Strangers and Aliens: Science Fiction & Fantasy from a Christian Perspective

BOOK CLUB: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

The cover from my childhood copy of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.

Call your library! Search your shelves! Borrow from a friend! Head to the bookstore! Or click on your favorite online bookseller!

January is the first month of the Strangers and Aliens “book club” . . . and 2013 is the Year of C.S. Lewis . . . so that means it’s time for us to read:

THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE

Many of you have probably already read this book, a treasure of fantasy fiction that also inspired almost every young Christian fantasy writer and fan since it was published.

So, as you read through the book and discuss it below, if this is not your first time reading it, then your mission as you reread it this month is to find something new that you haven’t noticed before!

Share your observations below! This will be the official discussion post for this book.

Also, the “extra credit” reading for this month is C.S. Lewis’ book Mere Christianity.

So, what new insights or observations do you have as you read through this book, the first Narnia book C.S. Lewis wrote?

What do you love about this book?

What do you hate about it?

What are some memories you have about this book?

And, as far as the “extra credit” goes, what are some of the common elements between Mere Christianity and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe?

 

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11 responses to “BOOK CLUB: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe”

  1. Michael Poteet Avatar
    Michael Poteet

    That was my childhood edition, too – part of a boxed set with covers all by whomever that wonderful artist was (is?).

    I remember one point of contact between LWW and Mere Christianity is that the Professor applies CSL’s “lunatic, liar or lord” logic to Lucy’s insistence that she has been to Narnia. I am sure there are others, as well.

    What’s the schedule for the reading? Just make sure we get it read in January?

    Again, really looking forward to getting reacquainted with some Lewis texts with you, and acquainted with others for the first time. Great idea!

    Reply
    1. Ben Avatar
      Ben

      No, there’s not reading schedule beyond reading the book this month.

      I had that boxed set too. I always loved the covers, and found it so interesting that the covers were so stylistic while the pictures inside were so “normal”. I still have that box set, but I think the box is the only thing keeping the books together . . . I have a different edition that I read to the kids from.

      Interestingly, my parents bought the books for me from the campground bookstore while they were doing kids’ ministry at a camp . . . and I started reading Narnia to my kids five years ago while my family was doing youth ministry at a camp! I hadn’t thought of that connection until just now!

      Reply
  2. Ben Avatar
    Ben

    What’s your first memory of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe?

    Mine is my third grade teacher reading the book to my class. My third grade teacher and I never got along — I was a stinker and she was a meanie (according to my third grade memory and my parents). I only had her for four days of the week. The other day, I had Mrs. Barrie, my favorite teacher. I once actually told me third grade teacher, “Do you know why I like Fridays? Because you’re not here.”

    Anyway, she read books to us often. Stuart Little. Little House on the Prairie. Ribsy. And The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. She was the one who pointed out the symbolism of Aslan’s death and who first brought the humor of Lewis’ writing to life. So she did that . . .

    But she also kept in in from recess because the girl behind me realized she could make weird noises and I would get in trouble because my teacher thought it was me . . .

    Reply
  3. Ben Avatar
    Ben

    Food for thought: http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2012/december-web-only/why-cs-lewis-didnt-write-for-christianity-today.html

    Seems The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe was the next step in apologetics — apologetics for an apathetic public.

    Reply
  4. John Avatar
    John

    I’ll be re-reading this and Mere Christianity along with you. Interestingly, I hadn’t read any of Lewis’ writing until I was in my late 20’s. It didn’t take long for me to read everything I could get my hands on that he’d written.

    Reply
  5. Angie Avatar
    Angie

    I bought my set (from the same set pictured above) at my small-town, public library sidewalk sale some summer in the 80’s. I was able to find one copy of each of the seven books and only paid $.10 each. I still have them and started reading The Magician’s Nephew to my niece and nephews. My 9-year-old nephew loved it! The others… well… they more appreciate the theatrical versions of the Narnia tales.

    I was kind of fun, though, because I substituted myself and my brother in for the weird aunt and uncle as I read the story to the kids. : )

    Reply
  6. Paul Avatar
    Paul

    My mother had the set pictures that she read to my siblings and I when I was a child. I enjoyed it so much I tracked it down on ebay and couple of years ago and bought it again. Though age on a set like that has it tolls. I’ve started reading The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe with you all. I’m going to tackle a chapter a day though it will be hard to not accidently read the whole thing in one sitting. I may need to add Mere Christianity to my reading if only to slow me down.

    Reply
  7. Drew Avatar
    Drew

    I had the editions just before this one (same art, but with a sort of aqua-colored background). They were recommended by an older cousin, and I probably read them about sixth grade or so (would have been about 1978). I remember one of my grade-school enemies (we all had them, right?) teasing me about reading a fantasy novel with a weird name like Narnia.

    Also, perhaps it was just because I was a dumb sixth-grader, but the whole religious symbolism was lost on me, until someone (probably the same cousin) said “Don’t you think that it’s a little bit like the gospel story?” and then the lightbulb went on. I read them all in their proper older (that is, publication order!) and continue to insist that’s how they’re read.

    I read them all to my children a few years ago when they were 5 and 7, and I think it’s time that we read them all again.

    Reply
    1. Mike Poteet Avatar
      Mike Poteet

      @Drew – “one of my grade-school enemies (we all had them, right?) teasing me about reading a fantasy novel with a weird name like Narnia” – You mean you had your very own Eustace Scrubbs (pre-reformation?)! “Some kids who talked about Narnia / got balmier and balmier…” !! I am glad your elementary school nemesis didn’t destroy your love of the Narnia books.

      You are quite right about publication vs. internal chronology, too. For much the same reason that (except in its broadest outline) the biblical books aren’t in chronological order, the Chronicles are best read in canonical order. I am glad to see that, in the wake of the films, the publisher has gone back to the “proper” numbering!

      Reply
  8. RC Avatar
    RC

    Originally I only read a couple. Then a few years ago I read all of them. Then I discovered audio books! After having let the books fade out of memory somewhat I listened to them in numerical order. It’s not a bad experience either. I think chronological order might be better though, otherwise some items might lack significance in the Magician’s Nephew.

    Reply
  9. John Avatar
    John

    One chapter left. I decided to take the opportunity to read to my kids. They’ve really enjoyed having dad read to them.

    Reply

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