Age for Chronicles of Narnia

[Mouse]

Yes, British English can be a shock occasionally, as all authors tend toward Americanisms (and I say that as a Brit).

Really? None of the Brit authors I've read have tended towards Americanisms. And over here it's pretty much always 'lorry.'

On topic - I've never read Narnia. Was put off by all the Christian stuff... though I imagine that's not off-putting to a Parson. I did enjoy the films though, though I admit that's mostly because of Ben Barnes.

 

[Parson]

On topic - I've never read Narnia. Was put off by all the Christian stuff... though I imagine that's not off-putting to a Parson. I did enjoy the films though, though I admit that's mostly because of Ben Barnes.

Ben Barnes -- Why am I not surprised?

Is there such a construction as on-putting? If there is that's what the Christian "stuff" would be for me.

 

[Extollager]

Obviously, I am not concerned by the Christian subtext.

Just so you don't "point things out" for your listeners. The Narnian books have a real integrity of their own, which is imperiled if people read them simply as "coded" presentations of teaching. They're Christian because Lewis's imagination was Christian in a way that had become unfamiliar by the time he was writing.

 

[TheDustyZebra]

I never even realized that the Narnia books were Christian allegory until my mother pointed it out, years after I'd read them all a dozen times. And I read the Bible Story books incessantly as a child, as well, though we didn't go to church then. They were all just good stories to me. I don't know how I missed seeing it, but of course it's obvious after you know it.

After the first time through, when I realized that book six came first in chronological order, I always read it first, and put it first in the boxed set. I'm not sure that I would do it that way, for my daughter -- that's something she'd have to decide for herself, not have decided by my OCD. My son has never been into anything like Narnia, so I didn't read them to him, and my daughter is just getting there -- she's seven.

 

[Extollager]

I don't think the Narnian books are "spoiled" if one reads them the first time in chronological order, but I'm a big advocate for publication order for the first reading. After that, chronological may be fine, or reading more often the ones one likes most.

 

[Parson]

Just so you don't "point things out" for your listeners. The Narnian books have a real integrity of their own, which is imperiled if people read them simply as "coded" presentations of teaching. They're Christian because Lewis's imagination was Christian in a way that had become unfamiliar by the time he was writing.

I can't imagine myself doing this. Especially I wouldn't do this for a child. At this point I would believe that the significance of what seeps into a heart would be lost because of this kind of manipulation.

 

[Extollager]

By the way, I ran across something I'd copied many years ago that might be good to share here. This is from Barry Sanders's book A Is for Ox: Violence, Electronic Media, and the Silencing of the Written Word (1994):

"...when a mother tells a story or fairy tale to her daughter, as far as the daughter is concerned, the mother seems to be calling up images and ideas and actions out of the daughter's own inner life -- her dreams, desires, and fears."

 

[Alex The G and T]

I'm with TDZ. When I read them as a child, or even reread them on or about the time my daughters where reading them, and the movies where coming out ....

I found the religious Themes irrelevant and unnoticeable behind enjoyable tales.

(Preachers don't annoy me much, as long as they aren't bashing on my front door, uninvited. *winks at Parson*)

 

[steelyglint]

LWW was the book we were started on at school when I was nine. I got pretty fed up with how slowly we were getting through it and hit the public library for it and the other volumes before the class was close to half-way through the first.

After returning them I wandered into the main library area and never went back to the childrens section. No-one seemed to mind, and what I read from there didn't twist me into a serial killer or anything.

Never did read them again, though. Maybe after 43 years it is time to take another look.

I'd put forward Eddings's 'Belgariad' as a good series to read to folks of the ages mentioned.

.

 

[SleepyDormouse]

My 8 year old was reading the Magicians Nephew a couple of nights ago, we read the first chapter together then she carried on herself but she didn't want to keep reading it the next night.
Perhaps the LLW would be better to have given her, but she was reluctant to read that, as she has seen the film.

I'm a little disappointed, but I don't really remember reading the series much past the LLW myself as a child.

never mind, plenty more books out there.

 

[Parson]

(Preachers don't annoy me much, as long as they aren't bashing on my front door, uninvited. *winks at Parson*)

Still, I'll bet if I were at the door you would invite me in for a cup of tea and some stimulating conversation. *Winks back*

 

[hopewrites]

I know I would.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

And pie. Tea and pie and stimulating conversation.

 

[Bick]

Yes, indeed, tea and pie and stimulating conversation. Quite right. And biscuits. Tea and pie and biscuits and the conversation thing.

 

[Abernovo]

Yes, indeed, tea and pie and stimulating conversation. Quite right. And biscuits. Tea and pie and biscuits and the conversation thing.

Of course, biscuits. One always has tea and biscuits when the vicar/minister/priest calls round - and cake, sometimes*. Oh-oh...biscuits...we're using those exotic words for Teresa and Parson again!

I always enjoyed Narnia. Started them myself when I was about eight or nine, I think, having seen the animated version of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. Any age around there might be a good time to start them, or earlier if you're reading it to them.


*Wonders if we should expect the imminent arrival of a Midwest Parson on our doorsteps with all these offers of refreshments.

 

[Parson]

*Wonders if we should expect the imminent arrival of a Midwest Parson on our doorsteps with all these offers of refreshments.

Ummm, pie, biscuits (cookies!), tea. I might just be on the way!

My congregation is aware that if you want a crowd what you have to do is give away free food. We have coffee (this is the Midwest) and cookies or bars or cake or all of the above after every Sunday morning service. Listening to the Parson is just the price you have to pay.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Incidentally as someone very much turned off by being preached to (but still ready with the bikkies should Parson decide to visit Ireland ) I never had a problem with it in Narnia. Sure it's allegorical, but it's also a fantastic fantasy world with great characters in its own right. In fact, when I first read it I didn't really realise the parallels. Plus, as Ace points out, it's rather less than slavish to convention in its views, which raised welcome questions in me.

 

[Randy M.]

I never really took to Narnia. Either I read it young or when the BBC version first came out. Something to do with the badly concealed preaching. The SF trilogy wasn't any better. Screwtape was fun although maybe a little too old for your grandkids. OK so it's still preaching but there's no attempt at concealment and he really has fun with it.

I was too old for The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, didn't enjoy it largely because I felt it was trying too hard to be morally good and right. The Screwtape Letters were recommended to me by a college English teacher who saw I loved humor and thought because I loved satire I'd find it irresistible. I found it very resistible preaching to the choir.

She made up for it though, loaning me Interview with the Vampire and giving me a collection of Saki stories.

My daughter really started reading for her own pleasure with the Harry Potter series.


Randy M.

 

[Chel]

I've worked with kids aged 6-9, and I've read them the Narnia series. They loved it, even though the Swedish translation I have is very outdated.

Just be careful. The children may not let you get away with only an hour or two a week.

 

[Pyan]

I'm an 7/8yo first-read as well - and I think that's about right. Old enough to be caught up in the excitement (oh, the race to Archenland from Tashbaan...), but not too you to be too upset by the sacrifice of Aslan, or what happened to the horses in The Last Battle.