The Chronicles of Narnia
@TheMonkeyKing (152)
Philippines
October 15, 2010 9:12pm CST
Forty-one years old and reading Narnia.
I'm reading Narnia for the nth time. It started when my sister stayed with us for a vacation. When she went back, she left a copy of "The Magician's Nephew" with us. I picked it up and saw the illustrations. Pretty soon I was engrossed. As soon as I finished that one, it wasn't long before I was digging in the bookshelf for another.
Have you read a book twice? thrice or many ages after you read it first?
1 person likes this
5 responses
@RebeccaScarlett (2532)
• Canada
16 Oct 10
I love the Chronicles of Narnia. There is no shame in being "forty-one years old and reading Narnia," because it was skillfully written to appeal to different age groups. There is a layer of fantasy and adventure, and a layer of religion, society, and politics that penetrates deeper when you are older, as you understand more. However, "The Horse and His Boy" is quite anti-Islam, did you notice? There is also a slight reference back to it in "The Last Battle," when Tash, quite clearly supposed to be a god representing the Middle East, does Aslan's dirty work by destroying the evil pretender ape, and Aslan says that all good deeds done in the name of Tash are really done for him, while all who do evil is His (Aslan's) name are really working for Tash. It shows some of the Christian-Islamic conflict that has gone on for centuries.
(I think the name was Tash...haven't re-read the series in a couple of years)
@TheMonkeyKing (152)
• Philippines
18 Oct 10
Yes I agree with you, most of Narnia's foes are colored in shades of the Arab world. Well, we just have to take into consideration that the author who wrote it, grew up at a time when there was still a British Empire, India was still a colony, and Egypt was a Protectorate.
You are right that these books do have its colors and it easily shows through. Aslan's sacrifice alone reflects a deeper religious metaphor.
It is not much out of shame that I shout this out. It is rather out of surprise. I never could have imagined that I would still do so. Ever since that first time when I was but 10years old, when I read it now, it doesn't seem I've grown any older.
Perhaps, I have not.
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
16 Oct 10
i have a couple of books that i read almost every year. one is message from nam by danielle steel and the other is the inn of eighth happiness; about a missionary in China during the late 20s and 30s, gladys (i cant remember her last name at the moment) but her story is amazing
@TheMonkeyKing (152)
• Philippines
18 Oct 10
Wow, I liked that period. The 20's and 30's, I like the stories too, that are set in that time. If we do have past lives, it wouldn't surprise me if it was in that era. Sounds like you've given me something to hunt for. I'll keep it in mind when I get the next chance to sort through a pile.
@allyoftherain (7208)
• United States
16 Oct 10
Yup. Sometimes when I don't have anything else to read then I pick up an old favorite from the shelves thinking that I'm just going to "glance over it" and remind myself of some of the details. Yeah... I always end up reading the whole thing.
When I was a kid I lived and breathed Chronicles of Narnia... and.... yeah I'm 19 and still love them. Personally, I think that a good book is a good book no matter what age it was written for. I happen to like children's books more than adult novels.
@TheMonkeyKing (152)
• Philippines
18 Oct 10
Indeed a good book is ageless. It is hard to know if the one your reading now becomes a favorite. Only years later, you suddenly realize, you've read a particular book so many times. I guess that would be the favorite. Then it reminds you there were other books you've read once twice or thrice and then all of them are favorites. :-)
@my_name_is_coco (4333)
• Philippines
16 Oct 10
I have read the 6 books in the series,except The Magician's Nephew.I haven't found a copy of it.I actually love the series.I found The Last Battle a little bit "dry" though.it's not my favorite book.my favorite book is "The Silver Chair".
@TheMonkeyKing (152)
• Philippines
18 Oct 10
I like them all and I there is no particular book that I would say is my favorite. Once I pick up one, I can't help but finish all of them. It always seems that a thread is cut off or ended abruptly when I miss out on one. There was even a time when I picked up a copy of the "Dawn Treader" in HK, that was because I was reading "Prince Caspian" before I left home.Thanks for the response here. :-)
