If You Like the Chronicles of Narnia...

[Theophilus]

You may or may not like this often passed over gem.

With all the interest in C.S. Lewis due to the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe movie, I was curious as to whether or not anyone else had read Lewis' Till We Have Faces? I strongly recommend it.

Lewis often gets labeled as only writing novels for children, but this book is not for kids. It is a retelling of the Cupid and Psyche myth, but it's the most original take I've ever read.

It's appropriate that this is the last fictional novel Lewis ever wrote, because it pretty well sums up his theology. If you're familiar with his works you'll recognize a lot of themes from Mere Christianity, Miracles, the Problem of Pain, and well, almost every work he wrote on theology.

Any takers?

[Winslow]

Funny.

I haven't heard of this work. I'll look it up.

C.S. Lewis' Space Trilogy . . . Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, and That Hideous Strength were great reads. Although the last book was way over my head as a kid.

[Hiromi]

Weren't the Narnia books the only children's literature Lewis actually wrote?

[Nessor Sille]

The Chronicles of Narnia were the only books C.S. Lewis wrote that were aimed at children.

Everything else he wrote was aimed at adults.

It's not so much he has a "children only" label so much as his most famous and widely-read works are the Narnia books.

[Theophilus]

The Chronicles of Narnia were the only books C.S. Lewis wrote that were aimed at children.

Everything else he wrote was aimed at adults.

It's not so much he has a "children only" label so much as his most famous and widely-read works are the Narnia books.

True. I guess what I had in mind was that I've been told when I quoted Lewis on theology that he was 'just a children's author'.

As an interesting aside, Lewis was very uncomfortable around children. Go figure.

[Theophilus]

Funny.

I haven't heard of this work. I'll look it up.

C.S. Lewis' Space Trilogy . . . Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, and That Hideous Strength were great reads. Although the last book was way over my head as a kid.

I think you'd love it, Winslow. It's deep, but definitely not over your head now.

[Winslow]

I think you'd love it, Winslow. It's deep, but definitely not over your head now.

I re-read it as an adult about 10 years ago, and yes indeed, the last book was fascinating.

The first two books in the Space Trilogy I would recommend to any young adult, say 12 and up . . .

[Solaris]

True. I guess what I had in mind was that I've been told when I quoted Lewis on theology that he was 'just a children's author'.
...



Whoever said that didn't know much about Lewis, then. :D I haven't read "Until We Have Faces" yet, but it's on my list. I *have* read "The Screwtape Letters" and found it fascinating.

Another good author who gets branded as a "children only" writer is Madeline L'Engle. She's written many adult works that are fascinating, thought-provoking, and like Lewis have a good bit of philosophical and religious thought in them... yet too many people only think of her for "A Wrinkle in Time." If you haven't checked out her adult books, I strongly recommend them.

And, I also recommend the Jan Karon "Mitford" books, if you haven't read them yet, Theo. Less philosophical, but with some strong life-lesson situations and contrasts, and as homey as fresh-baked bread. Karon does a *fine* job of creating very realistic characters for her setting (small NC mountain town)---I've lived in that area (Brevard, actually), and other similar places, and she does an excellent job with it. The main character is a late-middle-aged Episcopal Priest named Father Tim. I have yet to find anyone who did *not* enjoy the Mitford books, whether the reader was Christian or not, teen or grandparent.