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The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
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Classics Challenge 4: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
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Barbara
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rated it 5 stars
Dec 28, 2014 06:26AM
I am not sure I will get to all 5, but I definitely want to read this one. I can count it as one of my Northern Ireland reads as CS Lewis was from Belfast!
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But its fantasy ;-) Or does it not count if they are Northern Irish
I think I'll hit this one second and possibly go for Forster to start if Trelawn lets me. It'll be a re read but since my last read waa in my late teens it'll be new enough to me. ☺
This one has been on my list since it came out so I'm glad it's the January choice. Can't wait to start reading!
Just finished this and the re read was as good as I remembered as a kid. It is just that though, a child's book so anyone looking for more will be disappointed. I found it interesting to read that Lewis was friends with Tolkien. Both enjoyed magic and myths. A fabulous read, definitely a good Christmas book.
Did either of ye ever pick up on the biblical nature of the story? Aslan representing Jesus and all. I don't think I ever got that feeling when I read it.
Will do. Yes mother :) The complete Chronicles are in the post. :D
I've read the debates on it Kevin but to be honest by itself I can't say I would have compared aslan to Jesus, people clutching at straws comes to mind.
CS Lewis had a christian slant to quite a few of his works.On the Tolkien link , it goes further than that to a whole grouo of writers calling themselves the Inklings. There are quite a few interesting biographies of the group out there. They met regularly in The Eagle and Child pub in Oxford and would have influenced each others work quite a bit. All the members were strong Christians and most were Oxford lecturers . Very interesting read ☺
Have you read any about the group Paul? Sounds like an interesting group of people.
Oxford was churning them out at that point. Dorothy L. Sayers was roughly a contemporary but not one of the inklings. As well as her crime stories she translated Dante's Inferno and wrote religious plays while finding time to come up with the famous Guinness slogan "It's Good for You". All this while being one of the first women to receive a degree from Oxford.
I read The Inklings by Humphrey Carpenter , Trelawn was nice enough to buy it for me. The issue with this book is it takes for granted a massive knowledge of the reader on Tolkien and Lewis because he wrote biographies on them and you should have read them before this . Seemed a tad cheeky on his behalf but it lays out some interesting bits. It is accepted by most that some parts of each of Toliens and Lewis ' books came from the other , plus the obvious proof reading and editing .
Sayers is in another very interesting character . Trelawn knows quite a bit of her story
And i just realised she got in there before me ☺
The fact the called themselves the inklings alone makes me want to read about them.
Theres quite a few biographies out there Seraphina . Definitely worth a look☺
There's the Oxford intellectuals and then there was the likes of Roald Dahl and Ian Fleming and the spy ring. Very interesting.
Literature really took a turn for the better when WW1 ended. Many lessons were learned.
Ooh interesting may do a reread of the chronicles, I do hope the biograph film coming out about C.S.Lewis and one on tolkin I think wont leave out there religious side. I've read bits and peaces on the inklings online its all fascinating and hope to read more on it, plus vist the pub didn't get a chance in 2013.
Paul wrote: "But its fantasy ;-) Or does it not count if they are Northern Irish"I enjoy fantasy books written for children more than those written for adults. I also like the Oxford connection and would eventually like to know more about the whole Tolkien, CS Lewis and rest of the crowd thing. I know there's a name for that group but can't remember it.
I like all the snow in TLTWATW.
Edited to add: Duh, the name of the group is the Inklings which several of you said above....
There is a lot of snow in the book but thats supposed to be a bad thing Barbara ☺ Is there a film coming out Kevin. That would be very interesting
Sorry meant the film question for Gavin.
Just a side note is it easier to accept stretches of the imagination when its a childrens book . I've had people tell me they hate fantasy then in the next sentence say they love Harry Potter ir similar . Pointing out the massive contradiction results in the same answer , it doesnt count because its a childrens book, or its different because its a childrens book. Do many here find a childrens fantasy like this book TLTWATW easier to take than adult fantasy and is there a reason .
I just think that adult fantasy is generally these long series of books that may put people off getting into them. I read all of Terry brooks, shannara series and really enjoyed it but now I feel like I'd prefer to spend my time reading various authors because there are so many great authors.I really enjoyed gaiman but I wouldn't sit down and read all of his books. I may dip in and out now and again though.
The long series tend to be epic fantasy which is one small sub genre . Theres plenty of fantasy that doesnt fall into that formar at all. I do think that is what puts a lot of people off though . They see LOTR or Game of Thrones and think all fantasy are these massively long books that are a commitment to read.
I don't think I've destroyed the idea just dented it ☺It is great to get a mix across the genres and the Classic reads have certainly covered a great range this book included ☺
I started this today and I'm enjoying it. Definitely a kids book but the story is great . It is funny how prim and proper the kids are . Peter is so terribly polite when they head through the wardrobe. I can't imagine our lot would be quite so restrained. ☺
I got the complete chronicles the other day and I'm planning on reading them all in order. At least then I will hopefully have a full view of the world and the series.
Kevin wrote: "I got the complete chronicles the other day and I'm planning on reading them all in order. At least then I will hopefully have a full view of the world and the series."which order ? :P Original publication order or Harper Collins order (chronological) ;)
Chronologically, starting with The Magician's Nephew :)
Although it isn't the same book, I read The Magician's Nephew between last night and this morning and I was pleasantly surprised by it. I enjoyed the context and explanations it gives the chronicles as a whole and sets the story up perfectly, yet I think it was wise for it to placed sixth in the series rather than first. I love how it is told in an almost passive tone in that the story is just being placed in front of you and requires absolutely no extra thinking or stress from the reader. Regarding the links to Christianity, it is fairly obvious that it is the creation story but it isn't so obvious or blatant as Narnia being built in in seven days
All finished and I really enjoyed the re-read. Simple enough but a great story. I much prefered Lucy and Edward to the older siblings. Peter and Susan are a bit cardboard cut out while good or bad the younger kids have more personality at this stage .While its a long while since I read the set I don't think I ever took to Susan at all.
Your mistrust of Susan is well founded :)
On a funny note Neil Gaiman writes a short story called The Problem with Susan. Not sure if its in Smoke and Mirrors or Fragile Things
Thats the one I think. Just peaked at the start. She is hard done by in the end of it all.
When I first read them I read them in chronological order. I didn't realise they were written in another order. The copy I have is a Harper Collins with all of them in it. I really enjoyed reading all of them in order. The first one (the Magicians Nephew) I thought gave context to the whole series.
What were your thoughts on the Christian theme that runs through the series, Marcia?
I liked it. For me it reflects how I see myself as a Christian. Aslan represents a forgiving and loving God. The Children are like his disciples I suppose in a way because they sort of represent him when he isn't there and try to instill faith in the people so they can keep going and eventually win against the queen. There is even a Judas among them who is eventually forgiven. I think his faith is all the more stronger for having been through the experience of been forgiven for his sins. I probably shouldn't say much more or I might start giving spoilers. The last book is my favorite because it represents what i think will happen in the end times. I have a favorite part in that book but I can't say it as it's a spoiler. This particular part really resonates with me.
Thats quite interesting to get a Christian perspective . I'd read it from a non Christian stand point but aware of the meanings . Interesting to see how important the themes can be for a believer, especially the last book which I don't like as much as some of the others .
I read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe as a child as loved it.It was one of my favorite childhood novels .I never notice a Christian agenda when I read it the first time but now as an adult I do see it but as far as the The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe goes I don't think it was that strong.I started this time with The Magician's Nephew and it is much stronger but so far I enjoying reading all of the books of The Chronicles of Narnia
I finished The Chronicles of Narnia a few days ago. Overall I liked it a lot.My favorite is still The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and my least favorite is Prince Caspianntd or me .It dragged for me ,I think I thought the movie was much better.I hardly ever say that.I have a question about the last book ...was it the end of both worlds or just Narnia? Everyone was the there except Susan, was that because she wasn't with them when the train accident happened and she is still alive? The one I think it is that both worlds ended but then that would mean she was with Tash which I think is awfully harsh ,just because she stopped believing in Narnia .
The Horse and His Boy is my second least favorite novel for the same reason . I think its the end of both worlds because when someone asked where Susan was Peter answered she is no longer a friend of Narnia.He didn't care where she was .Did she simply ceased to exist or is she with Tash ?
Yes Emma that would make sense.Maybe the Dwarfs are in Purgatory. They can't see heaven
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Books mentioned in this topic
The Chronicles of Narnia (other topics)The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (other topics)
Prince Caspian (other topics)
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (other topics)
The Magician’s Nephew (other topics)
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