In What Order Should I Read The Chronicles of Narnia? | The Home Librarian Series | Common Mom
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 20 มิ.ย. 2024
- Join me for a very lighthearted video about a most serious question: in what order should one read The Chronicles of Narnia?
This is not a matter of personal opinion.
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The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe,
Prince Caspian,
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader,
The Silver Chair,
The Horse and His Boy,
The Magician's Nephew,
The Last Battle.
Yes!
As a Narnian myself, I approve this message 👏🏼📚
Further up and further in.
I concur!😊
Thank you so much for this! As a child I started with The Magician's Nephew and never finished it or started any of the other books. I plan on reading Narnia to my children, but knew I needed a different order. I don't plan on reading it to them this coming school year but the next. That will give me time to read them for myself first! Thank you for that suggestion and for the *correct* reading order. 😊
Enjoy! It really does matter how you enter Narnia and meet Aslan!
🎉love it!! I wanted this answered for my family too!!
So happy to help add to the conversation!
Thank you for this! This is so great and helpful
You're quite welcome!
Is it weird that I started tearing up about Narnia? It is my all time, #1 favorite series, to the point I need to buy new books because the covers have fallen off them, but I haven't read the whole series in a very, very long time. I'm going to fix that mistake this summer, and bring my kids along for the journey!
Thank you for all you do and say, Autumn. You have given me so much to think on over the last year since I found you, and many positive, life changing adjustments have happened because of your words. Keep fighting the good fight! ❤
Oh, I cry about Narnia...a lot. Totally normal. I think Lewis would call it a "just sentiment", right? Enjoy reading it (again) with the kids!!
I remember these books and I've read them. But here's my advice I would start at the beginning of the series.
That is one way to consider doing it maybe possibly.
This is the order that I read them as a child and I didn't even know this was a debate! Definitely the only way. :) Loved your commentary! So great.
You probably had an older series marked with the publication order. (Smart of your parents. Well done.) I've tried to follow the reasoning of the "chronological way" team and I. Just. Can't. Do. It.
I absolutely agree about the order! Horse and His Boy is hands down my favorite Narnia story; my favorite scene in the series is Chapter 11, when Shasta is speaking with the Voice. Moves me to tears every time I read it!
Ah! Another Horse lover! It really is the best one and I'm always sad when people dismiss it!
Hi Autumn! I just wanted to thank you for creating this channel and your podcast. :) I discovered you when I first learned about Charlotte Mason earlier this year, and I really look forward to your new videos and podcasts. Also, I wanted to share that your words and encouragement have been very inspiring to me, and you are one of the reasons that I have decided to return to my Catholic faith (after a year-long spiritual crisis of sorts). So, thank you so much! PS...Did you create the intro music that plays at the beginning of your podcast and videos? It's so beautiful!
Emily, thank God! That's incredible. I hope the transcendentals keep doing what they do.
And, I wish I could play such lovely music but sadly, no, I did not create the intro music. It's called "Lively Things" and I found it in the depths of a thousand options on a sound site two years ago! It's Narnia to me.
Thank you so much. I didn't know any of this. We have tried again and again to finish the magician's nephew but haven't been able to. We are going to start where you suggested. Ty!! Good bless you.
Magician's Nephew requires an established connection, deep love, and understanding of Aslan! Try again! Try again!
It’s been awhile since I’ve thought about Chronological v. Published order for Narnia so your description is how it just *is* in my head even though it’s not how my actual copies are ordered. Chronological order is standard these days so it’s an important reminder for others!
I’m sure you’ll weave it into some future video, but I’m excited for your enthusiasm for the Silver Chair to get rekindled. It might have made the deepest impact in my personal life as it’s a whole story of ltne consequences of living out or forgetting the Shema command from Deuteronomy throughout the journey.
Published order is the only way to go. I couldn't say "published order" because then those aware of the debate would leave me too soon!
We've some strong support for The Silver Chair in these comments! I'm impressed!
You may be my new favorite person! I totally agree with this is the proper order. I was able to hook (😅) my children on Narnia with starting with “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” 😊 and just last night they were playing “The Silver Chair” outside.
And what you said about yearning for Christ because of Aslan is absolute truth for me too. I may have made an audible “yes” in response. ❤❤
No shame in my Narnia love! The wardrobe cannot leave you the same as you were!
I agree. We started with the Magician’s Nephew because that’s what our collection started with. It was great but I think some of the enchantment of Narnia was missing when we entered the wardrobe with Lucy.
It’s been a while since we read them so maybe we should just start from the proper beginning. 😊
100%. Re-start.
Agree completely. We used to read these every new year, and this is the best order.
Such a good way to start a year!
Wow. I knew about Narnia because of the movies but I didn’t even know there were so many books and a debate about them! You have peaked my interest and now I want to read them all (in correct order of course!). 😊
Ooooh you're in for a TREAT.
My oldest got the boxed set of Chronicles of Narnia for his birthday this year. I had never read it before myself so, not knowing any better 😅, we read in the order the publisher had them in, starting with The Magicians Nephew. We're notlw in chapter 3 of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. You have me convinced; We're starting the "right" order now and will revisit The Magicians Nephew in its proper place when we get there. I'm so dedicated I even reordered the books in the box, as much as it hurts my brain to see it that way.
I do the same thing on my shelf! It looks so unorganized BUT IT IS RIGHT.
I'm reading them now and in this order! Just finished the Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Just wow...I can't wait to read these with my preschooler....will probably wait a few years.
Dawn Treader is my boys’ favorite! Enjoy!!
I grew up with publications that had them in this order, and I absolutely agree. I think this order keeps some of the mystery of Narnia alive that gets slowly revealed as you read on (further up and further in?). I've read them both in publication order, and in chronological order. I prefer publication order obviously! I also just pick up a volume and read it for myself whenever I fancy.
Narnia is my comfort read.
Love this. I completely agree!
I always so appreciate your humor.
Happy to hear it. You always hope the jokes land while you film...alone...in your living room.
@@thecommonplacehomeschool yes, I imagine so!
Do you have a hardcover set you love and can recommend?
I have lovely memories of my grandmother reading these books to me as a child (in this order!) but I haven’t read them again as an adult. I planned to read them aloud to my children (ages 4, 2, and 3 weeks)-but I don’t think I can wait! I think I’ll dive in during my “downtime” nursing my newborn instead of mindlessly scrolling. 🤓
I just stumbled on your channel earlier this year and joined Common House a few weeks ago. I am thoroughly enjoying your content. Thank you!
So happy to have you in all the Common places!
As for the hardback Narnias: I believe you can find new options but I went hunting for an old one at a reasonable price. (As you can imagine, they can be extraordinarily expensive!) I believe my set is one of the first runs in the US known as the "book club series".
I love this! We have the 70's version and it is in the order you say...wonder why they changed it!?
I've never actually looked into that but it would be an interesting dig!
We haven't read them quite in this order but close! My kids were 4 and 2 when I started reading them Narnia and I remember mentioning to a few homeschooling moms at church that I was reading the series with my children. They responded with saying that they would not be reading the books to their kids until they were a few years older because they wanted to preserve their innocence (and their kids were already a few years older than mine). I felt horrified like I had totally messed up my children by "exposing" them to the books (I think the moms were mostly concerned about the fight scenes). I felt that way for like a minute (this was before I found you, Autumn). Then I went home and read more Narnia to my children. They weren't trying to make me feel bad, it just happened that way, but when I found The Common Place the relief I felt at finding a kindred spirit was immense. We are hobbits and Narnians over here and my children are always asking when we are going to see Aslan in the story because they love him.
Oh my! Those poor children deprived of Narnia! (I joke! A little. Children of one of my friend's actually were quite frightened by their first read of Narnia and they were older than my children at the time too!)
I'm 100% in on the need for great stories from the start (Bible, myth, fairytales, Narnia) for delight, the moral imagination, and to know that, indeed, St. George does slay the dragon.
You're in good company here! May Narnia always be a read aloud option during Elevensies!
Thank you for this inspiring and useful video! I read these as a child and completely wore out the audio tape of The Silver Chair... however my memory is atrocious and I can't remember the stories (apart from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe). I'm going to start reading them tonight and then read them to my eldest!
Ah! Enjoy the re-read. I was an adult reader of Narnia and wish they had been the background of my mind growing up! What treasures!
@@thecommonplacehomeschool I think they were key to developing my love of reading! I think your children are very lucky to have you there to guide them through the deep meaning behind the stories. I don't think I understood much of it at all - I didn't grow up in a Christian family so perhaps that's why a lot of it went over my head. Looking forward to reading it with a fresh perspective 😊
So glad I found this. I don't remember if I ever read the full series as a kid. Loved the first book for sure. Now I'm ready to introduce my daughter to them. Turned on a russian audiobook of the series that I found and was so confused by the storyline. Then I realized it was The Magician's Nephew. No wonder why I was so lost!
I was interested to find on the Readings from Under the Grapevine podcast that they are read in your order aka the correct order. So curious if they were told to read them in that order when they got permission or if they had the 70's set mentioned in a comment here.
Enjoy going through the wardrobe with your daughter!!
Could not agree more! We just started reading The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe before bed with my kids! Taking turns reading aloud so that my non-fiction-loving husband can discover it too :)
Ah! A perfect way to do it!
Autumn, I’m wondering if you’d ever consider doing a daily schedule/ day in the life. My children are 5, 2, and 1 and I’ll be honest, I’m a little nervous about beginning formal lesson. Nervous about the little ones getting loud, interruptions, etc. any advice is much appreciated! Love your channel ❤️
Hey Alicia! Thanks for the note!
I don't do DITL videos (I keep a high wall of privacy around my kids!) but I do share templates of schedules, timetables, school planning in Common House! In fact, we're in the middle of a summer planning series which has a bunch of resources and the on-going conversations about home educating with littles around! If you're interested: commonhouse.mn.co
Is there a set you recommend over another? I do care about paper and how a book is built and some publishers don't measure up. I'm trying to invest in nice books my family can enjoy for a long time.
Ah, so, we have my husband's childhood (paperback) set. Sentimental. However, I'd love to invest in a nice hardback set. I search them out from time to time but usually find the nice, first editions in the $600+ range. I wish I had a better answer!
@@thecommonplacehomeschool I'll keep my eyes peeled for them at thrift or antique stores. Thank you for your insight.
I'd be curious to hear your thoughts on how early to start reading Narnia to children. I am SO excited to start reading it to my girls, but I don't want to start it too early and have them lose interest just because it's beyond their understanding or attention span. I'd hate for that to be their first experience with the Pevensies and Aslan! I want them to experience that enchantment and wonder you talk about! I know I do! And it is HIGH time that I read them again. Thanks for the encouragement 😊
It can really depend on the child/home atmosphere! I started with my eldest around 18 months (just a page or so at a time) and so each subsequent child was "tapped in" to Narnia at birth and has grown up listening to the stories on repeat.
As for understanding, let me point you to this conversation about how children understand (poetic) versus how adults typically think of understanding (analytic): th-cam.com/video/HUvNBJ2stLE/w-d-xo.html
I think it's more about the child inhabiting the story and less about them "understanding" every little detail, conversation, etc.
For attention/read alouds in a family setting, let me send you to this interview I did with the Gregories. They have great practical suggestions and philosophical encouragements about reading to little ones: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-02-the-literary-life-of-families-an/id1568956517?i=1000651408177
@@thecommonplacehomeschool It is so helpful to get these articles! Thank you for the resources! And also for your insight into what it has looked like for you and how to maybe understand a child's experience of reading differently than I was thinking about it 😊
It's ok. I feel the same way. I just don't love the later books and characters in the same way I love the Pevenseys. Probably because they're who introduced me to Narnia and Aslan.
I'm going to have to read them all again as an adult though. I read them as a child with my mom and again on my own in high school. I have a daughter now, so time to dive back in. I have never quite understood Horse and His Boy. Hopefully it'll make more sense as an adult.
Thought of you -- Hallow is doing an Advent journey with C.S. Lewis! Im excited!
Oh reeeally? Woo!
@@thecommonplacehomeschool i know!! I'm so excited!!!
I've never read Narnis, but watched the Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe years ago. I'd love to read them now! What age do you think this appropriate for? My son is almost 4.
Hi Ema! Thank you for your thoughtful reply!
Are you up for a little reading? I'll link at the end to a talk given by Marc Barnes who says it all much better but your comment reminded me of something he said. In the Old Testament, there's a certain definition of "useful property" that means things like lambs and sheep. Today, however, there's new type of ownership: the possession of know-how, technology, and skill. Wealth and privilege is based more on that than natural resources. Barnes' point is that we now exchange real skills for technological devices that achieve the same ends we used to achieve but through reliance on wealthy people. There's a new established order of a "required" constant relationship of dispossession between the poor and the technologically wealthy to achieve. (ie. We "rent" directions from map apps. We become dependent on those who "have".)
Here, let me just quote: "GPS presents a problem, but it is more important as a clear example through which we can define the technological age: It is the age of the dispossession of the poor through the replacement of owned skills with rented commodities which render themselves into rented necessities by changing the world in their own image."
So, as a classicist, I'm more interested in thinking through what is * most * usually going to happen to people, what are the common threads of personhood, what is humanizing and dehumanizing generally. And I still stand behind the idea that what seemed helpful at the time (a phone with apps and maps and internet!) then forces the world to change to its own image...and I think the smartphone image is not good for (any) man.
Do I still think a computer can be a tool for many of the things you mentioned? To a degree, yes. (Although, many communities have been destroyed by things like a computer-like the ability to travel by car, shop online, etc.-which harms the people in those communities depending on jobs, support, assistance, etc.) But many public places-like the library or social services-do have public computers for the same uses. Does it have to be in one's back pocket? Does it, ultimately, do more harm than good?
Still mulling it all over. Let me know if you get to read the link!
Marc's speech: medium.com/@marcjohnpaul/christians-shouldnt-use-smartphones-64cddc2b3527
@@johnchristie9594 Oh my! Thank you! YT shut down on me mid-typing that response and when it re-loaded it was gone! (But apparently posted itself here! Ha!) Thank you!
Mia, sorry for the late reply here. Clearly my comments have been reassigned to new locations! Four is a great age to start generally but, of course, it will depend on the child. Watch his attention and always stop when he's hooked!
Tips on reading these aloud to small kids (5 and under) and struggling with no pictures and a lot of jumping/talking 😅 I love these books and want the story to actually take hold, not just read to read!
My best tip is to give them a snack or help them practice "quiet mouths, gentle bodies" (meaning they have to be quiet but can move a little). I have a few conversations that might help with this:
Tips and encouragement for family read alouds: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-02-the-literary-life-of-families-an/id1568956517
What it means for a young child to "understand" story: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-04-how-children-understand-story-an-interview/id1568956517?i=1000654301830
@@thecommonplacehomeschool I have tried the snacks but it hasn’t worked super well past the first few minutes 😂 he is quiet and interested enough at bedtime but I really want to incorporate reading aloud during the day.
Sort of related question, in your searches have you come upon a good choice of book(s) for Grimms and Andersen fairy tales? I want the real originals (as much as possible) but trying to sort through the market is sort of a nightmare. Reading tending to the heart of virtue next but wanted to see if you had any tried and true options to share. Thank you!
There is magic in this. I read the Chronicles or Narnia when I was young, and I read them in chronological order and loved them, but I was about 12 I think and I had already seen the movie of the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardobe and gotten "hooked" on Narnia. A few months ago I started reading the series to my children and I started with the Magician's Nephew, but a few chapters in and it just....fell....flat.....no one was interested. I was sad and a little disturbed but I thought that maybe my children were just too young still and they were into other things. BUT...then I watched your video and tried again. Magic!! I am only a few chapters in to the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, but when we stopped to make lunch even my 5 year old was begging me to keep going.
Also, I have a question that is not about Narnia but is about book order - you once recommended "Heartfelt Discipline" and "The Whole-Brain Child" to me....any opinion on which one I should read first? I have them both.
Ooh depends. If you haven't spent much time on neuroscience/developmental stages, I'd say Whole Brain. If you feel you're missing the heartbeat of discipline (teaching, not punitive), then Heartfelt!
I was literally just arguing this with my siblings (I am the only one with kids atm) and I have never felt more validated for my opinion that Lion comes first!
You are 100% correct. Live at peace.
I’m so glad you got them in the right order; I’m rather afraid we would have had to part ways if you said it mattered not. 😂
I so appreciate all you do. You are truly an inspiration and I just finished Miss Prim and am now starting Middlemarch. I have always love Lewis (I even got to take an entire college course on him), and Oswald Chambers and every wonderful children’s book, but now I am exploring new writings. It’s so good to be reading again.
Jessa, I completely understand. Like I said, this is not my personal opinions. Them's the rules.
Did you love Primm?! You will love Middlemarch. I'm excited you get to meet Caleb Garth. He's a fixture in my mind.
Going through the wardrobe is the one true way into Narnia ❤
That'll preach.
I can tell you why The Silver Chair is the best. It's in the necessity of following the signs and that they don't/won't look at all like you might think. Probably the most obvious example of this is the last sign where the spellbound prince implores them in the name of Aslan to free him of the silver chair. This causes a whole discussion between Eustes, Jill & Puddleglum about whether or not this is "actually" the sign because, obviously they thinks the prince is just a raging lunatic. The defining moment is when one of the children says something like "how do we know what's right?" & Puddleglum says "I think we do." It's like the modern Christian learning to follow the Spirit & their heart rather than relying solely on "reason" as the enlightenment says. It conveys the idea of recognizing that life is more than what meets the eye or can be experienced through our senses but there is so much more meaning and symbolism and a reality beyond the logical and we must learn to walk in the Spirit of God to be able to unveil that. The other important part is when they get off track/distracted from following the signs when the lady & the knight they meet tell them to go to the giant castle. They are so consumed with their selfish desires for comfort and rest that they literally fall into one of the signs & yet they cannot see it. Very very important concepts in this book and by far my favorite/most convicting!
This is an excellent point to The Silver Chair's necessity in the series. I completely agree! But does this make it the best?! I can't concede it does but (!) I will say the trinitarian call of "remember, remember, remember" comes to mind often for many of the reasons you listed!
Since you seem a real Narnian yourself, I leave you with this gift: th-cam.com/video/SC5EvPvPKHQ/w-d-xo.html
I believe it makes it the best because the ideas and concepts are so VITAL to the Christian life/walk. The idea of remembering and repeating the signs every night to me correlates with the necessity of being in the Word of God daily "that ye may know!" (Maybe out of context? 🤷🏻♀️) it reminds me of Christian in Pilgrims Progress and how he had to rely upon his script to show him the way. I don't think any of the other stories come close to the symbolism and depth of meaning that the Silver Chair does, but maybe that's a matter of heart. Meaning the ideas that strike home/resonates with people is more of a personality thing. I will however concede that you have opened my understanding and perception of The Horse & His Boy though which up until this point has been my least favorite in the series, (if such a thing is even possible. 😂) I think the descriptive words for me would be obsessed with Narnia. I recommend it to everyone I can get to listen to me & it will definitely be a required read in my homeschool when my child get of age. My 3 yr old already loves the focus on the family dramatized version which is actually phenomenal.
@@deannahazelwood9751 Yes! We have the Focus on the Family cassette tapes and they are the daily pick for afternoon rest time!!
I'm so glad we connected via this video to spur one another on with fresh eyes towards our favorite books in the series (and, you're totally right...a "least" favorite Narnia book is still a much loved book).
I'm adding The Silver Chair to the TBR-bedside table pile. Maybe with all my thinking on real/Reality, Truth vs. fact, the pre-modern man, and the dumb phone, the ideas of The Silver Chair will hit me in a new way! It *seems* like it should be my favorite...at least in this season!
I think we could find a whole lot of great discussion regarding Narnia. I know I could go on probably indefinitely. 😂 & yes, I think your recent content ties right along with the themes in the Silver Chair. It applies to the effects of the current enlightenment culture in general & not just the Christian life.
For the fun of it, my favorite Narnia quote is the scene in Voyage of the Dawn Treader, where Eustes & Edmond are talking after Eustes' restoration. Edmond is telling Eustes he has met Aslan & Eustes asks if Edmond knows Aslan. Edmond's reply "well, He knows me." Is so heartwarming & stirring to me. That is all that matters is that He (Christ) knows me!
What versions of the set do you have?
We have a 90s set and a 50s set!
@@thecommonplacehomeschool thank you!!
How old were your kids when you started reading Narnia to them?
I'd like to know this too! :)
8-12 is the perfect range!
My oldest started at 18-ish months. (Really, I was reading aloud to myself.) Her first captivated reading was probably closer to 3.
My oldest two were five and six, and they were both incredibly engaged in the story.
What age were your kids when you read them the Chronicles of Narnia? I love the series also & want them to love them just as much, but I’m curious to know at what age to start?
It'll really depend on the child. I started with my eldest at 18 months (very small bits!) and the others folded in as they were born. However, there is a RIGHT time to introduce stories to children and it will vary from child to child!
How do you feel about Tolkien? Do you have this kind of love for his work?
Aye! I don't...yet. However, I've been reading his essays in Tree and Leaf and love what I've read. My kids have now read The Hobbit twice with my husband and are obsessed, so I'm due for a read.
I can say Farmer Giles and Letters from Father Christmas did win me over a bit over the winter!
Im 34 years old... I've heard about these books for AGES... finally broke down and read the lion the witch and the wardrobe.... and I hated it 🤷♀️ barely finished it. For sure not a fan of fantasy books like this.
Whaaaaaat? What did you hate?