Why do I sometimes read other reviews before posting my own? Especially reviews by other blowhards who blow harder than I do? I'm very insecure and knowing that other people are even bigger jack wagons than me does nothing to help my self-esteem. Then I start thinking my opinions are wrong and that I'm really supposed to hate this book because of... whatever it was the other people were talking about. I didn't really follow all of it; it was philosophically and theologically beyond me. But then I remember some advice someone once gave me. "Enjoyment of something (a book in this case) is a matter of opinion, and the biggest mistake you can make here is to discount your own." So, I'm rolling with that, and fuck you if you don't like it. I love this book, it's my favorite in the series, and that's that, so PHLBT!!! And while I don't have to defend it, since I do enjoy writing reviews it behooves me to try to define it. 
 Unlike The Horse and His Boy in which the second half is the better, this book shines for me in the first. Oh, Jadis. I love Jadis as a villain. I liked her plenty as the White Witch in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, but her role in this book is even better. Her shenanigans in the streets of London is something I've never forgotten since I first read of it in seventh grade. In fact, it was one of the only things I remembered, and I was surprised to find there was still half a book to go after that part since I considered that the climactic scene. The rest came back to me as I listened to it, but all the parts with her in it were my faves. This book is worth reading just for those moments alone. 
 Like the other Narnia books, this is a child's tale. None of the good guys die though they have ample opportunity to. Sometimes they don't even get hurt when they should have at least been severely maimed. The best example of this is when (view spoiler)[Jadis picks up Digory's aunt and throws her across one room and into another. Even the narrator says she should have at least broken several bones if not been killed, but luckily she landed on a mattress that she just happened to be mending when the witch showed up. It's not exactly an Aslan ex machina, but I like that phrase, and this is as close a place as any as I'm going to be able to use it. It's better than "convenient coincidence" which is really what it is (hide spoiler)]. 
 The story of creation follows, and I really enjoyed that as well. Aslan is very Goddy in this, and I suppose he should be since he is God in a different form. I remember sensing a lot of "God the father" stuff in this one, and I liked it. He's like that in all of them, but it's amped up a notch here. He's still a jerk. (view spoiler)[I know damn well he could just huff and puff and blow Jadis out of Narnia if he wanted to, but instead he'd rather get on Digory's case about it for bringing her there on the very day he made the world. He's such a whiny butt (hide spoiler)]. 
 You know, these books might be getting to me. As much as I love God I'm certain I'm rather irreverent. I feel like we're cool like that. He certainly has a sense of humor (some of the irony in my life is astounding), and I think He appreciates mine, but I might be wrong. I'm sure if we were face to face I'd have to avert my eyes the way people in these books do when being admonished. This is assuming he didn't strike me down to hell on the spot. Anyway, in spite of my heresy, I feel like this is the way to roll for now. He'll tell me if and when it's time to change. 
 The audiobook was narrated by Gilderoy Lockhart his own self, Mr. Kenneth Branagh. Such a renowned Shakespearean thespian would probably hate that I know him for his Harry Potter role over any others, but I can't help that. Anyway, he did an excellent job with this production. Check it out.