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Christmas seems like a good time to do a re-read of one of my favorite series of books â Chronicles of Narnia. I love it sm I made my husband promise 2+ years ago we could name a daughter Lucy. Iâm going to share all my thoughts/fav quotes in this thread so feel free to mute now.
And *obviously* in this house we read in publication order so Iâm starting off w/THE LION, THE WITCH, & THE WARDROBE (love a good Oxford comma). C.S. Lewis wrote this for his goddaughter Lucy & I have always loved this dedication so yes we havenât even gotten to the 1st page 
I keep meaning to do this at times when no one is awake so as not to clog up peopleâs feeds but then I forget so hopefully people are relaxing before 9am the week of Christmas. Also keep in mind I am not an expert so my Narnia thoughts may be real basic.
One thing that always confused me when I was younger was how on earth did Lucy and Edmund not know who Adam and Eve were, but now I realize Aslanâs line about bringing them to Narnia to know and learn ties back to this.
Much of the Susan discussion frustrates me, as I donât find her outcome depressing or sexist but realistic (we all go thru times of doubt & the superficial) & hopeful (she may still find her own way), & I think these lines are interesting foreshadowing while totally in character!
Here is one of my faaavorite lines in the whole series (so much so that I made it into my Twitter cover photo and sometimes debate getting some of it as a tattoo). This is one of the literary lines that gives me chills (along with Kingsley Shackleboltâs âthey are coming,â tbqh).
I looove that the 2 girls are the 1st ones to know what Aslan did & what happened to Him. This went over my head as a(n oblivious) kid. Linking my friend @jennaep7 https://arcdigital.media/sorry-john-macarthur-were-not-going-home-aac8c3bc7d83: âGod chose a woman as the 1st giver of the good news, the 1st human vessel for the gospel.â
And on that note, I find it extremely interesting that Susan doesnât want to tell Edmund what Aslan did for him.
On to PRINCE CASPIAN: THE RETURN TO NARNIA. This one isnât especially deep but I love 1) the way C.S. Lewis writes, 2) the process of the Pevensies figuring out where they are, & 3) how true it is that sound/music bring back memories easier, faster, & stronger than anything else.
I never thought much about these lines beyond Miraz justifying his rule until I learned Lewis said PRINCE CASPIAN is about the ârestoration of the true religion after corruption.â Here Miraz denies not just the events of TLTWATW but also the existence of Aslan and lions entirely.
Nikabrikâs version of âown the libs at all costsâ 
I honestly canât say anything better about Lucy seeing Aslan, only Edmund believing her, and Aslan leading them than @patdeklotzâ thread on PRINCE CASPIAN so Iâll just link to it here: https://twitter.com/patdeklotz/status/1033909713266593793?s=21
I grew up Catholic, but as a child, I saw learning about Catholicism more as a chore. However, as I get older, my faith gets stronger, my relationship with God deepens, and I want to learn more. So every time I read this particular passage, I love it even more.
I love how C.S. Lewis manages to make these themes work in a childrenâs book: We should come to Jesus regardless of whether others follow; even if others donât follow, that doesnât mean we are alone; & â particularly relevant rnâ following our faith & conscience IS the good.
Hmm @ Susan She admits that she believed but told herself otherwise & refused to act on it. And then Peter â who also didnât believe Lu about seeing Aslan â jumps at the opportunity to apologize to Aslan, glad to be wrong & that Heâs there, whereas Su draws back away from Him.
She admits that she believed but told herself otherwise & refused to act on it. And then Peter â who also didnât believe Lu about seeing Aslan â jumps at the opportunity to apologize to Aslan, glad to be wrong & that Heâs there, whereas Su draws back away from Him.
Given the state of politics, Nikabrik fascinates me now more than ever. His anger, hatred, & hopelessness poisoned him; heâs willing to use any means necessary for victory & revenge (& see Lewisâ comment 
). Sharing @ginadalfonzoâs fab 2016 essay on him: https://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2016/01/nikabriks-candidate
). Sharing @ginadalfonzoâs fab 2016 essay on him: https://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2016/01/nikabriks-candidate
As a kid, the Bacchus parts went WAY over my head, & so in that way it also wasnât strange to me that Roman gods were in Narnia. Iâve been reading @mattmikalatosâ Narnia essays as I go & want to share one on the âmessy, beautiful world-buildingâ of Narnia: https://www.tor.com/2019/10/16/the-messy-beautiful-worldbuilding-of-the-lion-the-witch-and-the-wardrobe/
Relatedly, I loved @mattmikalatosâ essay on the Bacchanal. Such a great observation on extremism, whether itâs hedonism or artificial constraints & strict adherence; Aslan as a tempering influence; & the pure joy & celebration of the restoration of truth.
https://www.tor.com/2020/01/29/we-should-probably-talk-about-that-time-susan-and-lucy-attended-a-bacchanal-in-narnia/
https://www.tor.com/2020/01/29/we-should-probably-talk-about-that-time-susan-and-lucy-attended-a-bacchanal-in-narnia/
Boy oh boy do I think about this conversation a lot these days.
And to end PRINCE CASPIAN, here is another one of my favorite quotes. These few lines are just incredible.
(One last essay on the beauty, potential, and shame of humanity: https://www.tor.com/2020/02/12/we-are-all-kings-and-queens-in-narnia-prince-caspian-the-son-of-adam/)
Be content.
(One last essay on the beauty, potential, and shame of humanity: https://www.tor.com/2020/02/12/we-are-all-kings-and-queens-in-narnia-prince-caspian-the-son-of-adam/)
Be content.
