Re: What is your preferred reading order?
Posted: May 04, 2013 7:46 am
It is my opinion, first time readers MUST read the CoN in the original publication order:
LWW
PC
VDT
SC
HHB
MN
LB
The journey through Narnia flows much more smoothly and makes much more sense to a FIRST TIME reader if one reads the books in that order. The reason I use to support my adamant opinion is simply this: Prequels are NOT meant to be read/viewed first. An author writes a prequel after other books to provide additional information, spoilers if you will, to answer questions the reader might have and tie up loose ends. If one reads the prequel first, it ruins the entire series because the reader/viewer knows too much, too soon. An example of this can be found in the Star Wars movies. If a first time viewer watched those movies in chronological order and not the released order when Darth Vader iconically tells Luke, “I am your father!” the viewer says to him/herself, “So what, big deal, I already know that.” And just like that, the magic, the surprise, the impact of that moment is lost. The same holds true if the Narnia books are read in chronological order for the first time. It makes me so sad to think we have an entire generation reading these classic books in a sequence that spoils the beauty and magic that C.S. Lewis intended. Of course, after ALL of the books and been read in the proper published order, I encourage a chronological reading. And then an “any way you feel like” reading. I can honestly say I’ve read the CoN at least a thousand times each. I so love those books!
LWW
PC
VDT
SC
HHB
MN
LB
The journey through Narnia flows much more smoothly and makes much more sense to a FIRST TIME reader if one reads the books in that order. The reason I use to support my adamant opinion is simply this: Prequels are NOT meant to be read/viewed first. An author writes a prequel after other books to provide additional information, spoilers if you will, to answer questions the reader might have and tie up loose ends. If one reads the prequel first, it ruins the entire series because the reader/viewer knows too much, too soon. An example of this can be found in the Star Wars movies. If a first time viewer watched those movies in chronological order and not the released order when Darth Vader iconically tells Luke, “I am your father!” the viewer says to him/herself, “So what, big deal, I already know that.” And just like that, the magic, the surprise, the impact of that moment is lost. The same holds true if the Narnia books are read in chronological order for the first time. It makes me so sad to think we have an entire generation reading these classic books in a sequence that spoils the beauty and magic that C.S. Lewis intended. Of course, after ALL of the books and been read in the proper published order, I encourage a chronological reading. And then an “any way you feel like” reading. I can honestly say I’ve read the CoN at least a thousand times each. I so love those books!