Old Books, New Readers discussion

Love the Narnia books as well as his space trilogy! Talk about him here!

AHH! He's brilliant, as an author and a person! Narnia is the most amazing world to have come up with— I can't even imagine how you write something like that, from it's creation to it's end. I have Out of the Silent Planet on my bookshelf to read, but I haven't gotten around to it yet. Is it good (probably yes)?

Oh yes! I highly recommend it. It is way different from his Narnia books. The language is more difficult to understand and for being such a small book it took me a couple of weeks to read it. I kept having to re-read what he had said and ponder what he meant. And it is aimed for a older audience.

That's what my friend said when he gave it to me (I still don't know if he wanted it back... I've had it for a couple years now... Oh well, he should have known what he was getting himself into). He said it was like Narnia, but for adults and not really like Narnia at all. A really helpful description, in other words.

HAhaha, it is about another world so in that sense it is like Narnia, but more mature. The point, or principle of the book is harder to see.

My mom keeps trying to get me to read it, but after dragging myself through the first chapter when I was fourteen, I decided to wait about another decade before trying it again...lol. But I LOVE Narnia!!! Those are the first books I remember reading really...and I've grown up with them.

I love The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe the best.

But I love C.S. Lewis personally because sometimes, he is so funny! Once in a while, he'll say these one-liners or phrases in any of his stories, and I'll just about die. LOL.

I'll share a few phrases that I howled at. ;)

"There was a boy called Eustace Clarence Scrubb, and he almost deserved it." (LOLOLOL)

"And the longer and more beautifully the Lion sang, the harder Uncle Andrew tried to make himself believe that he could hear nothing but roaring. Now the trouble about trying to make yourself stupider than you really are is that you very often succeed."

LOLOLOLOL. My mom and dad just about died laughing themselves when they saw that. ;)

Hahaha! They are very good lines.

Tabi I wish I had been a little older when I read his space trilogy because I think a lot of it went over my head. I am going to read them again soon.

I know there's this other book her wrote that I tried to read as well and failed...it's called The Screwtape Letters. Heard of it?

I've definitely heard of it...because we actually have it.

I have heard of it, but I still haven't read it. I am not sure what it is even about. Did you like it Veronica?

We have it as well.
It's about a retired demon writing letters to his nephew on how to tempt people away from God...like how to use humans nature against them and so on. It's pretty interesting, but also really deep.

Actually, Christa, I haven't even gotten around to reading it yet. But it sounds very interesting...I should read it soon.

The Screwtape Letters is so famous, I can't believe I haven't read it! We have it here, we have practically all of his books, but I think only my mom has read that one. Have any of you read Mere Christianity?

Almost everyone in my family has that book except me. They read it all the time.

I have it, we actually have more than one copy and I took one, but again, I haven't read it yet. My parents (and the rest of the world) loves it though, so I want to

I think that after all this discussion, I will personally get those books, put them on my shelf, and read all of them...:)

Let us know when you do! :D

Sure thing...will do! :)

If you like Lewis you should try A Severe Mercy by Sheldon Vanauken. It's the story of him and his wife, how they met, married etc. Be warned though - you'll need a box of Kleenex handy! The Lewis connection is that they were friends and he gives advice in the book.

I?'ve been meaning to read the Great Divorce! I started it in seventh grade or something, and I got confused so I had to stop.

And The Magician's Nephew is fantastic! I love the wood between the worlds and the idea of the rings, and that's the only book those are in.

Has anyone heard of or read The Magicians by Lev Grossman? II didn't love it but I liked it enough to reread it. It's geared toward adults but it's this weird mix of Harry Potter and Narnia. It's interesting

Sounds cool.

I loved the creation of Narnia. I really liked when C.S. Lewis said "Now the trouble about trying to make yourself stupider than you really are is that you very often succeed."-

I haven't read a lot of the Lewis books other than excepts and basically know the stories. Too many books too little time eeks

I love Lewis's work. He was hugely versatile. Has anyone read TILL WE HAVE FACES? A historical, set in some vague ancient-Greekish past.

I've never even heard of Till We Have Faces. I'm off to look it up now, though!

(rummaging in memory) Lewis did not actually write that much fiction. His reputation is actually based on his religious writing. There were the seven Narnia books, the three volumes of the Space Trilogy (super), and TILL WE HAVE FACES. He also wrote a few short stories, and a lot of poetry.

Cool Thank you Brenda. I want to read that now, I hadn't heard of it before.

Till We Have Faces is actually my favorite of all Lewis' work. I have trouble describing it to people though. I think it is more for adults, where Narnia is for children. Where the Narnia stories are pretty blatant allegories (Aslan is Jesus), Till We Have Faces is more like Lord of the Rings in that there may be "lessons" or themes in it but they are not blatantly obvious.

I like the Narnia books too, I just think Till We Have Faces is his best.

Of all his other books my favorite is The Great Divorce. I also enjoyed A Grief Observed. He wrote a book called The Problem of Pain where he provides philosophical answers to the problem of pain and evil. Years later he got married and then his wife died and he wrote A Grief Observed where he kind of says, "remember all that philosophical logical explanation of how God can allow evil, I'm not sure about that and I am really struggling if God is even there." I just love it for the honesty.

Fore pure non-science worldbuilding the space trilogy (especially PERELANDRA) is first rate. Oh, and I haven't mentioned all of his scholarly work, which mostly does not overlap with his religious writing or his fiction and is mostly tough sledding unless you are a scholar of English lit. A man of very many talents!

I love C.S. Lewis but sadly haven't read much of his writing, though I've read many, many quotes. The only Narnia books I've read are The Magician's Nephew and The Last Battle, both of which I love. I have the audio books of the whole series though and know them nearly off by heart. A couple of weeks ago I was able to buy the series (brand now for $20AUS!!!) and so they will be actually read soon!

I really want to read The Screwtape Letters and Mere Christianity (and if I'm honest most of his Christian writings) and the Out of the Silent Planet trilogy, which my mum thoroughly recommends.

I think the most interesting thing about Narnia is how it's perceived as allegory but Lewis actually does not regard it as such. I pulled together some quotes and stuff in my review of it, which I can link to if anyone wants me to? Or can copy and paste here?

He is such a wonderful thinker. I truly have so much respect for him.

Katherine said...I think the most interesting thing about Narnia is how it's perceived as allegory but Lewis actually does not regard it as such. I pulled together some quotes and stuff in my review of it, which I can link to if anyone wants me to? Or can copy and paste here?

He is such a wonderful thinker. I truly have so much respect for him.

Very well put, I heartily agree.

There are two things that have to happen here. The first is that we have to allow a writer to be a person of his era. Since Lewis was born at the beginning of the 20th century, it is not really reasonable to expect him to be particularly PC by our standards.
Secondly, there is the attributing of a character's opinion to the author. In THE SILVER CHAIR he seems to come out against co-ed education, and in THAT HIDEOUS STRENGTH some characters come out against birth control. Were these Lewis's own feelings? Unclear, and since he is dead we probably will never know.

Talia wrote: "I'm reading The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe today (my first time ever!), and I love the scene with Father Christmas. I love how Lucy says that she can be brave enough to fight, but Father Ch..."

That's a really interesting point, particularly what you say about "the ones who were meant to bring healing and help have to fight". Lucy is so courageous and willing! She's quite a good character for kids to grow up knowing, I think.

Tabi (Ron Paul 2012) wrote: " Katherine said...I think the most interesting thing about Narnia is how it's perceived as allegory but Lewis actually does not regard it as such. I pulled together some quotes and stuff in my revi..."

Thanks Tabi :)

Brenda wrote: "There are two things that have to happen here. The first is that we have to allow a writer to be a person of his era. Since Lewis was born at the beginning of the 20th century, it is not really r..."

I like to think that those were Lewis's opinions because the happen to also be mine, but I might just be trying to relate to the author and missing the larger point he was trying to make. I need to read them again.

I got really upset when in the movie of "Prince Caspian" Susan turned into a warrior. Lewis never had the girls fight in big battles and even when the children were Kings and Queens Susan never even went to the battles until after they were done. Sometimes Lucy would be among the archers but never Susan.

Christa - Ron Paul 2012 wrote: "I got really upset when in the movie of "Prince Caspian" Susan turned into a warrior. Lewis never had the girls fight in big battles and even when the children were Kings and Queens Susan never eve..."

What upset me most in that movie was the romance introduced between Capsian and Susan. It really annoyed me and is the main reason I don't own it! I hadn't thought about Susuan fighting though. When I watched it I wasn't as familiar with the books as I am now, though I knew Susan never fought (interestingly, she's also the one who in our world "forgets").

It would not astonish me if Lewis personally disapproved of women in combat. He was born in 1898, after all.
Movie combats are unrealistic by definition; women in movie combats are no better than men. (Did anybody see MR & MRS SMITH, the Brangelina vehicle? Talk about fantasy combat!)
But in real life modern women can be in combat -- they can do anything. My daughter was born in 1984; she is an MP captain at Ft. Campbell, and is probably going to Afghanistan in 2013. Do you remember that old Doonesbury cartoon, where the young feminist explains that she doesn't want to be like men? She wants to be better. That's my daughter.

I am against women in combat myself. The biggest reason for me (Other than my religious beliefs, but I don't want to side track the thread too badly) is that women and men are different. Most men even without exercising are stronger and more physicality powerful than women.

Taking Mr. Mrs. Smith, they fought hand to hand and Mrs.Smith got thrown around quite a bit and punched and all that but went on to practically win the fight. In real life if a man gets a good hit on a woman she will be down and out.

(As a side note I mean no disrespect to your daughter Brenda.)

That's what tech is for. We no longer need our muscles to plow -- we have tractors. We don't need to fight hand to hand -- that's why they call guns equalizers. We don't need to know when Lewis was born -- I used Wikipedia. I can assure you that my daughter masters men much stronger and larger than herself. Even her husband (over 6 feet tall himself) is amazed.

LOL, I have to sound in here. I'm 5'6" and weigh in around 130 (or maybe less now) and can take down (without blows! or any of the martial arts) TWO over 6' men - I've done it. IT was rather fun LOL. I've also taken down a man that was 6'6" and weighed about 285 (almost pure muscle, believe me!). I did get a couple of bruises with him, although again there was no fighting, I just took him down. hehe

I am not saying no women can handle themselves, I can but I have to use different tactics than guys. (And go for the sweet spot) But in a brawl with a man, the woman is going to lose.

Brenda you mentioned we have tech stuff now so it is okay for women to be in combat, but I have to disagree with that also. Women have been proven to not be able to handle stress well regardless of how high tech their equipment is.

A Gun is an equalizer but if a man also has a gun and has been trained the same as a women then they are still at the same level that started at only with a gun to add to their weapon of choice.

Well, the US armed forces are clearly okay with women in combat, so you'd have to take it up with them. I don't think men can handle stress any better or worse than women.

Regarding women fighting. I don't have a problem with those who do, it's their choice.
As for me though, I know I can't handle everything that comes with being in the military. I can handle myself against someone if I had to, but in an all-out brawl, where size does matter...I'd be pounded.
It is still sweet to think about being some bad-a chick and all that...but dreams don't become reality half of the time.
If I had a gun though...things would be a little different. I can shoot. :)
But overall, I do believe that women really don't belong in the military except as meds or aides. And really, think about it, there has never been a female Marine or Black ops. We just can't do it. :)

Okay time to be a responsible mod now, I think we all know were we individually stand on women in combat and don't think anyone is going to change their mind, so I officially now asking to turn back and talk about C.S Lewis some more.

Not blaming anyone for the diversion from topic *cough Christa* I enjoyed the conversation, but onward.

Does anyone know how many children he had?

He had two stepsons (conflated into one in the movie).

I've heard they are good, but sadly I am under-read by C.S. Lewis.

SCREWTAPE is just about Lewis's most popular book for grown-ups -- Narnia of course are his most popular works for young readers. It is beautifully and cunningly written.

I haven't read the Screwtape Letters (have I already said that? I think I have) but I plan to sometime. Hopefully sooner than later. I haven't read as much CS Lewis as I wish I have, but I love him.

It is excellent! 5 stars -- You won't be disappointed.