Tuesday, November 1, 2011

THANKFUL FOR...Narnia



All this week I'm going to be discussing the books I'm most grateful for. Doing a post like this one is all you have to do to qualify for the 19-YA-Book Giveaway I launched yesterday. Just tell people about a book you're thankful for, include a link to the contest and the graphic right there to the right, and you're qualified.

Chronicles of Narnia
by CS Lewis

If I had to pinpoint one book that changed my life, it would be this one.

I remember when I first discovered The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. It was at my local library. The children's section was in the basement of the library, and under the stairs that lead into the section was "my spot," an area were I would pile up books and pour myself into them until my mother dragged me away. 

I had read every single Babysitter's Club and Sweet Valley in the library, and was getting a little sick of it. (Or maybe I was just sick of Jessica. She was never as cool as Elizabeth.) Frankly, at the time there was little else beyond picture books down there. 

Then I found The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

It was, in a word, magical. I went through the wardrobe with Lucy, and I never came back out. 

I've re-read the entire series countless times since, but that first time I read it was the best. That was when I realized that books could be more than the words on the page. To an adult reader, the allegorical subtext of the novels is pretty obvious, but to me, a kid with no experience in that sort of thing, piecing together the meaning behind the story was like putting together a puzzle, uncovering each detail as if it were a carefully hidden clue in a mystery I was living with the characters.

I love Narnia not just for the story (and Reepicheep! and Mr. Tumnus! and Puddleglum!) but also for that moment of discovery. I loved it so much that, from a very early age, I dedicated myself to books. I went on to major in English, get a master's degree in literature, become a teacher of English for six years, and all the while weave together stories that always had a hint of snow or Turkish delight in them.

If you haven't yet, be sure to tell me about what story you're most grateful for and sign up for the giveaway! And, after today, I think you can figure out why I decided to include a box of Turkish delight with the prizes... :D


14 comments:

Laura said...

YES. Oh, I love, love, love the Narnia series (Though Magician's Nephew is my favorite).
I'm a big fan of C.S. Lewis' work. Have you read his Space Trilogy by any chance? (in all its amazing sci-fi wonderfulness)

Book Chatter Cath said...

Loved this series although The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe would be my second 'book most thankful for'

AmieSalmon said...

Narnia is amazing, Puddlegulm is one of my favourite characters in literature.

barmybex said...

This was my choice for my entry that I put up yesterday - you can't beat Narnia.
Puddleglum was always my favourite. :D

Elana Johnson said...

Brilliant choice. I discovered The Chronicles of Narnia as an adult, and they were still magical.

Abby Fowers said...

The Narnia books are great! My kids love the movies!

P.E. said...

I love The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe the best though I own them all. :) To this day I can't think of Turkish Delights without thinking of the books.

NeuroHormone said...

I think the Chronicles of Narnia for you is the equivalent of Harry Potter for me. :)
I'm so thankful for books. and authors. and words of course. AND letters. and human brain. yes. that's about it. :)

Myrna Foster said...

My older brother gave me these when I was a kid, and we (the younger children) would have sleepovers in one bedroom and read them out loud to each other, way past our bedtimes. We all still love them.

Anonymous said...

I love chronicals of Narnia. They are amazing books and perfect for anyone who likes to imagine new and amazing things.

Great post! :)

Patricia T. said...

New to your site -- this is a fabulous idea. I love the Chronicles of Narnia, but didn't read them until later in life. I had just finished 6 yrs of graduate work, and I needed an escape from all my studying. And it was a great escape!
Patricia

Anonymous said...

If my post for the Beetle Bush shows up on here... I apologize. I meant to put it on my blog but made a mistake on my ipod and think I posted it here. :?

-Sarah

Anonymous said...

And I guess it didn't! Sorry about the mishap! :O

-Sarah

Kim Aippersbach said...

My grade three music teacher lent me his copies of the Chronicles of Narnia, and I am forever grateful to him. I've probably read them 25 times or more (for a while there I was rereading the whole series once a year). As an adult reading them, it amazes me that so few words can create such a complete world.