Narnia

[Jilliboo]

I started to read them when I was in nineth grade, when I had a recommendation from one of my teachers. I absolutely fell in love with them. I read all of the Narnia books except for two. I haven't devoted any time for them. C.S. Lewis is a fine author that earned my respect. He knows how to make a reader, of any age, feel mesmerized by using nostalgic themes of childhood.

Some interesting facts about C.S. Lewis is that:

* He was a close friend to the author of Lord Of The Rings.

* His books have been translated into 30 different languages.

* "The Chronicles of Narnia" have sold over 100 million copies.

 

[j d worthington]

Just a quick welcome to the Chronicles Jilliboo... Hope you enjoy your stay!

 

[Jilliboo]

Just a quick welcome to the Chronicles Jilliboo... Hope you enjoy your stay!

That's very generous of you to welcome me like that. I'm really enjoying this forum already.

I'm going to buy the two Narnia books, that I neglected to read, today.

 

[carrie221]

That's very generous of you to welcome me like that. I'm really enjoying this forum already.

I'm going to buy the two Narnia books, that I neglected to read, today.

Which two books have you not read yet?

 

[SpaceShip]

I actually didn't get into Narnia until my granddaughter was born (and was obviously old enough to understand them)! But have enjoyed the BBC's DVD of almost all of the stories - the last one they did was, I believe, the Silver Chair and, as I have all the books now, reading them to her. Late in coming to them myself but now (entering second childhood probably) enjoying them hugely.

 

[Sathai]

I liked the Chronicles of Narnia. I enjoyed the movie too.

 

[Rosemary]

I actually didn't get into Narnia until my granddaughter was born (and was obviously old enough to understand them)! But have enjoyed the BBC's DVD of almost all of the stories - the last one they did was, I believe, the Silver Chair and, as I have all the books now, reading them to her. Late in coming to them myself but now (entering second childhood probably) enjoying them hugely.

Isn't it lovely having Granddaughters, especially those who love fantasy books as well. I've read Narnia a number of times and will probably borrow the set from my Granddaughter the next time.

It nice to hear that you like Narnia as well Sathai

 

[The Ace]

I was lucky that way, my Primary 5 teacher used to have a story time at the end of the day, she read us "The Magician's Nephew, " and "The Silver Chair." That Christmas my parents gave me the boxed set and, some 30 years later, those same dog-eared paperbacks are still on my bookshelf. I liked the Film version of "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," but the book wasn't really my favourite. Of course, the wheel has now turned full circle and I gave my nephews the single-volume edition with the original illustrations now coloured by the original artist.

 

[kythe]

I have read and re-read the Narnia series several times throughout my life. They are probably the first true fantasy that I was exposed to as a child, and I still have a soft spot for the stories. That they are Christian allegory doesn't bother me, I just read the series with that in mind. Though I enjoy all of the books, my favorite is "The Horse and His Boy". It reads like a tale from the Arabian Nights. I just like the style.

I wasn't as impressed with the movie that was recently made. It was good, but not "great" to me. I still prefer the cartoon and the BBC production (cheesy as it was!) that I grew up with.

 

[Joel007]

The only thing I didn't like about the film was the shiny nature of the battles. Gleaming armor in a muddy field. I don't mind them missing out the blood for the sake of innocent children watching it, but why take away the realism of the dirt and hard work required in preparation for battle?

The books are great, they were some of the first books I read that I really got into. I still re-read them sometimes.

 

[sassy1]

i've been meaning to read the chronicles of narnia since i was about 9 (i'm 19 now) and GUESS WHAT! i bought the box set i've only read the 1st one (The Magicians Nephew) and i was like "oooooooh so THATS where the wardrobe comes from! haha cant wait to start the next one

 

[kythe]

That's actually something I don't like about the current published order of the books. For the first 50 years, the series was published with "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" as the first volume. "The Magician's Nephew" is a prequel, but it spoils a good bit of the rest of the series to read it first.

Then again, they didn't ask my opinion when deciding to redo the order of the books.

 

[sassy1]

That's actually something I don't like about the current published order of the books. For the first 50 years, the series was published with "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" as the first volume. "The Magician's Nephew" is a prequel, but it spoils a good bit of the rest of the series to read it first.

Then again, they didn't ask my opinion when deciding to redo the order of the books.

wow i didnt know they'd changed order (but then i cant say i really researched it - i bought the box set, the books have numbers and i read number 1 first )

and well they flipping should have asked you your opinion - isnt it the reader that the books are actually written for?

 

[j d worthington]

They also didn't ask C. S. Lewis's opinion... and he never had the order altered during his lifetime. I, too, dislike the new order. The series loses a bit of the mystery attached to it this way....

 

[The Ace]

They were originally published (annually from 1950-1956) in the order in which they were written but many fans wanted to know what had gone before (the wardrobe, the lamp-post etc.) which was why The Magician's nephew was written. I always felt it should be read first, but then I'm biased because it was the first one to which I was exposed.

 

[sassy1]

well they certainly should have asked c s lewis- if it was possible of course but i guess it depends on the person whether they prefer to read the prequel first - i like a lot of mystery in stories (especially if you get to find out the answers later on) so i usually like to read books in the order they are published.

i had the choice of reading the prequel first when i was reading terry brooks' shannara series - i'd read the Voyage of te Jerle Shannara trilogy and was gonna start at the beginning after that - i decided to leave The First King of Shannara till after i'd read the others to leave the mystery there

 

[j d worthington]

I think one of the reasons the original order appeals to me more is that Lewis himself was discovering and exploring this world with the reader (in many ways), and that was a lot more like wandering into it from our world much like the protagonists... so you find out things as you go along, just as you do with any new place. It gave it more a feeling of "genuineness" and less a feeling of "a story told", if you will....

 

[Pyan]

The Magician's Nephew was actually published before The Last Battle.
If you read them in the published order, it can be quite confusing, as the timeline hops back and then forward again.I found it far more difficult , when I read them first (in about 1963!) to identify with Polly or Digory, as compared with the Pevensies, who were just the kind of children that I grew up with (apart from being secret Kings and Queens, that is!)

 

[The Ace]

And, of course, they didn't become the Pevensies until, "Voyage of the Dawn Treader." Pyan's right, though "The Horse and his Boy, " and, "The Magician's Nephew, " come between "The Silver Chair," and, "The Last Battle," although in SC Rillian sings a song about Corin Thunderfist, who is a minor character in HB.

 

[Pyan]

And, of course, they didn't become the Pevensies until, "Voyage of the Dawn Treader."

You know, Ace, I've never noticed that before! In the earlier books, they're just Peter, Susan, Lucy and Edmund - no surname. Well, you think you know an authors works.......