Posted on 11/15/2005 3:11:25 PM PST by churchillbuff
Why not? Can you be a bit more specific than "inane tripe". That's hardly a fair criticism.
(I'm fond of the books and first read them in childhood. But they are good solid work in my opinion. I'd like to hear the reasons for your position.)
"There was once a boy called Eustace Clarence Scrubb, and he almost deserved it."
But I like most everything Lewis wrote - even The Discarded Image, which is relatively heavy going. I haven't found a copy of his volume in the Oxford History of English Literature series yet, but I'm looking.
Now THAT sounds like my kind of readin'!
Who ran away from his Nurse and was eaten by a Lion
There was a Boy whose name was Jim;
His Friends were very good to him.
They gave him Tea, and Cakes, and Jam,
And slices of delicious Ham,
And Chocolate with pink inside
And little Tricycles to ride,
And read him Stories through and through,
And even took him to the Zoo--
But there it was the dreadful Fate
Befell him, which I now relate.
You know--or at least you ought to know,
For I have often told you so--
That Children never are allowed
To leave their Nurses in a Crowd;
Now this was Jim's especial Foible,
He ran away when he was able,
And on this inauspicious day
He slipped his hand and ran away!
He hadn't gone a yard when--Bang!
With open Jaws, a lion sprang,
And hungrily began to eat
The Boy: beginning at his feet.
Now, just imagine how it feels
When first your toes and then your heels,
And then by gradual degrees,
Your shins and ankles, calves and knees,
Are slowly eaten, bit by bit.
No wonder Jim detested it!
No wonder that he shouted ``Hi!''
The Honest Keeper heard his cry,
Though very fat he almost ran
To help the little gentleman.
``Ponto!'' he ordered as he came
(For Ponto was the Lion's name),
``Ponto!'' he cried, with angry Frown,
``Let go, Sir! Down, Sir! Put it down!''
The Lion made a sudden stop,
He let the Dainty Morsel drop,
And slunk reluctant to his Cage,
Snarling with Disappointed Rage.
But when he bent him over Jim,
The Honest Keeper's Eyes were dim.
The Lion having reached his Head,
The Miserable Boy was dead!
When Nurse informed his Parents, they
Were more Concerned than I can say:--
His Mother, as She dried her eyes,
Said, ``Well--it gives me no surprise,
He would not do as he was told!''
His Father, who was self-controlled,
Bade all the children round attend
To James's miserable end,
And always keep a-hold of Nurse
For fear of finding something worse.
I'm guessing Moral Hazard liked to read books about grain elevators when he was younger...
< g > (isn't it amazing how much sticks with you?)
Thank you. I've never gotten around to reading that one. I did a quick google and it looks like something I would enjoy reading. "Surprised by Joy" and "The Problem of Pain" were also very good. Lewis had a depth of insight that few have equaled.
Get a copy, it's still in print, in paperback. It's wonderful. If you've read any George MacDonald (Phantastes or The Day Boy and the Night Girl) you will enjoy it still more.
Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, and That Hideous Strength. Anyone recall those?
Listen to samples from the upcoming soundtrack here:
http://www.soundtrack.net/features/article/?id=169
The Chronicles of Narnia were my favorite books as a kid. I really enjoyed reading them to my son when he was younger.
I need to read them to my daughters because they are great books!
That reminds me of the time I was talking about books with some coworkers and I said I enjoyed Watership Down. A coworker said he always wanted to read it so I brought it in the next day.
The day after that he returned it with the following comment:
"This is so stupid. Rabbits can't talk!"
I feel sorry for those people, too.
Isn't it December 9th YET?
Hmmm, cares for his friends, has to choose between what is right and what is easy, intesnely loyal to those around him... Yeah, awful role model. Perhaps if parents who look at Potter as being the Spawn of Satan spent half as much time convincing their kids that it is fiction, and not something they should attempt (spells and potions and that crap), as they spent criticizing, we might actually get somewhere.
It gets kids to read, and provides a moral lesson in the end. I see no problem with it, provided parents teach their kids the difference between reality and fiction.
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