Book Review: Inside The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

I've previously blogged about Devin Brown's first two inside guides to Narnia and Prince Caspian, and once again, he's on top form as he dissects CS Lewis' third Chronicle of Narnia, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. As with the earlier books, Brown follows the chapters of the book through, pointing out interesting links to other CS Lewis writings, possible sources and inspirations, as well as drawing out the meaning of the text and applying it to the heart of the listener.

The Chronicles of Narnia are, of course, primarily childrens' stories, but many adults enjoy the stories, or can remember them from childhood. On reading this series of books, you'll be reminded of the stories, and find much more to enjoy the next time you return to the originals! It is obvious that, because the Chronicles are 'rich with meaning', Brown has worked hard to discover and explain the layers of meaning in an accessible and memorable format.

Consider some of these great lines:

'Like the White Witch and Miraz before him, Eustace is unable to see any flaws in himself.' (p. 28)

'A tyrant's only version of happiness... requires that he or she take happiness away from others.' (p. 53)

'Like all who share his spiritual blindness, the first lesson Eustace has to learn is that he has lessons to learn.' (p. 55)

'We are reminded that Edmund does know about the pain of sin and, even more, about the pleasure of repentance.' (p. 110)

These are just a sampling of some of the great ways we're led through the voyage, finding the lords, encountering dragons, stars, and coming to the end of the world and glimpsing Aslan's country. If you haven't picked up the Narnia stories in years, read them, and then Brown's commentaries; if you already love Narnia and Aslan, you'll love them more as a result of this book.

Old McDonald to the Rescue!

Over the past week or so, we've been spending quite a lot of time with family due to a health issue. It means that I've been seeing my niece who lives in Scotland, who we don't get to see terribly often. However, there was a problem. The past couple of times that we've seen each other, whether in Northern Ireland or in Scotland, Elizabeth has burst into tears as soon as she's clapped eyes on me.

This happened whether she was with her mum, or with a whole load of people. If I got too close, or she crawled too close to me, then tears were inevitable! So imagine my panic when I was left with Elizabeth while her mum popped into the kitchen. Just the baby and me. Tears were ripe. What to do?

At just the right moment, Old McDonald came to the rescue. Yes, that Old McDonald, the one who has a farm and all the noisy animals! Back when I was a baby, iPhones and YouTube had never been invented, but now they are my guarantee for a tear-free time with my baby niece. Old McDonald had a farm; Twinkle Twinkle Little Star; The Elmo Song; Five Little Ducks Went Swimming One Day; and many other kiddies favourites, all playing on my phone leads to smiles and dancing and happy times!

So you can join in with one of your old favourite childhood songs, I give you Old McDonald:

Book Review: The Hobbit

Let's start at the very beginning, a very good place to start - those lines of advice from The Sound of Music should have been heeded when I launched into reading Tolkien. I can well remember my introduction to Tolkien, finding a one-volume bargain edition of The Lord of the Rings in an outlet village near Chester in England, back in January 2004. I bought it, and though it took me ages, I persevered to read it through. Much later, I realised that The Hobbit was the prior story, the prequel if you will, and so I found a copy in either a secondhand bookshop or a charity shop, but never got round to reading it.

Since then, I've seen the films, and have always meant to get round to reading The Hobbit, or There And Back Again, but never managed it. Until, that is, my recent holiday, when I plunged into the book, and read it over several days! Another reason for reading it is because the scripts have been almost completed for the filming of The Hobbit movie(s - there are going to be two films), the first of which will be out in 2011.

Maria was right - starting at the beginning would be the best place to start. Having read The Hobbit, some of the puzzles and confusing things in the first couple of chapters of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring are explained and assumed! We're told in The Hobbit how Bilbo Baggins (the main character of the story) comes upon the powerful magic ring, and we're introduced to Gandalf the wizard, as well as the characters of dwarves, elves and men, not forgetting Smeagol / Gollum.

As with TLOTR, The Hobbit is the chronicle of an epic journey, to regain the dwarf treasure of Thron, guarded in the Lonely Mountain by Smaug, the dragon. Bilbo Baggins is accompanied by thirteen dwarves (a few more than Snow White had), and they meet many dangers and adventures along the way.

The timing of my reading was fortunate, and provided me with a quote about Gandalf which fitted well into last week's evangelistic talk - about how Gandalf thought of most things, and while he couldn't do everything, he would do a great deal for a friend in a tight corner. Is this how we view God too?

Another interesting point that is repeatedly developed is the value of a creature is not the same as the impression they make. The dwarves continually look down on poor Bilbo Baggins, probably due to his inferior size, yet it's he who gets them out of sticky situations and becomes the most valuable member of their travelling party.

The main moral of the story comes in an extended unveiling of continuous greed, with various parties vying for what they desire, so that they end up being consumed by consumption, consumed for want of being consumers.

If there was a minor criticism, it would be that it's perhaps too short. Sometimes, in a bid to move the story on Tolkien covers long periods of time with short summary statements, and it's on to the next adventure. If only it was slightly longer and we had even more to enjoy of Bilbo and the others.

Hogwarts Rules Out Move To NI

Plans to move Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to Northern Ireland have foundered after it emerged that the Education Minister, Catriona Ruane would be banning an ancient school tradition under current education policy. Harry Potter's old school had been interested in crossing the Irish Sea to the province where traditions are so highly valued.

On arrival at Hogwarts, first year pupils are sorted into four houses, named after the founders of the school: Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. The sorting, or selection, is performed by the Sorting Hat, who has performed the ceremony since the school's inception. Yet in a controversial move, Ruane has revealed she will ban the Sorting Hat on the grounds that it is unfair to select children at such a young age, and particularly on academic ability.

It is understood that Ravenclaw is the particular target of the ban on academic selection, as its House values include intelligence, creativity, learning and wit. Consider these lines from the various Sorting Hat songs in recent years:

Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
if you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;

For Ravenclaw, the cleverest
would always be the best;

Said Ravenclaw, "We'll teach those whose
Intelligence is surest" ...
And only those of sharpest mind
Were taught by Ravenclaw

This decree is a big blast to the proposed relocation of Hogwarts to Northern Ireland, and the previous plans will now disappear in a puff of smoke.

No one from either Hogwarts or the Minister's office was available for comment on this report.

It's Your Move!

I'm not thinking about board games, but rather the excellent new schools resource produced by Scripture Union. The move from Primary School to secondary schools, whether they be High Schools or Grammar Schools, can be a stressful and worrying time for P7 pupils. Scripture Union's material can help the children get ready for what's coming next, as well as helping them to get to know the Lord Jesus for the rest of their life.

The material is designed for SU leaders or members of the local churches to deliver over three sessions of 45 minutes each. This morning was our last session, having visited Dundonald Primary School over the last three weeks, as part of a team from Dundonald Presbyterian and St Elizabeth's. The sessions are interactive and fun, with lots of games which are linked in to the main themes of each class- Creation, Choices and Changes. In brief, because God has made the world, and humans in his image, we are each special. God gives us choices, the most important of which is whether we will follow Jesus. And while changes happen in our life, we can be sure that God goes not change, and that he is with us always.

Sometimes the material needs to be tweaked slightly, to suit the particular situations in classes due to time pressures or the bible inputs, but as a resource, It's Your Move is highly recommended. As well as the leader's book, each pupil receives their own activity book to read and keep, reminding them of the teaching and providing practical tips for their new school experience.

Sunday School Musical

Yes, you read that right! The other day I was in Tesco, and noticed this on DVD. Buying into the huge High School Musical trend, Faith Films have produced a direct-to-DVD film called Sunday School Musical. Currently at the bargain price of £4 in Knocknagoney, perhaps because it hasn't been selling, since being released last October.

It's probably a good thing that Christians are getting in on the act, but surely many useful conversations could be had with kids who are into the HSM stuff rather than having a poor imitation coming from Christian media? Plus, I noticed that Sunday School Musical has a 15 certificate in the UK - which would surely limit or remove the very target audience they are seeking to reach - especially if Christian parents are more wary of certificate ratings and not exposing kids to unsuitable material?

I've found the trailer on Youtube if you want to have a look: