Once Upon a Wardrobe : a Story of Narnia and a Sister's Love

GIVEAWAY

CALLAHAN, PATTI

ONCE UPON A WARDROBE : A STORY OF NARNIA AND A SISTER'S LOVE

From Patti Callahan, the bestselling author of Becoming Mrs. Lewis, comes another enchanting story that pulls back the curtain on the early life of C. S. Lewis.

"Where did Narnia come from?"

The answer will change everything.

Megs Devonshire is brilliant with numbers and equations, on a scholarship at Oxford, and dreams of solving the greatest mysteries of physics.

She prefers the dependability of facts -- except for one: the younger brother she loves with all her heart doesn't have long to live. When George becomes captivated by a copy of a brand-new book called The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and begs her to find out where Narnia came from, there's no way she can refuse.

Despite her timidity about approaching the famous author, Megs soon finds herself taking tea with the Oxford don and his own brother, imploring them for answers. What she receives instead are more stories...stories of Jack Lewis's life, which she takes home to George.

Why won't Mr. Lewis just tell her plainly what George wants to know? The answer will reveal to Meg many truths that science and math cannot, and the gift she thought she was giving to her brother -- the story behind Narnia -- turns out to be his gift to her to her, instead.

My Review:

Exquisite storytelling. Exacting word choice. Callahan evokes a magical ambiance as she blends fact and fiction in a stunning novel of love, sacrifice and hope.

I've been thinking about saying you need to be a C.S. Lewis fan in order to get the most out of this book, but I'm not sure that's exactly right because if you're not a fan, you will be after reading Once Upon a Wardrobe and I predict a visit to Narnia in your future.

I love the way the author shares highlights from the life of C. S. Lewis through the stories he tells Meg. She then takes them to her homebound brother and, in the process, it transforms their lives. 

Five tissue box alert -- there are some intensely sad moments in this novel, though they don't overshadow the richness and scope of the overall message of hope. They actually enhanced it for me. But it's definitely the kind of book you feel a bit battered and bruised by the end -- at least I did.

I listened to the audible edition of Once Upon a Wardrobe and was completely charmed by Fiona Hardingham's narration. 

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback or ebook copy -- winner's choice.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Once Upon a Wardrobe, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add your email to a comment, remember to use AT AND DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday November 13 2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck