Disappointed with _Chronicles of Narnia_

[Geoff Bannister]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com, Dina Lerret <bunniqula at g...> 
wrote:

Joe Bento wrote:

> > I don't believe the books were written in chronological order.

Dina: 
> They weren't.  The gal suggested I take the books in published 
order:
> The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
> Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia
> The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
> The Silver Chair
> The Horse and His Boy
> The Magician's Nephew
> The Last Battle

Geoff:
They were published at yearly intervals form 1950 to 1956. [JKR 
please note!! :-(]

I first read them about 40 years ago largely in chronological order 
except for "The Horse and his Boy" which I read later.

Interestingly, your use of the title "Prince Caspian: the return to 
Narnia" is the first time I have ever seen it referred to like that. 
The first four books (in chronological order) had subtitles. Books 
1,3 & 4 were subtitled "A Story for Children" while Book 2 was "The 
Return to Narnia". An English reader certainly doesn't refer to the 
second book by this rather unwieldy way and it doesn't appear like 
that on the front cover.

Dina:
> Hmm, actually, now I know why she suggested published order and not
> chronological.  I might've liked it better that way because _The 
Horse
> and His Boy_ really threw me for a loop.

Geoff:
To be quite frank, I have never taken to "The Horse and his Boy". It 
really doesn't fit into the main story stream and I usually tend to 
leave it out when I occasionally go through the series again.

I often draw people's attention to the closing chapters of "The Last 
Battle" as one of the most fascinating descriptions of heaven I know. 
And also to the dwarves as an example to be avoided. They have closed 
their eyes and minds to the truth for so long that they are totally 
unable to see it even hen it is in front of them.....

If you haven't read them, have a shot - but leave out THAHB at least 
the first time round.