I’ve never read anything by C.S.Lewis. Where should I start?
I’ve never read anything by C.S.Lewis. Where should I start?
54 Answers
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Loading Please wait
I’ve never read anything by C.S.Lewis. Where should I start?
sorry, religious allegory not my thing, stuck to JRR Tolkien Hobbit and LOTR.
Then why comment?
@Melody not everyone realizes his books are religious allegory, might cut down on allergic reactions. and since Lewis and Tolkien taught at the same university, and were in the same writers’ group, my lateral thinking connected sideways. lol i’ve heard Lewis didn’t care for Tolkien’s elves ?
His books are clearly religious. How could anyone not realize that?
The Narnia Series was fun. I read them at age 31.
I enjoyed The Screwtape Letters
Narnia is a great read, but his apologetics are fantastic! I recommend The Great Divorce.
The Narnia Chronicles
Well, Tolkien was a Roman Catholic, and his faith is as much a part of LOTR as Lewis’ is The Chronicles of Narnia. In fact, C.S. Lewis converted from atheism because of Tolkien’s friendship. 🙂
But anyway, The Chronicles of Narnia, much like The Lord of the Rings is enjoyed by many people of differing beliefs. Some people believe they should be read chronologically based on stories of the characters. Others believe they should be read based on release date. Personally, I liked the main 3 the best. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Prince Caspian, and Voyage of the Dawn Treader.
interesting, thanks. maybe my upbringing made the allegorical in Lewis more obvious to me than whatever is in (i’m surprised,still haven’t noticed) LOTR. i’ll be more aware now. ?
“Tolkien helped return Lewis to the Christianity of his youth,…” https://www.thoughtco.com/c-s-lewis-and-j-r-r-tolkien-christian-theology-249783
C. S. Lewis is terrific.
Narnia for sure
My favorite is The Magician’s Nephew. Details of the story are so vivid, they stuck with me since childhood and I had to get the book again as an adult.
C.S. Lewis wrote so many great books! The Narnia Chronicles are wonderful, for children or adults! I would also recommend his Space Trilogy ( Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, and That Hideous Strength). And now that I’ve mentioned them, I’ll have to read them again. Thankfully, my mother was a Lewis fan, and had almost every one of his books, which I inherited when she passed away. Thanks, Mama! <3
“Screwtape Letters” is what hooked me.
Mere Christianity is fantastic. Especially the first chapter, and the chapters on pride and humility. Literally, those chapters are so powerful, they can change people’s very character.
Narnia Chronicles. You don’t say whether you’re interested in his religious works or not.
The Chronicles of Narnia are just fantastic. My favourite books of all time and still read them yearly at least. Don’t be out of by the odd religious connection if it’s not your thing. I am a confirmed atheist and I adore them. The Screwtape Letters is pretty fab too.
The Narnia series is great, personally feel that if you can hear them on audiobook format, it comes more to life!
Hillsdale Course on C.S. Lewis
You can’t miss with Lewis. Literally.
OUT OF THE SILENT PLANET.
I loved A Grief Observed, but I’m not sure I’d start there. But I’d recommend reading it eventually, as he wrote it later in life after the death of his wife.
The chronicles of narnia!!!
Mere Christianity. It’s a really fascinating argument.
Originally written as a series of radio shows; it’s excellent as an audio book.
Mere Christianity
one of his books… and i fail to recall the title.. discusses grief after loosing his wife .. with a christian atmosphere. i read it nearly forty years ago after being abruptly widowed and found it wonderful.
A Grief Observed
@Karen thankyou! now that I am older by alot, i am dealing with more losses. i ought find that book again.
@Jeannie, a grief observed. Outstanding.
No one has mentioned “Till We Have Faces”? One of his best!
@Marty i read that one and was very impressed!
The Screwtape Letters are great, The Great Divorce is good (pretty deep) I’m reading Mere Christianity right now, good but definitely a more serious read than the fiction books
Screwtape Letters.
The Chronicles of Narnia or Mere Christianity. I enjoyed Screwtape Letters but when I had my
Book club read it they mostly disliked it.
Chronicles of Narnia
Start with The Chronicles of Narnia. The first book sequentially is “The Magician’s Nephew” but the first book in the series is “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.” You can’t go wrong with either one.
If you like science fiction C.S. Lewis wrote a space trilogy. Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, and That Hideous Strength. The Chronicles of Narnia are also wonderful. For non-fiction, try Four Loves and Surprised by Joy.
The Screwtape Letters
Agreed
As @Pamela said, start with The Screwtape Letters.
My favorite is The Screwtape Letters. But really, he wrote on many topics, so choose your topic. His book on the Four Loves is good.
You may like the biography by A.N Wilson
The Great Divorce
One of his less known books but an important part of his cannon.
For adults, The Screwtape Letters
My first Lewis book. I tangled with it in ninth grade; wow. I was way too young. Loved it! But the literary digestion function was measured in years. It was a slow recovery.
@Steve I know. It makes you think.
Personally, I don’t Understand why Christians think C. S. Lewis is great and Harry Potter is horrible….
I think they are both about the same. And just the thought of the Screw Tape Letters freaks me out.
I struggled with the Screwtape Letters. For me, it was as if a whole book was described backwards.
Mere Christianity