025 Reading Schedule
Jan A Town Like Alice
Feb Birdsong
Mar Captain Corelli's Mandolin - Louis De Berniere
Apr War and Peace
May The Woman in White
Jun Atonement
Jul The Shadow of the Wind
Aug Jude the Obscure
Sep Ulysses
Oct Vanity Fair
Nov A Fine Balance
Dec Germinal
Connect With Me!
Blog Twitter BookTube Insta My Bookstore at Pango
January 26, 2025
To the south of Narnia lays a vast desert, and beyond that the Calormen Empire (obviously based on the Middle Eastern Muslim world). Deep within Calormen the bedraggled and misused Thasta the 'son' of a fisherman, and Aravis, who is due to be forced into a terrible arranged marriage find themselves unlikely travel companions, on the road to the fabled (in their country) Narnia; they get caught up in a big Narnian adventure!
This book, the fifth published, but third chronologically, is set during the reign of the Pevensies as briefly referred at the end of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and is a full-out classic fairy tale adventure with a long journey, an 'evil' empire, kings, queens, battles, giants and more, as well as your Narnian talking animals and fabled creatures. Although it doesn't particularly sit well with the other tales, it is one of the biggest Narnian reality building stories as there is so much detail about life in the Narnian world, especially its neighbours. Fab read 8 out of 12 Four Stars.
Read 2004, 2o15, 2021 and 2025
This book, the fifth published, but third chronologically, is set during the reign of the Pevensies as briefly referred at the end of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and is a full-out classic fairy tale adventure with a long journey, an 'evil' empire, kings, queens, battles, giants and more, as well as your Narnian talking animals and fabled creatures. Although it doesn't particularly sit well with the other tales, it is one of the biggest Narnian reality building stories as there is so much detail about life in the Narnian world, especially its neighbours. Fab read 8 out of 12 Four Stars.
Read 2004, 2o15, 2021 and 2025
September 19, 2014
I feel really guilty about loving this book as much as I do. I loved it as a kid and I love it now, and there is just so much wrong with it.
The xenophobia is positively racist -- by page 5, we're already hearing the first of many references to the fact that the residents of Narnia are considered by the residents of their southern neighbor, Calormen, to be "fair and white...accursed but beautiful barbarians."
The Calormenes, on the other hand, are nothing but walking Middle Eastern stereotypes. They wear turbans and have long beards and speak in overblown wise old sayings like, "Has not one of the poets said, 'Natural affection is stronger than soup and offspring more precious than carbuncles?'"
This aspect of the story is ridiculously, inexcusably bad. As I've mentioned in reviews of other Narnia books, Lewis seems to take great pride in backing the wrong horse at every possible social and/or historical point, and boy howdy, does he blow it here. He puts his last dollar down on good old colonialist "Hey, look! Savages! If only they had a civilized country to tell them what to do!"
(This should not be taken as me buying into moral relativism and excusing the very real sexism and lack of democracy running rampant through the real Middle East, by the way. It's me thinking that those weren't exactly the things that bothered Lewis about that region.)
So: knowing all that, how can I possibly enjoy this book?
I cringe at times, but I do. Lewis has some of his most memorable lines and greatest moral triumphs in this story.
For instance, I once wrote an article and later created an e-card featuring this terrific line:
"If you do one good deed, your reward usually is to be set to do another and harder and better one."
It's true. It's one of the horrible unfairnesses of life, but there it is. And when you see life in those terms, you're better able to bow your head to the deeds that are your lot. It isn't fair. It just is.
I also love when Hwin, the gentle nervous motherly talking horse, speaks up to Bree (another talking horse) when he insists they should take a break before setting out on a march. Time is short and the enemy is almost at the gate, but he wants a snack and a rest and a rubdown first. More than that -- he thinks he needs them.
"'P-please,' said Hwin, very shyly, 'I feel just like Bree that I can't go on. But when Horses have humans (with spurs and things) on their backs, aren't they often made to go on when they're feeling like this? and then they find they can.'"
This is true both morally and physically. How often do we get to what we think is the breaking point -- the point where we simply Can. NOT. Go on. And then, if we don't give in but push ourselves a little harder, we learn the difference between what we think we need and what we're really capable of. Because of course Hwin turns out to be right, and Bree's wrongness almost ruins everything.
I didn't understand this when I read it for the first time, but I remembered it. And now I think about it all the time, whether I'm running a hill or writing a few more words (or any words at all on a day I could have sworn I was too tired to get some writing done).
There are too many outstanding examples like this to resist. And as always, Lewis nails the little moments we can all relate to, even if we've never quite experienced them. Like when Shasta, waiting anxiously for his friends alone in the dark among some ancient tombs, hears a terrible noise. After almost jumping out of his skin, he realizes it's a distant horn blowing for the closing of the city gates:
"'Don't be a silly little coward,' said Shasta to himself. 'Why, it's only the same noise you heard this morning.' But there is a great difference between a noise heard letting you in with your friends in the morning, and a noise heard alone at nightfall, shutting you out."
And then, later, when the two main character children (Shasta and Aravis) are riding across the desert:
"On again, trot and walk and trot, jingle-jingle-jingle, squeak-squeak-squeak, smell of hot horse, smell of hot self, blinding glare, headache. And nothing at all different for mile after mile."
Such brilliantly understated word-painting.
Oh, and one last passage, a short one and one of my favorites ever:
"One of the drawbacks about adventures is that when you come to the most beautiful places you are often too anxious and hurried to appreciate them."
So, yes, this book is bad. And yes, I love it. Because it's great, too.
The xenophobia is positively racist -- by page 5, we're already hearing the first of many references to the fact that the residents of Narnia are considered by the residents of their southern neighbor, Calormen, to be "fair and white...accursed but beautiful barbarians."
The Calormenes, on the other hand, are nothing but walking Middle Eastern stereotypes. They wear turbans and have long beards and speak in overblown wise old sayings like, "Has not one of the poets said, 'Natural affection is stronger than soup and offspring more precious than carbuncles?'"
This aspect of the story is ridiculously, inexcusably bad. As I've mentioned in reviews of other Narnia books, Lewis seems to take great pride in backing the wrong horse at every possible social and/or historical point, and boy howdy, does he blow it here. He puts his last dollar down on good old colonialist "Hey, look! Savages! If only they had a civilized country to tell them what to do!"
(This should not be taken as me buying into moral relativism and excusing the very real sexism and lack of democracy running rampant through the real Middle East, by the way. It's me thinking that those weren't exactly the things that bothered Lewis about that region.)
So: knowing all that, how can I possibly enjoy this book?
I cringe at times, but I do. Lewis has some of his most memorable lines and greatest moral triumphs in this story.
For instance, I once wrote an article and later created an e-card featuring this terrific line:
"If you do one good deed, your reward usually is to be set to do another and harder and better one."
It's true. It's one of the horrible unfairnesses of life, but there it is. And when you see life in those terms, you're better able to bow your head to the deeds that are your lot. It isn't fair. It just is.
I also love when Hwin, the gentle nervous motherly talking horse, speaks up to Bree (another talking horse) when he insists they should take a break before setting out on a march. Time is short and the enemy is almost at the gate, but he wants a snack and a rest and a rubdown first. More than that -- he thinks he needs them.
"'P-please,' said Hwin, very shyly, 'I feel just like Bree that I can't go on. But when Horses have humans (with spurs and things) on their backs, aren't they often made to go on when they're feeling like this? and then they find they can.'"
This is true both morally and physically. How often do we get to what we think is the breaking point -- the point where we simply Can. NOT. Go on. And then, if we don't give in but push ourselves a little harder, we learn the difference between what we think we need and what we're really capable of. Because of course Hwin turns out to be right, and Bree's wrongness almost ruins everything.
I didn't understand this when I read it for the first time, but I remembered it. And now I think about it all the time, whether I'm running a hill or writing a few more words (or any words at all on a day I could have sworn I was too tired to get some writing done).
There are too many outstanding examples like this to resist. And as always, Lewis nails the little moments we can all relate to, even if we've never quite experienced them. Like when Shasta, waiting anxiously for his friends alone in the dark among some ancient tombs, hears a terrible noise. After almost jumping out of his skin, he realizes it's a distant horn blowing for the closing of the city gates:
"'Don't be a silly little coward,' said Shasta to himself. 'Why, it's only the same noise you heard this morning.' But there is a great difference between a noise heard letting you in with your friends in the morning, and a noise heard alone at nightfall, shutting you out."
And then, later, when the two main character children (Shasta and Aravis) are riding across the desert:
"On again, trot and walk and trot, jingle-jingle-jingle, squeak-squeak-squeak, smell of hot horse, smell of hot self, blinding glare, headache. And nothing at all different for mile after mile."
Such brilliantly understated word-painting.
Oh, and one last passage, a short one and one of my favorites ever:
"One of the drawbacks about adventures is that when you come to the most beautiful places you are often too anxious and hurried to appreciate them."
So, yes, this book is bad. And yes, I love it. Because it's great, too.
March 7, 2017
“Do not by any means destroy yourself, for if you live you may yet have good fortune, but all the dead are dead like.”
This felt as if I was reading a folktale about a horse and a boy who wander around and seek their new adventure. Yet the humor in this book is abundant, even though the narration is not as intriguing as the other books. And the storyline is quite straight and lacks of twists or epicness, too. I yawned so many times while I was getting past the first half of the book. I'd used my whole day to finish this book despite how short it is, the story runs on until I felt so tired and wished it should have ended sooner than later.
“When things go wrong, you'll find they usually go on getting worse for some time; but when things once start going right they often go on getting better and better.”
Anyway, The Horse and His Boy has strange words that I tried so hard to understand. The dialogues are weird, too, for the characters always talk to each other like, 'O enlightened Prince, O loquacious Vizier, O my resourceful son, O eternal Tisroc, O impeccable Tisroc'. I didn't use to something like this in literatures.
But I kind of enjoyed this book, and this is the story that doesn't includes the old characters in it. However, I want to see the conclusion where everything meets it ending and is deduced to the finest point for the readers to see the whole picture.
“Do not dare not to dare.”
https://goo.gl/9gaT6u
June 1, 2021
Imagine my horror when I read this once familiar story in e-book form, and stopped reading when Aslan was saying 'myself' to poor Shasta. The problem of evil has never been more apparent in any book.
C.S. Lewis has always been disingenuous about his Narnia books, imparting his sugar coated dishonesties about the Creation of Narnia, implying in other books that the worst should fall on Aslan's tawny shoulders.
Forget about all of the previous grievances. Forget the implied racism. This book is boring. Every talking character is. More rubbish being spouted each page. By the way, I do think, unlike Lewis, that Cor is a far worse name than Shasta.
C.S. Lewis has always been disingenuous about his Narnia books, imparting his sugar coated dishonesties about the Creation of Narnia, implying in other books that the worst should fall on Aslan's tawny shoulders.
Forget about all of the previous grievances. Forget the implied racism. This book is boring. Every talking character is. More rubbish being spouted each page. By the way, I do think, unlike Lewis, that Cor is a far worse name than Shasta.
May 5, 2025
Shasta, ese es el nombre de un niño que no sabía casi nada sobre el mundo que le rodeaba, de hecho, apenas había estado una o dos veces en el pueblo más cercano a su hogar, en donde fue criado por un pescador. Pero un día como cualquier otro, un extravagante jinete aparecería con intenciones de comprarlo, seguramente para hacerlo su esclavo, dado su peculiar aspecto que lo diferenciaba de los demás; al mismo tiempo que conoce a su montura: un caballo parlante llamado Breejy-jinny-brinny-joojy-ja (Bree para los amigos), oriundo de otras tierras.
Al entablar conversación con el cuadrúpedo, éste le hará notar algo que los une: que ambos no pertenecen al reino de Calormen. Amparados por esa premisa escaparán para irse a la lejana Narnia, y mientras ocurre están en eso, se les unirán otros personajes con los que tendrán una serie de aventuras y contratiempos, durante el trayecto hacia la tierra que cambiará sus vidas.
Junto con Madame Bovary y Viaje al centro de la Tierra, El caballo y el muchacho es el nuevo integrante que se suma al club de los marginados de Goodreads. Realmente intenté redactar una reseña que sea corta y que tampoco supere el límite de caracteres permitidos, pero no pude. Fallé, aunque sea por tan solo un par de líneas. Así que, no me queda más que citar a un grande entre grandes: «Al exilio ir debo. Fracasé hoy».
En cuanto a esta, honestamente les recomiendo que la lean, ya que es el libro de la saga de Las crónicas de Narnia que parece tener peor reputación, pero me enfoco en desmitificar esto; también le doy su lugar como spin-off, ya que no es la tercera entrega principal, aunque sea promocionada de tal manera; e indago en el elemento que podría ser considerado como el más machista de la franquicia de C.S. Lewis, entre otros temas.
Por otra parte, hago uno que otro análisis buscando explicaciones a ciertas cuestiones, para que la saga no pierda coherencia, cosa que ni el mismo autor hizo. Y como es costumbre, al final cito una selección con las frases que se me hicieron más interesantes para destacar y compartir.
Pero, bueno, la reseña la podrán encontrar de forma íntegra en el siguiente enlace en formato PDF: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JtnL...
Para no perder el hilo con las demás reseñas de la saga de Las crónicas de Narnia en orden cronológico:
• Libro 1) El sobrino del mago: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
• Libro 2) El león, la bruja y el armario: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
• Libro 3)
El caballo y el muchacho
Para otras reseñas que superen el límite de caracteres permitidos en Goodreads, por tener un enfoque más profundo, minucioso y analítico:
• Madame Bovary, de Gustave Flaubert: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
• Viaje al centro de la Tierra, de Julio Verne: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
•Las crónicas de Narnia: El caballo y el muchacho, de C.S. Lewis
Al entablar conversación con el cuadrúpedo, éste le hará notar algo que los une: que ambos no pertenecen al reino de Calormen. Amparados por esa premisa escaparán para irse a la lejana Narnia, y mientras ocurre están en eso, se les unirán otros personajes con los que tendrán una serie de aventuras y contratiempos, durante el trayecto hacia la tierra que cambiará sus vidas.
Junto con Madame Bovary y Viaje al centro de la Tierra, El caballo y el muchacho es el nuevo integrante que se suma al club de los marginados de Goodreads. Realmente intenté redactar una reseña que sea corta y que tampoco supere el límite de caracteres permitidos, pero no pude. Fallé, aunque sea por tan solo un par de líneas. Así que, no me queda más que citar a un grande entre grandes: «Al exilio ir debo. Fracasé hoy».
En cuanto a esta, honestamente les recomiendo que la lean, ya que es el libro de la saga de Las crónicas de Narnia que parece tener peor reputación, pero me enfoco en desmitificar esto; también le doy su lugar como spin-off, ya que no es la tercera entrega principal, aunque sea promocionada de tal manera; e indago en el elemento que podría ser considerado como el más machista de la franquicia de C.S. Lewis, entre otros temas.
Por otra parte, hago uno que otro análisis buscando explicaciones a ciertas cuestiones, para que la saga no pierda coherencia, cosa que ni el mismo autor hizo. Y como es costumbre, al final cito una selección con las frases que se me hicieron más interesantes para destacar y compartir.
Pero, bueno, la reseña la podrán encontrar de forma íntegra en el siguiente enlace en formato PDF: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JtnL...
Para no perder el hilo con las demás reseñas de la saga de Las crónicas de Narnia en orden cronológico:
• Libro 1) El sobrino del mago: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
• Libro 2) El león, la bruja y el armario: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
• Libro 3)
Para otras reseñas que superen el límite de caracteres permitidos en Goodreads, por tener un enfoque más profundo, minucioso y analítico:
• Madame Bovary, de Gustave Flaubert: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
• Viaje al centro de la Tierra, de Julio Verne: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
•
March 31, 2015
One word: Orientalist.
Sorry, I could not get past it - nor should I have to. This was a terrible book, full of so much imperialist racist anti-Arab/Indian tones that I could not appreciate any aspect of it. Quite frankly I couldn't believe that I was reading this garbage. I don't really care if the story is good - if it's offensive it's not good. And even then, I really didn't care for the story.
The characters were completely new and it takes place during Susan/Edmund/Peter/Lucy's reign in Narnia. The end was beyond predictable. The journey was ok. The Hermit not explained. Far too much polarizing with the genders as well. Everything that I had given slack for in the previous novels was forgotten in this one. The writing, the "presently" scattered over every page. I could only look at this book critically.
I couldn't get past the barbaric, turban-wearing, dark-skinned, slave-owning, women-stealing men depicted in this book. Thank you C.S.Lewis for combining the images of both Arabs & Indians into this book and demonizing them, creating yet ANOTHER conflicted representation of two completely different types of people. Of using incorrect representation and assumptions regarding these cultures to create an enemy for your Christian Land, Narnia. I had a problem with Aladdin, and I have a problem with this book. Both dictate a stereotypical image and portrayal of characters & values that are offensive.
Perfect book to use for orientalism and imperialism embedded within Children's books (much like Alice in Wonderland). They set up Calormen (questionable meaning) completely opposite to Narnia, again pretty much drawing this nice and clean line between these coloured barbarians from the south and civilized free white folk.
The sentiment is present in all the novels I've read so far but nothing as strong and overt as this. I couldn't believe it. Especially given the time period there was some forward thinking happening by then.
I don't know what else to say. I would not recommend this to any one, in fact I would never want to ever read this book again. I probably will burn it when I get near an open fire.
Sorry, I could not get past it - nor should I have to. This was a terrible book, full of so much imperialist racist anti-Arab/Indian tones that I could not appreciate any aspect of it. Quite frankly I couldn't believe that I was reading this garbage. I don't really care if the story is good - if it's offensive it's not good. And even then, I really didn't care for the story.
The characters were completely new and it takes place during Susan/Edmund/Peter/Lucy's reign in Narnia. The end was beyond predictable. The journey was ok. The Hermit not explained. Far too much polarizing with the genders as well. Everything that I had given slack for in the previous novels was forgotten in this one. The writing, the "presently" scattered over every page. I could only look at this book critically.
I couldn't get past the barbaric, turban-wearing, dark-skinned, slave-owning, women-stealing men depicted in this book. Thank you C.S.Lewis for combining the images of both Arabs & Indians into this book and demonizing them, creating yet ANOTHER conflicted representation of two completely different types of people. Of using incorrect representation and assumptions regarding these cultures to create an enemy for your Christian Land, Narnia. I had a problem with Aladdin, and I have a problem with this book. Both dictate a stereotypical image and portrayal of characters & values that are offensive.
Perfect book to use for orientalism and imperialism embedded within Children's books (much like Alice in Wonderland). They set up Calormen (questionable meaning) completely opposite to Narnia, again pretty much drawing this nice and clean line between these coloured barbarians from the south and civilized free white folk.
The sentiment is present in all the novels I've read so far but nothing as strong and overt as this. I couldn't believe it. Especially given the time period there was some forward thinking happening by then.
I don't know what else to say. I would not recommend this to any one, in fact I would never want to ever read this book again. I probably will burn it when I get near an open fire.
June 19, 2016
You know you're bored when it nearly takes you a month to read something of this length.
March 2, 2008
The basic story is a good and entertaining one, but I could not get beyond the overt prejudices of C.S. Lewis on display throughout this book.
I'm incredibly disappointed. His portrayal of the people of Calormen is horrid. I admit, by calor I don't known if he is implying people of the hot lands (as calor indicates heat) or if it is a not-so-subtle way of suggesting colored people, but the descriptions speak for themselves. These people are described as dark-skinned, turban-wearing, cruel slave-owners. Their leader is a corrupt war-monger. This land and its people are consistently contrasted against the fair-skinned, judicious and free-thinking people of Narnia and Archenland.
It's not a book I would recommend. In fact, it has lessened by desire to continue reading the chronicles. This is really too bed because, other than the cultural depictions, the story idea is marvelous.
I'm incredibly disappointed. His portrayal of the people of Calormen is horrid. I admit, by calor I don't known if he is implying people of the hot lands (as calor indicates heat) or if it is a not-so-subtle way of suggesting colored people, but the descriptions speak for themselves. These people are described as dark-skinned, turban-wearing, cruel slave-owners. Their leader is a corrupt war-monger. This land and its people are consistently contrasted against the fair-skinned, judicious and free-thinking people of Narnia and Archenland.
It's not a book I would recommend. In fact, it has lessened by desire to continue reading the chronicles. This is really too bed because, other than the cultural depictions, the story idea is marvelous.
October 29, 2014
Ugh, this is the worst episode of Mister Ed ever.
July 4, 2019
Aaaaaannnd it's time to downgrade an old classic.
Reading it with my girl was kinda a chore because BOTH of us thought the story dragged. And if a six-year-old can pick out the ickiness of caricature Arab cultures and find it distasteful (without any kind of reaction from her daddy), then it MIGHT be a bit bad.
Sure, sure, talking horses and missing princesses and princes and an adventure/quest OUGHT to be great fun, but the pacing is weird with lots of talking about events that just happened off-stage and with some anticlimactic lion cameos here and there, I had a distinct impression that I was being railroaded down a recently blown MORAL TUNNEL.
And then, what about the great battle at the end of this?
Yeah, let's have a daft old hermit call the highlights like a senile sportscaster who gets bored half-way through the telling to go inside to take a dump or something.
GREAT STORYTELLING, LEWIS.
And in the meantime, after the twentieth time, my daughter said, "I'm bored..." I woke her up at the end. She hugged me and said, "Daddy? Please. No more."
"No more, daughter. No more."
Reading it with my girl was kinda a chore because BOTH of us thought the story dragged. And if a six-year-old can pick out the ickiness of caricature Arab cultures and find it distasteful (without any kind of reaction from her daddy), then it MIGHT be a bit bad.
Sure, sure, talking horses and missing princesses and princes and an adventure/quest OUGHT to be great fun, but the pacing is weird with lots of talking about events that just happened off-stage and with some anticlimactic lion cameos here and there, I had a distinct impression that I was being railroaded down a recently blown MORAL TUNNEL.
And then, what about the great battle at the end of this?
Yeah, let's have a daft old hermit call the highlights like a senile sportscaster who gets bored half-way through the telling to go inside to take a dump or something.
GREAT STORYTELLING, LEWIS.
And in the meantime, after the twentieth time, my daughter said, "I'm bored..." I woke her up at the end. She hugged me and said, "Daddy? Please. No more."
"No more, daughter. No more."
August 27, 2018
The boxed set of Narnia that I have and am now reading, was published in 2002 I have noticed, so despite having 1950/60s covers, these were NOT my original Narnia books from the early 70s. I wonder where my originals went and when I bought these ??
Who knows, what I do know is that it’s strange, I could not remember a single thing about this book, I don’t think I have ever read it.
That said it was very enjoyable, a fun romp through the countries bordering Narnia with an interesting mix of people and animals.
Aslan appears, as do some of the Pevensie children and the usual shenanigans ensue.
As well written as ever and a delight to read, a solid 4 ⭐️novel.
Who knows, what I do know is that it’s strange, I could not remember a single thing about this book, I don’t think I have ever read it.
That said it was very enjoyable, a fun romp through the countries bordering Narnia with an interesting mix of people and animals.
Aslan appears, as do some of the Pevensie children and the usual shenanigans ensue.
As well written as ever and a delight to read, a solid 4 ⭐️novel.
May 2, 2013
This is increasingly becoming one of my favourites from the Chronicles of Narnia. If asked why, I believe it is because it is the most like a medieval faerie romance. A young boy and girl in the mundane world of Calormen suddenly find themselves in the presence of faeries––talking horses––who wish to take them into Faerie itself––Narnia. Faerie, and the journey to it, however, is perilous and fraught with dangers. Once in it, or on its borders (i.e. Archenland) it becomes even more dangerous. A battle ensues and both children as well as the faeries who grew up outside of faerie meet the Faerie King himself (Aslan). Their introduction into faerie is permitted by the King and they get to live on its borders for the rest of their lives. It is an excellent story about God's grace, providence, and mystery. We too can find out we are the sons and daughters of kings, not just kings on the border of Faerie, but the Faerie King himself. I highly recommend this book, specifically when it is read in its proper place, third from last.
Last read:
2012 (29-31 October)
2013 (29 April-2 May)
Last read:
2012 (29-31 October)
2013 (29 April-2 May)
February 6, 2017
This is my third journey into the lands of Narnia as I have been reading the series in chronological rather than publication order. With probably the most intriguing title of the series, this was the tale I was most excited for, but it ultimately didn't live up the magic of the previous two books, for me.
This is the first book in the series not set from the perspective of someone entering Narnia from the human real. I still enjoyed it, though it is not what I thought it would be and, as such, it lost a lot of the mystical and magical qualities that pervaded the previous stories.
This tale surrounds a young boy, Sashta, and his talking horse, Bree, in a heroic type, rags-to-riches tale. Coming from bordering savage lands, the duo traverse cities and deserts to flee the slavery that would otherwise await them. Along their journey they meet a similar pair of escapees, Avaris and talking horse Hwin, who join them on their adventures.
Characters from the previous tale made a reappearance in their new roles as Kings and Queens of Narnia and it was exciting to see how the characters had progressed.
The adventurous elements of the story were high and seeing more of this magical realm was a real joy, but I lost some of my suspended belief in reading this. With no connection to the human world, this still made for pleasing but not enchanting reading.
My largest grievance with this tale was that I felt it relied on the stereotype of the savage other and incorporated some racist elements that might have been acceptable for the time it was published but jarred with me, as a modern-day reader. I could not forgive the book this sin and it dramatically lessened my enjoyment. I see few other reviews with similar statements so perhaps this was only my interpretation of the text but, nevertheless, the feeling that the stereotypes were somewhat misplaced continued to niggle at me as I read this.
This is the first book in the series not set from the perspective of someone entering Narnia from the human real. I still enjoyed it, though it is not what I thought it would be and, as such, it lost a lot of the mystical and magical qualities that pervaded the previous stories.
This tale surrounds a young boy, Sashta, and his talking horse, Bree, in a heroic type, rags-to-riches tale. Coming from bordering savage lands, the duo traverse cities and deserts to flee the slavery that would otherwise await them. Along their journey they meet a similar pair of escapees, Avaris and talking horse Hwin, who join them on their adventures.
Characters from the previous tale made a reappearance in their new roles as Kings and Queens of Narnia and it was exciting to see how the characters had progressed.
The adventurous elements of the story were high and seeing more of this magical realm was a real joy, but I lost some of my suspended belief in reading this. With no connection to the human world, this still made for pleasing but not enchanting reading.
My largest grievance with this tale was that I felt it relied on the stereotype of the savage other and incorporated some racist elements that might have been acceptable for the time it was published but jarred with me, as a modern-day reader. I could not forgive the book this sin and it dramatically lessened my enjoyment. I see few other reviews with similar statements so perhaps this was only my interpretation of the text but, nevertheless, the feeling that the stereotypes were somewhat misplaced continued to niggle at me as I read this.
April 7, 2020
'Like most days when you are alone and waiting for something this day seemed about 100 hours long'
I'm not sure about this book, it felt like a typical filler that you find in every series. A book to beef out the series but doesnt relate to or impact anything.
I also feel it failed to portray the magic and amazement of the worlds that the two previous books do so well. Mr Tumnus has lost his personality, it just all fell flat for me. I felt I was reading just to get through it which is fine as it's a short novella.
A deflated balloon.
I'm not sure about this book, it felt like a typical filler that you find in every series. A book to beef out the series but doesnt relate to or impact anything.
I also feel it failed to portray the magic and amazement of the worlds that the two previous books do so well. Mr Tumnus has lost his personality, it just all fell flat for me. I felt I was reading just to get through it which is fine as it's a short novella.
A deflated balloon.
November 5, 2013
Calormen is the land of scimitars, turbans, viziers and bazaars. Lewis makes clear from these details of tool and title that Calormen is his fantasy stand-in for the middle east. And he makes equally clear what he thinks of that region by how he describes the people that live there. For Calormen is also the land of dark-skinned men in dirty robes, abused children, mass slavery, petty haggling and a capital city that looks grand on the outside but is revealed to be a festering hole. Calormen is the land of fakers, brutes, cowards and connivers; of military aggression and extravagantly silly fashion.
There is precious little good in Calormen, but there is one earnest, young, white orphan named Shasta. Shasta knows nothing of his skin-color, of his orphan-status or of the land he came from, but something causes him to look to the north; to know that he somehow doesn't belong in this wretched land. The lesson being; no matter how bad things look, you can at least count on racial determination to give you hope. This point is driven home during Shasta's first encounter with other white people whereby Shasta is immediately smitten with their honest, happy-go-lucky aura. Even when Shasta is mistaken for a runaway prince and is corralled and slapped, it's perfectly awesome, for the strike was 'not a cruel one to make you cry but a sharp one to let you know you are in disgrace.' Apparently white people are so good that even when we smack kids around it's a positive. The only decent Calormene is Shasta's over-proud but spunky friend Aravis and even she has the good-sense and good-fortune to escape the land of her birth.
Alas, Lewis' vile treatment of his dark-skinned subjects isn't this novel's only fatal flaw, for this is the story of a flight for freedom where the protagonists get precious little say in what happens to them. The major events of the book include coincidental meetings, convenient (and unintended) eavesdropping on the politically powerful, our heroes getting individually whisked away by nobles, and no less than three major interventions from Aslan. What's the point in having characters chase after freedom if everything to come is going to feel so scripted?
Even Shasta's shining moment where he proves his courage is only symbolically meaningful, while the team's race to warn the northern lands falls flat after a hastily-assembled Narnian crew dispatches the villains with little trouble. The whole 'warn Narnia' plot-line proves a major distraction; the principles were already fleeing to Narnia before they learned of the attack and their warning made little difference.
The tragic part is that the interactions between the Shasta, Aravis, Bree and Hwin are light, fun and full of character; Lewis' skill as a storyteller is still on display here. But even a masterfully told story can't survive the twin mortal wounds of racism and pointlessness.
There is precious little good in Calormen, but there is one earnest, young, white orphan named Shasta. Shasta knows nothing of his skin-color, of his orphan-status or of the land he came from, but something causes him to look to the north; to know that he somehow doesn't belong in this wretched land. The lesson being; no matter how bad things look, you can at least count on racial determination to give you hope. This point is driven home during Shasta's first encounter with other white people whereby Shasta is immediately smitten with their honest, happy-go-lucky aura. Even when Shasta is mistaken for a runaway prince and is corralled and slapped, it's perfectly awesome, for the strike was 'not a cruel one to make you cry but a sharp one to let you know you are in disgrace.' Apparently white people are so good that even when we smack kids around it's a positive. The only decent Calormene is Shasta's over-proud but spunky friend Aravis and even she has the good-sense and good-fortune to escape the land of her birth.
Alas, Lewis' vile treatment of his dark-skinned subjects isn't this novel's only fatal flaw, for this is the story of a flight for freedom where the protagonists get precious little say in what happens to them. The major events of the book include coincidental meetings, convenient (and unintended) eavesdropping on the politically powerful, our heroes getting individually whisked away by nobles, and no less than three major interventions from Aslan. What's the point in having characters chase after freedom if everything to come is going to feel so scripted?
Even Shasta's shining moment where he proves his courage is only symbolically meaningful, while the team's race to warn the northern lands falls flat after a hastily-assembled Narnian crew dispatches the villains with little trouble. The whole 'warn Narnia' plot-line proves a major distraction; the principles were already fleeing to Narnia before they learned of the attack and their warning made little difference.
The tragic part is that the interactions between the Shasta, Aravis, Bree and Hwin are light, fun and full of character; Lewis' skill as a storyteller is still on display here. But even a masterfully told story can't survive the twin mortal wounds of racism and pointlessness.
May 12, 2020
“Child,' said the Lion, 'I am telling you your story, not hers. No one is told any story but their own.”
Not many people know this about me, but my mom is a horse riding instructor; so needless to say I grew up with horses and although I very rarely mount now, these animals will always hold a very special place in my heart. That is why, when I started reading this book, I thought it would be my favourite of the series -which I am reading in publication order, so this was book number five for me - but unfortunately, the story of the horse and his boy very soon is put in the background in order to describe some narnian battle which I mean, I don't care much about battles, give me back my lovely horse!
I have read enough book in this series now to form the opinion that, alas, these will never be a favourite of mine. I understand the value of it as a classic, and I understand the undeniable talent and genius of the writer; but as a matter of completely personal taste, they just don't entertain me that much. I found myself hoping for the best at every beginning of each one, and begin to use most of the engagement halfway though the story. They are definitely delightful stories, but not very much page turners for me. I do love Aslan though, and usually the moments in which he appears or speaks are my favourites. The rest - the story, the characters, even the world - are fascinating but I keep other fantasy series closer to my heart. I do think my feelings would have been different if I had read them as a child, but since I have no emotional attachment to them, I am glad I read them for their importance, but I don't think I'll read them again in the future. Love the horses though!
Not many people know this about me, but my mom is a horse riding instructor; so needless to say I grew up with horses and although I very rarely mount now, these animals will always hold a very special place in my heart. That is why, when I started reading this book, I thought it would be my favourite of the series -which I am reading in publication order, so this was book number five for me - but unfortunately, the story of the horse and his boy very soon is put in the background in order to describe some narnian battle which I mean, I don't care much about battles, give me back my lovely horse!
I have read enough book in this series now to form the opinion that, alas, these will never be a favourite of mine. I understand the value of it as a classic, and I understand the undeniable talent and genius of the writer; but as a matter of completely personal taste, they just don't entertain me that much. I found myself hoping for the best at every beginning of each one, and begin to use most of the engagement halfway though the story. They are definitely delightful stories, but not very much page turners for me. I do love Aslan though, and usually the moments in which he appears or speaks are my favourites. The rest - the story, the characters, even the world - are fascinating but I keep other fantasy series closer to my heart. I do think my feelings would have been different if I had read them as a child, but since I have no emotional attachment to them, I am glad I read them for their importance, but I don't think I'll read them again in the future. Love the horses though!
May 10, 2025
Not my favorite book of the series, but it was still pretty good.
August 8, 2023
Have I mentioned how much I love these books recently?
And Aravis is just like me. In all the wrong ways.
And Aravis is just like me. In all the wrong ways.
June 6, 2011
The story is so simple but it took me awhile to appreciate what's going on because I am reading the series not in its proper sequence. I read Book #2, The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe last year and now this Book #3, The Horse and His Boy without reading Book #1 The Magician's Nephew first. Reason? I misplaced my copy of Book #1 and I had to search for it.
Well, it is quite hard to rate this book. It is a simple fantasy story. The horse in the title is Bree, the talking Narnian horse. He and the boy in the title, Shasta meet when the latter is about to be sold by his foster father to a rich Calormen. They escape together and meet other escapees, a girl named Aravis and her another talking Narnian horse called Hwin. What follows is their adventure on their way back to Narnia particularly through Tasbaan which is the capital of Calormen, an enemy tribe of Narnias.
This reminded me of the adventures of Magnon and Zimatar, two radio programs being played over DZRH in the 70's, when I was a young boy. The Zimatar series played for thirty minutes at 2:00-2:30 p.m. and even up to now, I could still hear its theme and recall the names of its main characters like Zimatar himself and Wiwin, his powerful dwarf friend. I remember that Zimatar also has a flying white horse whose name I cannot recall anymore. When the series started, our family did not have our own radio so I had to go in front of our neighbor's house and stand by their front window to hear their radio.
For the memories brought back by this book, I am rating this with a 2 stars (It's okay). I still prefer Book #2 because it has more child characters. Aslan, my favorite so far character in the series, makes just a brief appearance here.
The battle between Archenlands and Narnians versus Calormen seemed to be lopsided and it was told only through the apparitions on the hermit's lake so it failed to make the match interesting to read in my opinion. Also, Aravis and Hwin were not in it plus Sashta seemed to be untrained to be seen as a big hero what with him lacking the basic skills in combat. I mean, in Book#2, Peter, Edmund, Susan and Lucy had training prior to the big battle. I thought it would have been better if Sashta was trained first so he could be a hero-warrior at the end of the book. Also, the battle could have been more exciting if the point of view was Sashta's and Aravis was there fighting together against the Calormen.
I have started reading Book #1 and will read the sequence in chronological order until Book #7.
Well, it is quite hard to rate this book. It is a simple fantasy story. The horse in the title is Bree, the talking Narnian horse. He and the boy in the title, Shasta meet when the latter is about to be sold by his foster father to a rich Calormen. They escape together and meet other escapees, a girl named Aravis and her another talking Narnian horse called Hwin. What follows is their adventure on their way back to Narnia particularly through Tasbaan which is the capital of Calormen, an enemy tribe of Narnias.
This reminded me of the adventures of Magnon and Zimatar, two radio programs being played over DZRH in the 70's, when I was a young boy. The Zimatar series played for thirty minutes at 2:00-2:30 p.m. and even up to now, I could still hear its theme and recall the names of its main characters like Zimatar himself and Wiwin, his powerful dwarf friend. I remember that Zimatar also has a flying white horse whose name I cannot recall anymore. When the series started, our family did not have our own radio so I had to go in front of our neighbor's house and stand by their front window to hear their radio.
For the memories brought back by this book, I am rating this with a 2 stars (It's okay). I still prefer Book #2 because it has more child characters. Aslan, my favorite so far character in the series, makes just a brief appearance here.
The battle between Archenlands and Narnians versus Calormen seemed to be lopsided and it was told only through the apparitions on the hermit's lake so it failed to make the match interesting to read in my opinion. Also, Aravis and Hwin were not in it plus Sashta seemed to be untrained to be seen as a big hero what with him lacking the basic skills in combat. I mean, in Book#2, Peter, Edmund, Susan and Lucy had training prior to the big battle. I thought it would have been better if Sashta was trained first so he could be a hero-warrior at the end of the book. Also, the battle could have been more exciting if the point of view was Sashta's and Aravis was there fighting together against the Calormen.
I have started reading Book #1 and will read the sequence in chronological order until Book #7.
December 2, 2025
"Onward and Upward! To Narnia and the North!"Shasta is a young boy who is in a poor living situation. He thinks he lives with his father (Arsheesh) but after a nobleman tries to buy Shasta (and Arsheesh sells him quite easily), Shasta realizes that most of what he's known is a lie.
Bree, the stallion of the nobleman, tells Shasta that the slaves are abused as well and the two of them agree to run away together.
They travel for weeks, eventually meeting other Narnians and people escaping bad situations, hoping for just a chance to reach the promised Narnia.
This one wasn't one of my favorite. I love the magic of the earlier books and these ones...I just kinda was glad it was over.
"Do not dare not to dare."
I didn't like that Shasta was from "Calorman" and how in the audiobook, it was pronounced color-men in the audiobook. And that they are all dark-skinned? That made me instantly suspicious.
Overall, I read it so I could complete the series but I don't think I'll be going in for a reread anytime soon.
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June 16, 2019
Don't shoot me but probably my favorite Narnia. Love Corin. 👌
April 6, 2023
“Child,' said the Lion, 'I am telling you your story, not hers. No one is told any story but their own.”
December 12, 2017
I enjoyed this one so much! I loved Shasta, Bree, Aravis....everyone!! It was different than the others, but I still liked it a lot! I have no idea which is my favorite Chronicles of Narnia book now haha I just started reading the Magician's Nephew a couple days ago and I'm loving it so far! I've been reading so many books lately and it's hard to keep track of all of them...I should have written a review sooner, but I've been a little busy with school when I haven't been reading ;) lol So sorry this isn't a proper review, but it's safe to say I love every book in this series so far! :D
March 14, 2020
My personal favorite book from The Chronicles of Narnia. These characters are The Best, and it's just a crazy, dramatic adventure. Also, I'm afraid I'm Bree. Aslan was en point, as per usual.
June 18, 2022
The Horse and His Boy is my least favorite book in the series. So far, I have really enjoyed this series but this book reads like something else entirely. I think one of the main reasons is because Pevensie siblings are barely there. For some reason, I associate this series with the Pevensie siblings.
The story was not bad but like other people, I too felt that there were racial slurs in this book that even my younger self couldn't look past. In the past, I chose not to look at the way the female characters were portrayed but along with racial slurs like turban-wearing and dark-skinned terms it was too much. Way too much to put me off this book.
2 stars
The story was not bad but like other people, I too felt that there were racial slurs in this book that even my younger self couldn't look past. In the past, I chose not to look at the way the female characters were portrayed but along with racial slurs like turban-wearing and dark-skinned terms it was too much. Way too much to put me off this book.
2 stars
March 30, 2015
Mi favorito de la saga. En mi opinión es la mejor aventura. Un tomo que me resultó muy entretenido y el cual amé hasta las entrañas por ese viaje tan humano y a la vez tan fantástico.
El final es lo único negativo que le encontré: demasiado precipitado y rápido.
El final es lo único negativo que le encontré: demasiado precipitado y rápido.
February 6, 2021
Third book in the series. Probably the least known/popular of the seven. Has troubling negative portrayal of the middle eastern/Muslim culture!
in a horse and his boy a poor abused fisherman son finds out he is adopted and his foster father is about to sell him as a slave. So he flees with a talking Narnia horse to the north and Narnia. Along the way they meet a young aristocrat's daughter who is fleeing a forced marriage with a talking Narnia horse of her own! they wind up in the capital of Calormen Tashbaan the military power south of Narnia. While in Tashbaan they hear of a plot to attack Narnia! They rush north to save Narnia. A few of the Pevensie children make an appearance and boy have they grown up since the lion, witch, and the wardrobe!
the story starts off slow but really pick up steam and ends very well. solid story about other kingdoms of Narnia!
in a horse and his boy a poor abused fisherman son finds out he is adopted and his foster father is about to sell him as a slave. So he flees with a talking Narnia horse to the north and Narnia. Along the way they meet a young aristocrat's daughter who is fleeing a forced marriage with a talking Narnia horse of her own! they wind up in the capital of Calormen Tashbaan the military power south of Narnia. While in Tashbaan they hear of a plot to attack Narnia! They rush north to save Narnia. A few of the Pevensie children make an appearance and boy have they grown up since the lion, witch, and the wardrobe!
the story starts off slow but really pick up steam and ends very well. solid story about other kingdoms of Narnia!
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