I've read the first two and im on the third one ,,,,just wondering does it have to be read in order??does it matter???i was wondering about that....but, i think it does....right??
thanx for the help!!!
2007-01-12 13:57:11 · 7 answers · asked by Sarah Kanoewai 4 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
According to Wikipedia.....Fans of the series often have strong opinions over the correct ordering of the books. When the books were originally published, they were not numbered. The first American publisher, Macmillan, put numbers on the books in the order in which they were published. When HarperCollins took over the series in 1994, the books were renumbered using the internal chronological order, as suggested by Lewis's stepson, Douglas Gresham.
Publication order vs. Chronological order Publication order Chronological order
1. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe 1. The Magician's Nephew
2. Prince Caspian 2. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
3. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader 3. The Horse and His Boy
4. The Silver Chair 4. Prince Caspian
5. The Horse and His Boy 5. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
6. The Magician's Nephew 6. The Silver Chair
7. The Last Battle 7. The Last Battle
To make the case for his suggested order, Gresham quoted Lewis's reply to a letter from an American fan in 1957 who was having an argument with his mother about the order:
"I think I agree with your order (i.e. chronological) for reading the books more than with your mother's. The series was not planned beforehand as she thinks. When I wrote The Lion I did not know I was going to write any more. Then I wrote P. Caspian as a sequel and still didn't think there would be any more, and when I had done The Voyage I felt quite sure it would be the last. But I found as I was wrong. So perhaps it does not matter very much in which order anyone read them. I'm not even sure that all the others were written in the same order in which they were published." (Dorsett & Mead 1996)
Fans of the series who appreciate the original order believe that Lewis was only being polite to a child, and that he could have changed the order in his lifetime had he so desired (Brady 2005). They maintain that much of the magic of Narnia comes from the way in which the world is gradually presented in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. They believe that the mystery of the wardrobe is narratively a much better introduction than in The Magician's Nephew --where the word Narnia is the fortieth word in the book. Moreover, they say that it is clear from the texts themselves that The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was intended to be the first book read, and that The Magician's Nephew was not. For instance, in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, when Aslan is first mentioned, the narrator states, "None of the children knew who Aslan was, any more than you do." Fans of the original order say that statement is simply nonsensical if one has already read "The Magician's Nephew". Other similar textual examples are also cited. This argument hinges partly on the claim that Chronology is not equivalent to Narrative (Rilstone 2004).
Personally I read The Lion.... first. I agree it makes the most sense to read them this way(publication order). Also the first movie was not The Magician's Nephew, but The Lion...So others must agree. I suppose it's a personal preference.
2007-01-12 14:45:47 · answer #1 · answered by kenslydale 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋
You don't have to, of course, but it makes sense to do so. Here's what I suggest:
1. The Magicians Nephew
2. The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe
3. The Horse and His Boy
4. Prince Caspian
5. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
6. The Silver Chair
7. The Last Battle
"Lewis expressed a mild preference for this... chronological order."
http://www.aslan.demon.co.uk/narnia.htm
2007-01-12 22:09:08 · answer #2 · answered by Sybaris 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It depends on what order you mean. I read throught the Narnia series at least once a year. I have found that I enjoy it more when I read them in the order in which they were written, rather than the order in which they 'go together'. In my opinion this is the best way to read through the series. If this is your first time reading through them, I really hope you enjoy them.
Good luck!!
2007-01-12 22:10:16 · answer #3 · answered by perthboy 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The author himself suggests that his books should be read in order. I guess that would be enough reason why we should read it in order.
2007-01-12 22:04:28 · answer #4 · answered by The Purple Phoenix 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, most of them aren't really related to the others. Any order is fine.
2007-01-12 22:42:54 · answer #5 · answered by eri 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes it does
2007-01-12 22:01:13 · answer #6 · answered by Courtney 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They should be.
2007-01-12 22:21:41 · answer #7 · answered by Costy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋