The Inklings discussion
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Bob
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Dec 18, 2007 12:51PM
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Hi Bob,Thanks for the welcome, am glad to be a part of the Inklings as I came to know about its existence only yesterday! I was reading about JRR and read about his association with "The Inklings".
So am proud to be a part of "The Inklings" on cyberspace!
Regards
Eddie
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How could I resist? I'm a gushing fan of both Lewis and Tolkien, and I just picked up Eddison's "The Worm Ouroboros" at the bookstore yesterday. Perhaps this can be a sort of realization of my dreamy little dream of being a member of the Inklings...Hello!
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The funny thing about it is that I read about it long ago, in a gaming article where someone was saying it would make a great setting for an RPG, due to its detail and scale. So far it looks as though it's a fantasy epic drawing upon various mythologies, much like Narnia and Middle-Earth (which came a decade or so later). I'll let you all know what I think as soon as I get through it.
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Starting a new topic now...
Hi everybody, I'm Karen V. I was thrilled to find this group on goodreads. I have grown in my Christian faith through reading much of Lewis. My husband introduced me to the writing of the other Inklings. (Thank you honey!)My husband and I have read so much Narnia and Lord of the Rings stories to our three kids...we are hoping to raise "Inklings" :) I hope to get my hubby to join goodreads and this group this summer.
Hi A.L.Welcome to the group. Can't wait to hear about What Inklings you read.
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Hello all, I have just started discovering the wonders of GoodReads, and am looking forward to connecting with fellow readers like yourselves. I know of at least one good book on the Inklings, which certainly covers their meetings, though it is not the sole focus of the book. That would be Humphrey Carpenter's The Inklings: C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, Charles Williams and Their Friends, sadly out of print now in the U.S. (though not in the U.K., I should note), which I read many years ago now, and am long overdue to re-read. Colin Duriez has also put together The Inklings Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide to the Lives, Thought and Writings of C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, Charles Williams, Owen Barfield and Their Friends which is sort of an encyclopedic reference book to the writers' lives as well as their works. I believe there are also some more recently published books on the group, but I have fallen a bit out of touch with new releases, so I do not have those off the top of my head.
Hi Bob, I noticed you have read Charles Williams. Did you like the book? I am reading All Hallows' Eve. I really like it so far.
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Kham,That Humphrey Carpenter book sounds familiar?
Surprised by Joy is a good start into the Life of Lewis. His childhood stories are very moving. I also read a book on Tolkien that I enjoyed. He told his love story between he and Edith beautifully. The name slips my mind, but feel free to browse my bookshelves, "Tolkien" shelf for the title.
I think the friendships of the Inklings were so beautiful. They loved books, but they loved each other more. There is a lack of that depth of friendship today.
Hi! I'm Denise, and I am a huge fan of The Lord of the Rings, Narnia, and Harry Potter. I've even written a book comparing Harry Potter to The Lord of the Rings and Narnia which has been reviewed here on Goodreads. It is called The Lord of the Hallows if you are interested, and it's available at www.outskirtspress.com/thelordoftheha...I'm going to MythCon 41 in Dallas this summer. This is the convention of the Mythopoeic Society, a group dedicated to the study of the works of Tolkien, Lewis, and Charles Williams. Is anyone else here going to that event?
Tolkien and Lewis fans, please add me as a friend. I am new to this site and am trying to meet more people who share my interests.
Hello! My name is Kristen, and I'm such a nerd that on my only two trips to London, I made it a point each time to visit the Bird and Baby where these guys used to meet. Their fish and chips are delightful.
Kristen wrote: "Hello! My name is Kristen, and I'm such a nerd that on my only two trips to London, I made it a point each time to visit the Bird and Baby where these guys used to meet. Their fish and chips are ..."You probably went to the wrong place.
The "Eagle and child" where the Inklings met isn't in London, it's in Oxford.
Oops! It was the right place; I meant Oxford. We made some day trips to there *from* London, which was our base for those weeks, haha.
The "Bird and Baby" was the nickname that the Inklings gave to the "Eagle and Child" pub.
Kristen wrote: "Oops! It was the right place; I meant Oxford. We made some day trips to there *from* London, which was our base for those weeks, haha."I'm right now reading a novel set in Oxford, which mentions "The Bird and Baby" -- The jewel that was ours by Colin Dexter. It's a whodunit, featuring the late Inspector Morse (when he was still alive, of course).
And in Edmund Crispin's little mystery novel "Swan Song," the characters not only gather at "The Bird and Baby," they see C.S. Lewis there:"'There goes C.S. Lewis,' said Fen, suddenly. 'It must be Tuesday.'"
Hello,
I am looking forward to hearing what others have to share about some of my favorite authors, namely C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. As well as learning about other authors I have not yet read. I have read and reread the Narnia Books since I was a child and continue to read them. Also, The Space Trilogy.
I am looking forward to hearing what others have to share about some of my favorite authors, namely C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. As well as learning about other authors I have not yet read. I have read and reread the Narnia Books since I was a child and continue to read them. Also, The Space Trilogy.
I was in Petoskey, Mich., last week, and I learned that there's a C.S. Lewis Festival there in the fall. Turns out the festival takes place every fall, and this year the theme is: Lewis & Tolkien. I'm thinking of going. It's a lovely little city, with at least two independent booksellers in the downtown. Here's the Web address: http://www.cslewisfestival.org/
John wrote: "I was in Petoskey, Mich., last week, and I learned that there's a C.S. Lewis Festival there in the fall. Turns out the festival takes place every fall, and this year the theme is: Lewis & Tolkien. ..."I wish I could go to that. Their events calendar lists several things going on through October and November. My wife tells me the town is quite lovely in the autumn...
Hi my name is Elizabeth. I live on a farm in IL, with my three siblings, two goats, a dog, and four cats and five mice not to count the numerous chickens and geese. I am homeschooled by my loving parents and two of my greatest interests are medical herbs and the medieval ages. I also enjoys reading, drawing, sewing, spinning, farm animals and playing the piano. I love my savior, Jesus Christ!!! Books by J.R.R. Tolkien I've read:
The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, The Return of the King, Tales from the Perilous Realm which includes Roverandom, Farmer Giles of Ham, Smith of Wootton Major, The Adventures of Tom Bombadil and Other Verses from the Red Book, On Fairy-Stories and Leaf by Niggle. And I've readThe Children of Húrin and The Legend of Sigurd & Gudrún. I am currently reading The Return of the Shadow: The History of The Lord of the Rings, Part One, The Silmarillion, The War of the Jewels: The Later Silmarillion, Part Two, and The Book of Lost Tales, Part One.
Books by C.S.Lewis I've read:
The Chronicles of Narnia The Chronicles of Narnia and Till We Have Faces: A Myth Retold. Really hoping to read a lot more of C.S.Lewis's stuff this soon.
You are awesome Elizabeth! Since you are from Illinois, I should say that I went to Wheaton College, and I would highly recommend that to you when you get older. They have something called the Wade Center there (maybe your parents could take you for a field trip) which has Lewis' wardrobe and Tolkien's desk, not to mention a bunch of their original manuscripts. Thanks for joining the group.~It Just Takes One~ (Elizabeth) wrote: "Hi my name is Elizabeth. I live on a farm in IL, with my three siblings, two goats, a dog, and four cats and five mice not to count the numerous chickens and geese. I am homeschooled by my loving p..."
Evan wrote: "You are awesome Elizabeth! Since you are from Illinois, I should say that I went to Wheaton College, and I would highly recommend that to you when you get older. They have something called the Wa..."Thanks Evan. Yeah I've been up there already. I got a picture by Lewis's wardrobe.
Elizabeth, regarding additional Lewis books, you might like "The Great Divorce" (It's not about divorce the way we think of it), "The Screwtape Letters" and the "Perelandra" science fiction trilogy.You're way ahead of me on Tolkien books.
Ok, thanks. :D I've heard that the Screwtape Letters is really good, so I'll have to check it out. Thanks for the other recommendations.
Hello, EveryoneMy name is Trix Dahl and I have been reading Lewis and about the Inklings for many years. I am from Salt Lake City, Utah, but right now my husband and I are in Guangzhou, China teaching English at the South China University of Technology. Since I am sometimes homesick and my friends and family don't email me quite as often as I would like, I thought I might join a congenial online reading group.
Unlike most Lewis devotees, I am not much of a fantasy fan. I actually like to read Lewis's literary criticism and I don't know many other people who do. I have studied medieval and renaissance literature for many years and I find his guides to these periods very helpful and fascinating, although most literary scholars consider them out-of-date.
Last year I gave a lecture on Lewis's writing technique. I did it as a requirement for an MFA in Writing I was finishing. I located some useful models on how to set a scene from Lewis's letters, even his very early ones. So when I saw that you are reading a volume of his letters right now, I thought I would join, at least for a while and read along with you.
I can't buy a very wide selection of English books here in China, but I have Yours, Jack on my Kindle so I am all set. I will be back in the US for Christmas and can perhaps acquire more books then. I am also interested in exploring books by Charles Williams and Owen Barfield. I have read some Tolkien, but am not well-read in his works because of my disinclination toward fantasy. However, I may start liking it at any moment. You never know. Thanks for letting me hang around with you for a while.
If you have an interest in language and literature, definitely look for Barfield's Poetic Diction. Tolkien also has good essays on medieval literature, including his seminal essay on Beowulf ("Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics") and on "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight," which he also edited (with E.V. Gordon) and translated. The Monsters and the Critics and Other Essays would be the book to look for.
Margaret wrote: "If you have an interest in language and literature, definitely look for Barfield's Poetic Diction. Tolkien also has good essays on medieval literature, including his seminal essay on Beowulf ("Beo..."Thank-you for the recommendations. I am already familiar with The Monsters and the Critics and Other Essays, but I need to read it again. However I had forgotten the title of Barfield's Poetic Diction, so I am grateful to have it again.
Welcome to the group, Trix and Grzesiek!
I just finished Looking for the King and quite liked it. I only wish it had been longer and more developed. The writer did a good job of recreating some of the Inklings, but it went by too fast.
"Hi my name is Elizabeth. I live on a farm in IL, with my three siblings, two goats, a dog, and four cats and five mice not to count the numerous chickens and geese. I am homeschooled by my loving parents and two of my greatest interests are medical herbs and the medieval ages. I also enjoys reading, drawing, sewing, spinning, farm animals and playing the piano. I love my savior, Jesus Christ!!!"You are Awesome Elizabeth :) I homeschooled my kids and they love Lewis too. Our family also loves our Savior Jesus Christ.
Cool, you should join my group CGC: Christian Girl's Chat doesn't matter how old you are. :)We talk about a lot of fun things there.
Hi, friends. I've been a huge Inklings fan every since childhood. I've been a member of the Mythopoeic Society off and on since college ("on" right now, I'm proud to say), and have made pilgrimages to all the usual places (Bird and Baby, the Kilns, Williams' grave). When do I get my membership card and decoder ring?I first got hooked on Lewis as a child, through Narnia, naturally, but I quickly started reading his theology—in grade school! Nuts. It was really he that put me on the path to becoming a theologian. I now teach theology (in just a few minutes, actually, a class on spiritual leadership), and have published numerous books in the field.
I first read Tolkien in junior high, and got hooked on high fantasy. I actually wept at the Bakshi film premiere (cut me some slack, I was still a kid).
But it was Williams who really changed my life. When I read ALL HALLOW’S EVE, it tore me inside out, spiritually. I saw in his writing a mystical reality that I desperately wanted to be true, and intuitively knew WAS true. As I say in my review for ALL HALLOW’S EVE, it was the shout that started the avalanche that bought me here. It was he who led me into Anglicanism (although I later progressed to Old Catholicism), and eventually to the priesthood. And it is he, more than anyone else, who has shaped my theology.
I just published my first novel, THE KINGDOM, which is dedicated to Williams. It is modeled on his novels, in that I was trying to write about real, deeply flawed people in various stages of relationship with the Divine, reacting to and responding to an inbreaking of the spiritual world into ours. (My main characters happen to be demon-slayers a-la Buffy, but still.) Anyway, it is my hope that fans of Williams will like it. You can read it for free at www.apocryphile.org/kingdom (or link to it from the goodreads page on the book). I warn you it’s a fair sight edgier than Williams, but perhaps in his social context not so much.
Nice to find a warren of Inkliphiles here on goodreads. I look forward to your insights on our kind-of-holy trinity, Lewis, Tolkien, and Williams (and their friends).
Hi. Mine name is Saira. I love reading books by C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkein, but I've only read two in full (surprisingly not The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe!) They are The Horse and His Boy and The Hobbit. I tried to read The Discarded Image by Lewis for a literature audio course, but I couldn't finish it at the time.I thought of a good book challenge: Read as many books as you can that are written by the Inklings of Oxford in one year. Now that's a challenge, eh? :D I plan to try it after I finish my library books.
Hi! My name is Kersten Hamilton. I love the work of the Inklings, and have been hugely influenced by George MacDonald-- who influenced the Inklings.I love it that there is a Goodreads group for those who enjoy the Inklings. I look forward to meeting you all. :)
Hello, So cool to be part of the Inklings!
I love anything by C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkein, and I am planning on reading works by the other Inklings in the near future.
Kersten wrote: "Hi! My name is Kersten Hamilton. I love the work of the Inklings, and have been hugely influenced by George MacDonald-- who influenced the Inklings.I love it that there is a Goodreads group for t..."
Welcome! I think the first MacDonald I read was The Princess and Curdie, when I was 12 or 13. Subsequently I devoured all his children's literature--I had never before read such beautiful fairy tales so fraught with truth. Afterwards I discovered his novels--There and Back, Saint George and Saint Michael, Alec Forbes, etc--and found them as much more nourishing as they were less fantastic. Initially the Scottish dialect put me off, as did the long discussions; but as I grew older and more perseverant, I found that much more delight in them. Although I disagree with him on a few small points, George MacDonald has helped me form convictions more than any other author I can think of. If ever I write a book, I want to be moved not by money or fame, but by such a vision of Truth as MacDonald was.
Just a devotee rave. ;)
So how did you find him?
I first read The Princess and Curdie, (and then At the Back of the North Wind--still a favorite) when I was 9 or 10. I like to follow literary 'roots' back through my favorite authors. I was probably tracking him through C.S. Lewis, but I don't really remember. I know that's why I started reading Chesterton, I'm sure. I totally agree you about MacDonald's vision of Truth. I really don't mind disagreeing with him about a few small points. I think that if all of us were to lay our faith on the table there is no one we would totally agree with. And none of us would have it exactly right. That's why we need love in the body. :) I admire many of the Inklings -- Lewis, Tolkien, Williams, etc. though they each had their peculiarities and often disagreed about matters of faith. They were also roasted by the secular scholars of their day. But they still had the courage to publish. Maybe you *should* write books Nathan!
Hmmm. This group seems kind of sleepy, but that's OK. I'm a huge fan of Charles Williams. He's my muse for my current writing project. Anyway, I guess I'll come back here from time to time to see what's going on. Hello!
John wrote: "Hi, friends. I've been a huge Inklings fan every since childhood. I've been a member of the Mythopoeic Society off and on since college ("on" right now, I'm proud to say), and have made pilgrimages..."I just started reading Charles Williams, Place of the Lion. I love his books! I am always willing to read a Williams book with a group member and discuss it here.
Christopher wrote: "Hmmm. This group seems kind of sleepy, but that's OK. I'm a huge fan of Charles Williams. He's my muse for my current writing project. Anyway, I guess I'll come back here from time to time to see w..."Christopher, Have you learned some interesting things about Williams and his writing through your research? I am becoming a great fan of his books.
To any Anglican group members: you could probably find Lewis and Williams fans at this group on goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/4...
Karen L. wrote: "John wrote: "Hi, friends. I've been a huge Inklings fan every since childhood. I've been a member of the Mythopoeic Society off and on since college ("on" right now, I'm proud to say), and have mad..."Hello Karen, I haven't read much Charles Williams. Any suggestions on where to start?
Peter
Hi, Peter! I am not Karen, but I would suggest starting with The Place of the Lion—it seems to have influenced Lewis quite a bit. Williams was one of the odder ducks amongst the Inklings. His personal life -- the aspects Lewis probably knew nothing about, such as his use of sexual magic and his treatment of young women— make me very uncomfortable. I personally think he was a cult waiting to happen (or perhaps in the middle of happening) when he died. Which does not mean that all of his ideas were wrong. I just tread carefully with Williams. :) Kersten
Kersten wrote: "Hi, Peter! I am not Karen, but I would suggest starting with The Place of the Lion—it seems to have influenced Lewis quite a bit. Williams was one of the odder ducks amongst the Inklings. His pers..."Thanks Kersten for the update and book suggestion. I'll look for the The Place of the Lion. I also appreciate your admonition of "just read carefully with Williams."
Peter
The Inklings
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Nana (other topics)La casa de los espíritus (other topics)
The Place of the Lion (other topics)
Roverandom (other topics)
The Legend of Sigurd & Gudrún (other topics)
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