One of the things I’m most excited about this summer is reading new books. I’ve got well over 20 on my “to-read” list, mostly new books with some old favorites mixed in here and there. (Go ahead, call me a nerd. I’m thrilled about reading for pleasure instead of classes.)
As of Tuesday night, one of my old favorites, The Chronicles of Narnia (C.S. Lewis), jumped from the lower middle of my list to the top of my list – plus I’ve now managed to pick one of the 20+ books from WJI to read on my flights/layovers back home.
The book that I’ll be reading on my way back to Memphis – Planet Narnia: The Seven Heavens in the Imagination of C.S. Lewis by Michael Ward.
I had the privilege of hearing Ward lecture in New York at Socrates in the City Tuesday evening. There’s no way to sum up everything that he talked about, but in short, he has cracked Lewis’s code in the Narnia series, linking elements to Lewis’s study of medieval cosmology.
If you’re like me, maybe you didn’t initially realize the books had a “code.” Even so, did you ever wonder about certain elements that Lewis throws into his series, like Father Christmas? I know that I did…I couldn’t for the life of me figure out why Father Christmas appeared in the books. Ward explained this – and other confusing elements – in Lewis’s books. I can’t begin to tell you how I felt as Ward fully explained Father Christmas – the light bulb finally went off for me!
Some might say that cracking Lewis’s code ruins the series. I would argue with Ward and say that it doesn’t; instead, it makes sense of the confusions and gives us a greater understanding and appreciation of the author and his intent.
Two things I really appreciated about Ward’s lecture: First, he began with Psalm 19 (“The heavens declare the glory of God…”), which is one of my favorite psalms. It was a reminder that even literature – a form of God’s creation – can point others to Him and bring Him glory. Secondly, he said something along the lines of this during the lecture (paraphrased): “If we can’t figure out the world of a children’s book [because the Narnia series was intended for children], how can we figure out all of the real world made by an infinite Creator?” That helped me put things into perspective and remember that it’s okay that I don’t have everything about the world figured out.
I started to blog exactly what Ward spoke about during his lecture and then realized that would kill the secret. I’ve given the links to the book, so go get your curious self a copy and then we’ll talk about it further.
(By the way, my second layover/plane book will probably be Eric Metaxas’s Amazing Grace: William Wilberforce and the Heroic Campaign to End Slavery. Metaxas is the founder and host of Socrates in the City and graciously allowed the WJI students to attend Tuesday evening – thanks, Eric!)
2 comments:
Hi Aubra. I agree with your comment about reading what you want instead of what you have to. About the code in the Narnia series: I'm not really clear on it, but I do know that sometimes when you keep on seeing new things in literature you like, then it keeps the book alive and interesting. That's what good writing, including fiction can do. It keeps renewing your interest, and keeps part of your spirit active. Happy reading!
I remember it all glittering and sparkling! great work aubra cadaubra! ~molly =)
Post a Comment