Adult Fiction and Non-Fiction of C.S. Lewis

hectorberlioz · 11-28-2005, 07:26 PM

C.S Lewis is of course known for The Chronicles of Narnia, but anybody who says they are his most important life's work are either in the dark about his more adult works, or haven't read any of them.

The Four Loves
Anybody else read it?
I thought it was wonderful. The wit was warm (as always), the explanations seemed quite fully explained

. I think I'll read it again soon.

The Screwtape Letters
Unlike others, I didn't think much of it was funny. Amusing yes, but the advice sounded real enough if you were to give advice to a devil nephew of yours...

A Grief Observed
Like Madeleine L'Engle, for me it wasnt a tear jerker. It was sad, and truthful.

Mere Christianity
Often called the Ultimate christian apologetic book, and for good reason. It remains my favorite Lewis Non-fiction.
It's a book I can't put down even after three go-throughs.

Pending...
The Problem of Pain
Miracles
The Great Divorce
The Pilgrim's Regress

Mercutio · 11-28-2005, 07:31 PM

We read Screwtape for school. That's an impressive book.

You forgot the Abolition of Man (which my mom has a section marked for me to read...) about the modern education system teaching kids to see through everything and that all is relative to your own emotions and such...

and the Space Trilogy. The best one from that is That Hideous Strength I believe.

Elanor · 11-28-2005, 07:45 PM

I read the Pilgrim's Regress with my sister last summer. She's read almost everything by C.S. Lewis. I wish his works were more widely available in my area... Anyway, the allegory in this story is way over the top (and people say Narnia's allegory is oppressive!), and we had to laugh at a lot of the imagery. But it was certainly interesting at times, and makes several religious points very well.

In my Freshman English class at college we studied Till We Have Faces, a mythological fantasy, but very adult, I think. This is a fascinating book, and makes a lot of points about inner and outer beauty. Anyone could enjoy this one.

tolkienfan · 11-28-2005, 10:18 PM

I've read Mere Christianity, I thought it was really good. I've also read Letters to Children. Are you counting that one?

brownjenkins · 11-29-2005, 10:41 AM

i read screwtape, which i thought was a pretty original idea and done well

i also read the out of the silent planet trilogy a few times... it was pretty well done... not top-ten material, but one of the better series in the scifi/fantasy genre

mere christianity is interesting, i don't agree with all his conclusions, but i appreciate its noncombative stance... an it, along with many of his letters, show a degree of flexibility and openmindedness that is good to see among strong believers

sun-star · 11-29-2005, 01:40 PM

I've recently read The Discarded Image, one of his excellent books on medieval literature, where he explains the view of the universe in the Middle Ages and the dangers of imposing a modern mindset on it. It's been helpful to me in reading Chaucer.

I don't really like the Space Trilogy that much, but that's probably because I don't like sci-fi and I'm not going to like it just because it's by Lewis. The Pilgrim's Regress makes more sense if you've read Surprised by Joy. IIRC it's one of his earlier works, and covers the same ground as SBJ but not as well.

ETA: Surprised by Joy hasn't been mentioned yet? I think it might be my favourite of Lewis' non-fiction works. It's very interesting and, of course, extremely well-written.

11-28-2005, 07:26 PM	#1
hectorberlioz Master of Orchestration President Emeritus of Entmoot 2004-2008 Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Lost in the Opera House Posts: 9,328	Adult Fiction and Non-Fiction of C.S. Lewis C.S Lewis is of course known for The Chronicles of Narnia, but anybody who says they are his most important life's work are either in the dark about his more adult works, or haven't read any of them. The Four Loves Anybody else read it? I thought it was wonderful. The wit was warm (as always), the explanations seemed quite fully explained. I think I'll read it again soon. The Screwtape Letters Unlike others, I didn't think much of it was funny. Amusing yes, but the advice sounded real enough if you were to give advice to a devil nephew of yours... A Grief Observed Like Madeleine L'Engle, for me it wasnt a tear jerker. It was sad, and truthful. Mere Christianity Often called the Ultimate christian apologetic book, and for good reason. It remains my favorite Lewis Non-fiction. It's a book I can't put down even after three go-throughs. Pending... The Problem of Pain Miracles The Great Divorce The Pilgrim's Regress __________________ ACALEWIA- President of Entmoot hectorberlioz- Vice President of Entmoot Acaly und Hektor fur Presidants fur EntMut fur life! Join the discussion at Entmoot Election 2010. "Stupidissimo!"~Toscanini The Da CINDY Code The Epic Poem Of The Balrog of Entmoot: Here ~NEW! ~ Thinking of summer vacation? AboutNewJersey.com - NJ Travel & Tourism Guide

11-28-2005, 07:31 PM	#2
Mercutio Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Narnia Posts: 1,656	We read Screwtape for school. That's an impressive book. You forgot the Abolition of Man (which my mom has a section marked for me to read...) about the modern education system teaching kids to see through everything and that all is relative to your own emotions and such... and the Space Trilogy. The best one from that is That Hideous Strength I believe. __________________ Mike nodded. A sombre nod. The nod Napoleon might have given if somebody had met him in 1812 and said, "So, you're back from Moscow, eh?". Interested in C.S. Lewis? Visit the forum dedicated to one of Tolkien's greatest contemporaries.

11-28-2005, 07:45 PM	#3
Elanor Hobbit in the Music Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: Westmarch Posts: 1,111	I read the Pilgrim's Regress with my sister last summer. She's read almost everything by C.S. Lewis. I wish his works were more widely available in my area... Anyway, the allegory in this story is way over the top (and people say Narnia's allegory is oppressive!), and we had to laugh at a lot of the imagery. But it was certainly interesting at times, and makes several religious points very well. In my Freshman English class at college we studied Till We Have Faces, a mythological fantasy, but very adult, I think. This is a fascinating book, and makes a lot of points about inner and outer beauty. Anyone could enjoy this one. __________________ Middle Earth Crossword Puzzle on the Tolkien Site of DOOM Segovia Mazes

11-28-2005, 10:18 PM	#4
tolkienfan Elf Lord Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: The Internet Posts: 803	I've read Mere Christianity, I thought it was really good. I've also read Letters to Children. Are you counting that one? __________________ Don't be hasty! Thanks so much to Last Child of Ungoliant, Twista, and BeardofPants for my avatar!

11-29-2005, 10:41 AM	#5
brownjenkins Advocatus Diaboli Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Reality Posts: 3,767	i read screwtape, which i thought was a pretty original idea and done well i also read the out of the silent planet trilogy a few times... it was pretty well done... not top-ten material, but one of the better series in the scifi/fantasy genre mere christianity is interesting, i don't agree with all his conclusions, but i appreciate its noncombative stance... an it, along with many of his letters, show a degree of flexibility and openmindedness that is good to see among strong believers __________________ Your reality, sir, is lies and balderdash and I'm delighted to say that I have no grasp of it whatsoever.

11-29-2005, 01:40 PM	#6
sun-star Lady of Letters Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Either Oxford or Kent, England Posts: 2,476	I've recently read The Discarded Image, one of his excellent books on medieval literature, where he explains the view of the universe in the Middle Ages and the dangers of imposing a modern mindset on it. It's been helpful to me in reading Chaucer. I don't really like the Space Trilogy that much, but that's probably because I don't like sci-fi and I'm not going to like it just because it's by Lewis. The Pilgrim's Regress makes more sense if you've read Surprised by Joy. IIRC it's one of his earlier works, and covers the same ground as SBJ but not as well. ETA: Surprised by Joy hasn't been mentioned yet? I think it might be my favourite of Lewis' non-fiction works. It's very interesting and, of course, extremely well-written. __________________ And all the time the waves, the waves, the waves Chase, intersect and flatten on the sand As they have done for centuries, as they will For centuries to come, when not a soul Is left to picnic on the blazing rocks, When England is not England, when mankind Has blown himself to pieces. Still the sea, Consolingly disastrous, will return While the strange starfish, hugely magnified, Waits in the jewelled basin of a pool. Last edited by sun-star : 11-29-2005 at 01:42 PM.