We’re reading through The Chronicles of Narnia for our family read aloud and have decided to approach the series chronologically instead of in the order it was written (meaning we’ve started with THE MAGICIAN’S NEPHEW instead of THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE).
I love the little asides CS Lewis throws into his writing. Here are a few I’ve savored so far:
“Children have one kind of silliness, as you know, and grown-ups have another kind. At this moment Uncle Andrew was beginning to be silly in a very grown-up way. Now that the Witch was no longer in the same room with him he was quickly forgetting how she had frightened him and thinking more and more of her wonderful beauty.”
“We must now go back a bit and explain what the whole scene had looked like from Uncle Andrew’s point of view It had not made at all the same impression on him a on the Cabby and the children. For what you see and hear depends on where you are standing: it also depends on what sort of person you are.“
“And the longer and more beautiful the Lion sang, the harder Uncle Andrew tried to make himself believe that he could hear nothing but roaring. Now the trouble about trying make yourself stupider than you really are is that you very often succeed.“
Poor Uncle Andrew! I’m so glad his perspective is included in these stories.
What bits of wisdom have you gleaned from your recent reads?
On a side note:
Yesterday Moonrat announced that after years of blogging about publishing from the inside, it’s time for her to move on. Thanks, Moonie, for teaching me so much and being such an advocate for authors. All the best to you. You will be missed.
That kind of author intrusion has gone out of style, but the Narnia books do it well. I was trying to read the Princess and The Goblin to my kids but I had to stop because of the pages and pages of author intrusion that didn’t add to the story at all! I was losing them.
Absolutely has gone out of favor. Still, I love it. And funnily enough, I’ve carried a Princess and the Goblin aside in my head for years (being at peace about being misunderstood)
This comment has been removed by the author.
Oh, this brings back memories. We also did Narnia as a read aloud and we also started with The Magician’s Nephew.
The book I had to stop reading aloud was The Mysterious Island. It was one of my favorite books when I was a kid, but reading aloud? Pages and pages of description and language that is way out of style.
We read the Little House books by lantern light every night. Oh man! What fun that was.
But if I may give a plug for my favorite read-aloud books of all time: The Wildgerking Trilogy, by Jonathan Rogers. They are so much fun.
Too funny. We just finished the Narina series, again. My ten-year old daughter really liked the insights about “silly adults.” Good conversation starter.
However, by THE LAST BATTLE, she (and I) tired of the “if you’ve never had fruit from there, I can’t describe it to you. It’s so much better than any in any other world” (paraphrasing here). She was upset that he didn’t even try. Thank you Writer’s Workshop!
Still, I’ve read the entire series many times in different life phases (childhood, college, pregnancy, and now parenthood) and each time was a unique experience.
Thank you, Sally, for the suggestion of The Wildgerking Trilogy. We’ll check them out.
That’s my favorite Narnia book! I love the Princess and the Goblin, too. You can find the sequels on Project Gutenburg, too, you know! Also, all the Oz books.
I’ve been reading Clockwork Angels, which is written in third person. I usually write in first person, so I’m trying to figure out how she makes third so intimate. Trying to read critically, but the pacing is too good, so I’m flying through it instead.
Have a great weekend!
Great conversation, everyone! Sally, thanks for the read aloud suggestions. I love finding new books that work well aloud.
I’m surprised how many of us have read The Princess and The Goblin. At the Back of the North Wind has been sitting on my shelf for years. I need to get to it.
For those of you who don’t know, Tere just signed with an agent. Congrats again, Tere!
I think my favorite Narnia is The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.
I can’t wait to read those books with my sons. In a few years hopefully. It’s interesting how certain styles go out or come in, but a great book is a great book no matter what.
I, too, enjoy those bits you’ve highlighted, and I enjoy when Kate DiCamillo’s and Daniel Handler’s narrators ‘intrude’ in their books, too.
Thanks for visiting my blog. . .
C.S. Lewis has such a way of making things so clear and poignant. I particularly love The Screwtape Letters, (even though they aren’t necessarily for kids!)
I’m currently reading “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” and though it’s not such a warm-fuzzy book, I’m gleaning all sorts of wisdom for it.
Sara, agreed.
Sharon, I was just thinking of The Tale of Despereaux and how Kate DiCamillo took an “antiquated” style and made it so new. Lemony Snicket, too.
Liesl, I’ve always meant to get to The Screwtape Letters, and I’ve heard wonderful things about Part-Time Indian.
*sigh* I love the Chronicles of Narnia.
I was sad about Moonrat, too. I was surprised she considered her blog a ranting blog when she made me laugh so much!
Also, thanks for the tips on novels in verse. I’ve reserved some more at my library. Pressing on to finish the challenge!
Amy
I love The Princess and the Goblin, and I enjoy author asides. I know they’re supposed to take us right out of the narrative, but if the author voice is intrinsically meshed with the narrative, then it adds to it. Not that I would ever use it as a technique (I do actually want to get published someday)!
My eldest daughter recently read Lewis’s space trilogy. I haven’t read those for years. Good stuff!