Clive Staples Lewis

[TinuvielChild]

Has anyone here read anything by C. S. Lewis besides the Chronicles of Narnia? That would include the Screwtape Letters/Screwtape Proposes a Toast, Mere Christianity, A Grief Observed, Miracles, and The Problem of Pain.

Did you guys know that The Screwtape Letters is dedicated to J. R. R. Tolkien? That's the only other Lewis non-Narnia book that I've read. Awesomeness. It's an incredible book.

[TinuvielChild]

Oh wait...this one probably ought to go in General Literature, oughtn't it...could someone move it for me, please?

[IronParrot]

Done.

[Rían]

(aren't those admins amazing! thanks, admins!)

Hey TC, we seem to be following each other around the threads here! I'm kinda pooped after a long day, and after a long-winded explanation on the Tengwar thread on how to get a piece of paper scanned in and down to ONLY 10K!!!, so I'll just say I think I have read just about everything Lewis has written. I have even written to the publishers to get some of his stuff that was not currently available in bookstores! He is an INCREDIBLE author. Wouldn't you have loved to see Lewis and Tolkien together?

Anyway, you can ask me about a specific book, or I'll get on early next week and post a review of one of my favs.

[sun-star]

I've read Mere Christianity, Surprised by Joy, and the Screwtape Letters/Screwtape Proposes a Toast, I'm currently reading The Problem of Pain, and Miracles and A Grief Observed are on my to-read pile. You might say I'm in the grip of an obsession
I find him such an incredibly lucid and intelligent writer - he helps me understand things so much more. Has anyone read any biographies of him? What did you think?

Wouldn't you have loved to see Lewis and Tolkien together?

Absolutely!

[crickhollow]

everything lewis ever wrote is either on my "already read" list, or my "to read" list. heheheh.
what have I already read besides CoN?
-Til We Have Faces
-Space Trilogy
this summer I found a copy in our campus library of Lewis' _History of Boxen_ it's a collection of stories that he wrote starting when he was eight years old...!

[osszie]

I've just downloaded a copy of his first book!

Spirits in Bondage (a cycle of lyrics)

It was published under the pen name Clive Hamilton, all poetry and very good

Did he publish anymore poetry books?

[BeardofPants]

Apart from the narnia chronicles, I've read the first 2 books in the space trilogy - but that was when I was really young, so I don't really remember much from them.

[TinuvielChild]

The only one besides the CoN that I've read is the Screwtape Letters/Screwtape Proposes a Toast, but I totally and completely loved it, and now Mere Christianity and A Case for Christianity are on my To-read list, along with a slew of Tolkien books and the 4 Discworld books that I haven't yet read....

[Rían]

sun-star, how do you like Problem of Pain so far? That is definitely in my top-10-of-all-books. It is amazing. I esp. like the intro, where he says he didn't want to write the book because - oh shoot, it's so good I'll have to run and grab the book - here it is:

When Mr. Ashley Sampson suggested to me the writing of this book, I asked leave to be allowed to write it anonymously, since, if I were to say what I really thought about pain, I should be forced to make statements of such apparent fortitude that they would become ridiculous if anyone knew who made them. Anonymity was rejected as inconsistent with the series, but Mr. Sampson pointed out that I could write a preface explaining that I did not live up to my own principles! This exhilarating programme I am now carrying out. ... I must add, too, that the only purpose of the book is to solve the intellectual problem raised by suffering; for the far higher task of teaching fortitude and patience I was never fool enough to suppose myself qualified, nor have I anything to offer my readers except my conviction that when pain is to be borne, a little courage helps more than much knowledge, a little human sympathy more than much courage, and the least tincture of the love of God more than all.

Wow.

crickhollow - I can't believe I found someone else that has read Till We Have Faces. I first read it 10 years ago and didn't really get it. I have since re-read it several times, and it has really changed my image of God - we tend to keep Him in a box that we can handle, when actually he is SO BEYOND our wildest imagination! What do you think? I love the section at the end when she hears what all of her questions really were, and then realizes all of her questions have been answered.

[Rían]

More of my humble opinions ..

TC - Mere Christianity is great! I would put Problem of Pain next on your to-read list after Mere Christianity.

BoP - I've read the space trilogy. I liked the first one the best, then the second one, but the third one I don't care for very much, it is pretty dark and I don't get much out of it. My favorite part in the first one is where Ransom knows he needs to go to see Oyarsa. He has made that decision, and knows it's right. Then on the journey, when he is assailed by doubts and fears and isn't thinking very well, he hangs onto the fact that he needs to keep going because it is the right thing to do. He doesn't stick with it just to be obstinate; rather, because it is right (and other valid things have not come up to make him reconsider, only things that are difficult and/or scary). That thought helps me to do what I know is right. For example, I am rather shy, and if I go somewhere and see someone alone, even though I am shy and it is very difficult, I know it is the right and loving thing to do to go and talk to them and help them out, so I just make up my mind to do it and then just start walking over and not let myself think about being scared. I can't always do this, sometimes the shyness wins out, but I am getting better.

Has anyone else been helped out by CSL's writings? Can you share how?

[sun-star]

I haven't read very much of The Problem of Pain yet, but I do like it, especially the chapter on Divine Goodness. One of the most helpful things I've read by him (I can't remember where) was that "we are surrounded by immortals" - every single person we meet has an immortal soul. It's incredibly obvious but very difficult to remember at times. Also, connected to that, his constant reminders about pride, and how at the moment we think we're being very good and doing everything right, we're still committing the sin of pride. That helps me a lot

[Rían]

Originally posted by sun-star
I haven't read very much of The Problem of Pain yet, but I do like it, especially the chapter on Divine Goodness. One of the most helpful things I've read by him (I can't remember where) was that "we are surrounded by immortals" - every single person we meet has an immortal soul. It's incredibly obvious but very difficult to remember at times. Also, connected to that, his constant reminders about pride, and how at the moment we think we're being very good and doing everything right, we're still committing the sin of pride. That helps me a lot

Hmm, can't recall where the immortals thing is, I'll have to think about that. It's a good thought.

The pride thing - too often true! Occasionally though when I've done something right, esp. after a long struggle, I can have the right kind of feeling that I did well - i.e., kind of feel from God the "well done, good and faithful servant" thing, because I am acknowledging that I did not do well on my own power, but rather with lots of help from Him. God is so patient with our weaknesses, thank goodness. We just need to keep on turning to Him. And He can change us from the inside out, not just surface changes! Hooray!

[Rían]

Any updates, anyone?

[crickhollow]

Originally posted by RÃ*an
crickhollow - I can't believe I found someone else that has read Till We Have Faces. I first read it 10 years ago and didn't really get it. I have since re-read it several times, and it has really changed my image of God - we tend to keep Him in a box that we can handle, when actually he is SO BEYOND our wildest imagination! What do you think? I love the section at the end when she hears what all of her questions really were, and then realizes all of her questions have been answered.

yay! someone, finally someone who has read Til We Have Faces! It's such a powerful book. ignorance, bitter sorrow, grace, redemption. I need to re-read it again, but yes that's the absolute best part! when everything comes together, and her eyes are opened, then so are ours. Take it from the author--this was one of two of his books (the other being perelandra) that lewis loved the most.

[Rían]

crickhollow - one of the parts that I didn't get in TWHF is when (oh shoot, can't remember their names offhand, and I loaned my book out!!) anyway, near the end when the older sister (was it Orual?) tried to do things, like get fleece from the rams, and couldn't; then Psyche came after and did it with (apparently) divine help and guidance (she took the wool off of the bushes). What do you think that meant? That we can't do things on our own, but "with God, all things are possible"? But it also seemed like Psyche was doing it FOR Orual, like Christ died for OUR sin. What do you think?

[crickhollow]

it's been about a year since I read it, and my copy is at my parent's house, but here goes...weren't those things Psyche's tasks? and didn't Orual dream that she was doing them? ah! I can't remember! time for another re-read!

[Rían]

Let me know if you have any more thoughts about it, 'cause that part always confused me. I remember it the other way around, that they were Orual'stasks, and Psyche came after Orual failed and did them. I'll try to get my copy back, too

What are your thoughts on the space trilogy?

[crickhollow]

He does the same thing as with the narnia books, only on a more adult scale--he takes the Christian message out of its sterilized "Christian" environment, and tries to make it real to the reader.

My favorite is Perelandra (and, incidentally, that was Lewis' "other" favorite) i love the details that make the planet come alive. The fruit that Ransom eats, etc. Lewis also has an interesting spin on other aspects...the mindless cruelty of Weston (eg. killing the frogs, ripping the feathers off of the birds)

he's basically replaying the story of Adam and Eve, and the fall of man (for those who haven't read it) Ransom is sent to stop Eve from giving in to the tempter (basically, Satan in Weston's body)

The last two chapters beg to be read over and over because there's so much depth to the conversation between Ransom and the King.

Your thoughts?

[webwizard333]

Sometimes I think C. S. Lewis is my favorite author. He really makes me think about my faith and helps me to see things I wouldn't have thought of on my own. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to read all of his books yet, but I'm trying. So far, I'd say Perelandra is my favorite, the descriptions of such an alien world blew my mind.

Wouldn't you have loved to see Lewis and Tolkien together?

In a way, they did write together, their works have many similarities, such as Numenor, Oyarse (sp?) can be seen as planetary Valar, and they both shared their writings with another and discussed them.

So far I've read-The Chronicles of Narnia, The Screwtape Letters/Screwtape Proposes a Toast, Letters to Malcom Chiefly on Prayer, The Dark Tower, Boxen, and excerpts from Mere Christianity.