St Patrick's Day Reading: 'The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe'

[Scheherazade]

We are reading The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis to celerate the St Patrick's Day. Get your copies ready!




Book Club Procedures

[SleepyWitch]

oops, when is St Patrick's Day? this Friday? how long to we get to read the book? I've been a silly witch and voted on the nomination thread without checking if i've got the time to read the book any time soon....
well, it's a short one isn't it?

[Scheherazade]

Just got it today. It is very short... You could probably read it in a day or two!

And yes, St Patrick's Day is on Friday...

[Stanislaw]

done and done, I liked the book, but will wait till post friday to discuss...dinna want to spoil it.

For those who have finished, which did ye like better the book or the movie? personally I liked the book, the bit about aslan near the end is interesting, and I think conveys a different meaning in the book than in the movie, is all for now, don't wish to spoil it fer all ye others.

[Stanislaw]

has no one else finished?

[Jay]

I have. That makes it 3 people? Would that be enough for a live chat?

[SleepyWitch]

LazyWitch has not finished it yet.
I'm stuck where they meet Father Christmas.
I like the way he addresses the reader directly. it must be great fun for little kids... it's just as if he was telling the story directly without a book in between

[Scheherazade]

Finished it last night... And I was almost in tears when Aslan died! I knew he would offer his life in return for Ed's and...

Glad all turned out well at the end! I should read the rest of the series soon!

Has anyone seen the movie? Is it worth watching?

[Shea]

Yes, it's worth watching but they tweak the story a bit for dramatic purposes. However it actually does do a pretty good job of sticking close to the text.

I didn't have time to read this one for Patrick's day, but I can't number how many times I've read it and the rest since I was a child. As I got older I noticed all those Biblical parallels, pretty interesting. but... I guess I'm not really allowed to chat about it.

[Jay]

I liked the movie

Shea, I think if you're not going to talk about current politics, you can talk about pretty much anything you want. There were biblical parallels? I should re-read it (and I would mind SO much doing that ).

Possible spoler!!

I don't like the fact that it's always the boys that get all the fun. Peter gets knighted, Edward does this bad-turned-good character change... and the girls? Susan gets a bow she uses once (if I remember correctly), Lucy heals everyone by giving them the magical potion thingy... Well, aside of Lucy being the 'child' and therefore more prone to believe in all the magic Narnia has to offer... ok, maybe I'm being silly but it's always the boys having more fun. (imho that is )
</spoiler and rant>

Actually, who do you think is the main character? The siblings (as a group)? One of them? Aslan? The Beavers? The Wicked Witch of Ice?
Or shall we discuss that in the chat?

[Shea]

I liked the movie

Shea, I think if you're not going to talk about current politics, you can talk about pretty much anything you want. There were biblical parallels? I should re-read it (and I would mind SO much doing that ).

I only said that because I think I read somewhere around here that it's preferred if we only partake in the discussions if we've read or re-read the book for this month. I didn't have time to re-read it, but it's on my study list so I wouldn't mind discussing it.

SPOILER

Parallels:Think of Edmund as Judas (betrayal), also as a representative of Man (Aslan died in his stead). Aslan is the Christ figure (sacrificed and resurrected). Winter in Narnia represents the Old Testament, Spring represents the New Testament (new life through baptism etc.) though this is kind of a hazy parallel, I don't have the brain power at the moment to say something better.

Another interesting parallel I realized when I was in England. The lion is the emblem of England and historically England has believed that the monarchy is appointed by God. Hence Aslan is the "God" of Narnia and he crowns the monarchs (the children).

As far as the main character goes, I think it just changes depending on where the story is. This is true of the other books as well.

[SleepyWitch]

SPOILER

Parallels:Think of Edmund as Judas (betrayal), also as a representative of Man (Aslan died in his stead). Aslan is the Christ figure (sacrificed and resurrected). Winter in Narnia represents the Old Testament, Spring represents the New Testament (new life through baptism etc.) though this is kind of a hazy parallel, I don't have the brain power at the moment to say something better.

Another interesting parallel I realized when I was in England. The lion is the emblem of England and historically England has believed that the monarchy is appointed by God. Hence Aslan is the "God" of Narnia and he crowns the monarchs (the children).

SleepyWitch has finished the book

hehe, I had similar ideas about the Biblical parallels...
seeing as Aslan is the son of the Emperor it makes sense to compare him with Jesus.
wow, your point about English monarchy is really smart!!!

Jay I don't like the fact that they boys get all the fun either but after all, the books were written in the 50s or something....
does Susan use her bow and arrows at all in the book? I think I missed that one... I remember that she did in the film, though....

[Jay]

Good point, I might be confusing the film with the book... really should re-read it, once I have the time to

[Shea]

wow, your point about English monarchy is really smart!!!

Yeah, it only took me YEARS to realize it. *immense sarcasm*

[NNoah3]

Once I started to read the book I couldn't stop.
I enjoyed it VERY VERY much. I haven't seen the movie yet. Last Christmas when I was at my parents' house, my nephews were a little crazy about the movie. They had seen the movie and they have enjoyed it very much. When I told them that the movie was based in one of the seven books of the Chronicles of Narnia, well they fired me with a lot of questions about them. I just sent all the books to them and I hope that they enjoy reading them as much as I do. One thing is sure my sister is going to enjoy them a lot, she likes to read as much as I like .

Shea: Interesting point of view! I didn't think in that way until I read your comment.