I'm glad I finally read this story! It was one I never picked up as a kid, but have now had the chance to read to my daughter. We read The Magician's Nephew first and my daughter was so excited for the continuation of the Narnia story. I found Lewis' input of the author's viewpoint/suggestions/pointing out pieces of the story's puzzle to be off putting and made the writing choppy at those times, but the story itself is magical.