conuly | Fine! You've convinced me!

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Heh, small world. It seems I'm everlastingly finding Belgians, or, worse, Belgian-Americans. You go through life thinking you're unique, and then you find out that you're apparently the largest unknown ethnic group in your country, it's just that nobody talks about it.

That said, when it comes to Narnia... if you read it, like most of us did, as a kid... you read it as a kid. End of problem :) It's only on the re-read that you see how it was written.

When you say "first book", do you mean The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe or The Magician's Nephew?

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It's the first one printed, but in terms of chronology, it's actually after Magicians Nephew (which was, I believe, the last one printed).

Second to last. The Last Battle is the very last one (as well as being the last one printed).

It was the first one written, and in my opinion, the first book that should be read. There's debate about this, and so, I was wondering.

My boxset (from the early 90s) has them in publishing order, while most of the newer ones are in chronological order. I stand by reading The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe first, because it's actually interesting (and has such a sense of wonder!). The Magician's Nephew is an origins book, and I find it to be rather dry unless you actually care about Narnia already.

I'm boycotting, simply because of the entirely (http://www.newkerala.com/news.php?action=fullnews&id=58254) gross (http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssentinel/living/13291474.htm) way (http://www.azcentral.com/ent/movies/articles/1008narniamarket1008.html) Disney's been marketing the thing.

That article is pretty sickening... just the attitude. "No one can enjoy the movie without understanding the Christian subtext!"

I did a pretty good job of reading the book and being oblivious to the Christian subtext, until it was pointed out to me.

That's the thing -- I think the books were really enjoyable without thinking too much about the Christian symbolism. (And actually, it's debatable how "Christian" that symbolism really is (http://www.newyorker.com/printables/critics/051121crat_atlarge).) I'm willing to bet the movie probably doesn't hit you over the head with it, either.

Unfortunately, Disney has chosen to play the religion card (while pretending they're not (http://washingtontimes.com/national/20051130-111658-3104r.htm), in other markets (http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/mpapps/pagetools/print/news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4443248.stm)). So they're not only pushing it as a great Christian movie, they're lying about promoting it as a Christian movie at all.

And that just leaves a nasty taste in my mouth.

Maybe I should do that... I can't really afford to buy a ticket anyway.

If I don't, then just disregard this comment.

I once mentioned to a friend that Narnia just reeked of Christian symbolism.

"That's bullshit! The author was an atheist."

Later the friend and I parted ways forever, and I was wondering why an atheist would write Narnia. Then I found out that he was a devout Catholic.

Most of my other friends say that you can look past the symbolism and enjoy the story. I honestly haven't tried. Either way, I want to see the movie, because I liked the books as a kid.