C.S. Lewis

[Kliska]

Speaking of which…
I read the Chronicles in the order they were published. This includes later-added backstories, such as The Magician’s Nephew coming in, I think, 6th; the Genesis (and more) of Narnia.

I have noticed some editions - full sets - of the Chronicles putting them in the chronological order, approximate, of events as they happened in Narnia. What’s your take on that? Which order is the true, Chronological Chronicles?

My preference is the order Lewis wrote them. After all, the Aeneid doesn’t begin at the beginning, it starts “in Medias Res”, that is, the reader is thrown into the action. Then he or she learns the backstory, after the author Virgil has prepared them properly to understand.

Of course, in modern publishing authors don’t have control over publishing sequence, so we don’t know exactly if the order published is the order written. Now I have to reread the Chronicles, I could use a wonder refill.

I’m of the same mind as you. I read them in published order first, and it always just seems to fit to keep reading them that way. I prefer finding out the history of Narnia later in the journey I guess.

I read VOYAGE OF THE "DAWN TREADER "FIRST. It was the first that came to hand.

There’s a surprise.

 

[GKC]

I’m of the same mind as you. I read them in published order first, and it always just seems to fit to keep reading them that way. I prefer finding out the history of Narnia later in the journey I guess.

There’s a surprise.

I’ll follow the concept of chronological sequence. But not necessarily slavishly.

I finished the (currently) 15 book Jim Butcher Dresden files series (plus the collected ss), as also the 8 books in David Weber’s Safehold series, strictly chronologically (his Honorverse stuff is a little trickier). But the Eric Flint derived Ring of Fire is a lot looser and I wander in it, within limits.

In general, I honor the concept. But the LOTR had to be read, ASAP, and I discovered the Narnia series, from reading of LOTR. Was shrewd enough not to read LAST BATTLE until the last.

In the end, it all works out.

 

[Kliska]

I’ll follow the concept of chronological sequence. But not necessarily slavishly.

I finished the (currently) 15 book Jim Butcher Dresden files series (plus the collected ss), as also the 8 books in David Weber’s Safehold series, strictly chronologically (his Honorverse stuff is a little trickier). But the Eric Flint derived Ring of Fire is a lot looser and I wander in it, within limits.

In general, I honor the concept. But the LOTR had to be read, ASAP, and I discovered the Narnia series, from reading of LOTR. Was shrewd enough not to read LAST BATTLE until the last.

In the end, it all works out.

Thanks be, in the end it really all does work out.

I think one of the reasons I’m like I am about the order of books, is that I’m from a long line of readers, most recently my Mother who loves to read as well. On the other hand, there’s my Father who hates reading with a blinding passion. So, growing up, the most torturous thing my dad would do to my mom was to pick up whatever book she was reading and threatening to read the last page out loud. I don’t think he ever really did, but boy was the danger in the air…

 

[GKC]

Thanks be, in the end it really all does work out.

I think one of the reasons I’m like I am about the order of books, is that I’m from a long line of readers, most recently my Mother who loves to read as well. On the other hand, there’s my Father who hates reading with a blinding passion. So, growing up, the most torturous thing my dad would do to my mom was to pick up whatever book she was reading and threatening to read the last page out loud. I don’t think he ever really did, but boy was the danger in the air…

It was my father that instilled my mania for books. His own collection was around 3000 volumes. I raised that to around 30,000, so far. I have other hobbies, but they are barely noticeable.

My wife shares the passion. And my daughter and SIL likewise. Parts of my library are on permanent loan.

Fortunate is the family that reads together.

 

[adamhovey1988]

It was my father that instilled my mania for books. His own collection was around 3000 volumes. I raised that to around 30,000, so far. I have other hobbies, but they are barely noticeable.

My wife shares the passion. And my daughter and SIL likewise. Parts of my library are on permanent loan.

Fortunate is the family that reads together.

My dad when I was nine and I inherited his (mainly academic) book collection. Dad was born in early 1952, so many of those books dated to his childhood. A lot of encyclopedias, some with less than accurate data “The Roman Catholic Church has a strict doctrine of clerical celibacy” However, it is through these books that I became interested in books. I have been reading since I was about four, so it really disappoints me when I find out children don’t like to read.

 

[GKC]

My dad when I was nine and I inherited his (mainly academic) book collection. Dad was born in early 1952, so many of those books dated to his childhood. A lot of encyclopedias, some with less than accurate data “The Roman Catholic Church has a strict doctrine of clerical celibacy” However, it is through these books that I became interested in books. I have been reading since I was about four, so it really disappoints me when I find out children don’t like to read.

It saddens me too

Fortunately, as I said, my child is an addict, in turn. Doubtless a result of nature/nurture.

She visited last week. We bought around 11 books, 4 for her or her husband.

 

[Kliska]

Best book to read on looking at Tolkien’s work through a Christian lens?

 

[GKC]

Best book to read on looking at Tolkien’s work through a Christian lens?

An excellent question. I look forward to excellent suggestions.

This is not one such. I own far more books than I have read (on this and other subjects; I’m patient) and have read far more than I can recall, or even find, suggesting I only think I bought some of them. So this is not an answer to the query. It’s a suggestion where to look.

But do look at Joseph Pearce’s TOLKIEN:MAN AND MYTH. Other possibilities: Bernal’s TOLKIEN’S SACRAMENTAL VISION - DISCERNING THE HOLY IN MIDDLE EARTH (gave myself this for Christmas this year), Purtill’s LORD OF THE ELVES AND ELDILS:FANTASY AND PHILOSOPHY IN C.S.LEWIS AND J.R.R. TOLKIEN (a 40 year old book I have read, but remember nothing about), and his J.R.R.TOLKIEN:MYTH, MORALITY AND RELIGION, Birzer’s J.R.R. TOLKIEN’S SANCTIFYING MYTH:UNDERSTANDING MIDDLE EARTH (Christmas present last year), and ( maybe) Milbank’s CHESTERTON AND TOLKIEN AS THEOLOGIANS (maybe, since I started this, then put it down). Shippey’s ROAD TO MIDDLE-EARTH and J.R.R.TOLKIEN:AUTHOR OF THE CENTURY might have some useful stuff.

There you go. Little help at all. Maybe someone else can put up a definitive recommendation. Which, if I don’t own, I’ll need to buy. As I need to buy Kreeft’s THE PHILOSOPHY OF TOLKIEN: THE WORLDVIEW BEHIND THE LORD OF THE RINGS. Which I already thought I had done.

So, the only thing doing this has definitively established is that the next book I read won’t be a study of the development of dreadnought battleships, as I thought this morning, but something from this selection.

Oh. Do try Pearce’s book.

Now, who knows the answer?

 

[Kliska]

An excellent question. I look forward to excellent suggestions.

This is not one such. I own far more books than I have read (on this and other subjects; I’m patient) and have read far more than I can recall, or even find, suggesting I only think I bought some of them. So this is not an answer to the query. It’s a suggestion where to look.

But do look at Joseph Pearce’s TOLKIEN:MAN AND MYTH. Other possibilities: Bernal’s TOLKIEN’S SACRAMENTAL VISION - DISCERNING THE HOLY IN MIDDLE EARTH (gave myself this for Christmas this year), Purtill’s LORD OF THE ELVES AND ELDILS:FANTASY AND PHILOSOPHY IN C.S.LEWIS AND J.R.R. TOLKIEN (a 40 year old book I have read, but remember nothing about), and his J.R.R.TOLKIEN:MYTH, MORALITY AND RELIGION, Birzer’s J.R.R. TOLKIEN’S SANCTIFYING MYTH:UNDERSTANDING MIDDLE EARTH (Christmas present last year), and ( maybe) Milbank’s CHESTERTON AND TOLKIEN AS THEOLOGIANS (maybe, since I started this, then put it down). Shippey’s ROAD TO MIDDLE-EARTH and J.R.R.TOLKIEN:AUTHOR OF THE CENTURY might have some useful stuff.

There you go. Little help at all. Maybe someone else can put up a definitive recommendation. Which, if I don’t own, I’ll need to buy. As I need to buy Kreeft’s THE PHILOSOPHY OF TOLKIEN: THE WORLDVIEW BEHIND THE LORD OF THE RINGS. Which I already thought I had done.

So, the only thing doing this has definitively established is that the next book I read won’t be a study of the development of dreadnought battleships, as I thought this morning, but something from this selection.

Oh. Do try Pearce’s book.

Now, who knows the answer?

Thank you! Truly. I have 3 in the que. I’m trying to finish Down with Big Brother: The Fall of the Soviet Empire before I allow myself to buy anything else.

 

[GKC]

Thank you! Truly. I have 3 in the que. I’m trying to finish Down with Big Brother: The Fall of the Soviet Empire before I allow myself to buy anything else.

You are very welcome.

I know the feeling. I’ve got around 10,000 in line, myself. But I’ve been at this for 60 years.

The book I started is Bernthal’s TOLKIEN’S SACRAMENTAL VISION. Up to page 41. It’s pretty good. Not sure it’s necessarily what you’re looking for, but it’s a place to start. And he did some quick reviews and recommendations of other titles, in the intro, some of which appeared in my list, some of which didn’t. So I chose 3 of the latter and they will be my next order.

See what you …well, not started, but facilitated.

Now let’s see if anyone makes a suggestion, to bring that to 4.

 

[adamhovey1988]

Alright since I was the one that started the conversation I figured I’d be the one to post this I finished reading Mere Christianity I would have done it quicker but I am a university student so it is not always easy to read quickly but I’ve been reading a little bit most everyday. Next I read the Screwtape Letters.

 

[GKC]

Alright since I was the one that started the conversation I figured I’d be the one to post this I finished reading Mere Christianity I would have done it quicker but I am a university student so it is not always easy to read quickly but I’ve been reading a little bit most everyday. Next I read the Screwtape Letters.

Onward!

 

[Kliska]

Onward!

Further up and further in!

 

[GKC]

Further up and further in!

I actually considered that.

LAST BATTLE, 1st American ed., p.165 (in that exact quote).

 

[steido01]

Further up and further in!

Always loved that image. By the time I got around to finishing those books, I had grown up with the characters. That’s the enduring image. Flying further up and further in. Can’t help but smile.