As a true, loyal, solid, firm, especial, life-long Lewis-lover, I would like to offer a list of my favorite Lewis-related books.
Inside Narnia, Inside Prince Caspian, and Inside The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by Devin Brown. These are TREASURED books of mine. My friend Toriel introduced me to the last one in the series and I bought the rest almost at once. I'll read these over and over.
They are like a Narnia commentary. They're not devotionals, but they could be used as such - because of the depth of Lewis' offerings and deftness with which Brown uncovers it. Not overbearing - just fun and fascinating.
A Field Guide to Narnia by Colin Duriez. In-depth about Lewis' life, books, and all things Narnia. It's not too long, but it's formatted almost encyclopedic.
The Inklings by Humphrey Carpenter. Bought this one in Oxford, at the very same Blackwell's Bookshop where Lewis used to shop. Carpenter is the most amazing biographer I've ever read. Makes SO many details seem SO interesting. Paints clear, accurate, and extremely nuanced pictures of people. Here he takes on three at once - Lewis, Tolkien, and Charles Williams. He also did a biography about only Tolkien, and that was well worth my time too.
Tales before Narnia. A collection of stories that either directly inspired Lewis, such as The Aunt and Amabel, with its "bigwardrobeinspareroom," or by authors Lewis admired, like George MacDonald, or authors whose stories he may have read. I read this at 16 and made tiny notes on the Contents page about which stories were "fun" or "sad" or "exciting." Includes the sad and beautiful "Undine," which became a favorite of mine and earns the book it's right to be on my highly selective "favorites" shelf.
A Year with Aslan. This devotional presents a passage from Narnia for every day of the year. Incredibly insightful questions, often taking the passage in a new way I hadn't thought of yet. I didn't read it like a devotional - I just read it because I was wanting a little more Lewis and made up my mind not to read the next Narnia passage before I'd answered the question. :)
If you read Lewis-related books, tell me your favorite in the comments!
Inside Narnia, Inside Prince Caspian, and Inside The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by Devin Brown. These are TREASURED books of mine. My friend Toriel introduced me to the last one in the series and I bought the rest almost at once. I'll read these over and over.
They are like a Narnia commentary. They're not devotionals, but they could be used as such - because of the depth of Lewis' offerings and deftness with which Brown uncovers it. Not overbearing - just fun and fascinating.
A Field Guide to Narnia by Colin Duriez. In-depth about Lewis' life, books, and all things Narnia. It's not too long, but it's formatted almost encyclopedic.
The Inklings by Humphrey Carpenter. Bought this one in Oxford, at the very same Blackwell's Bookshop where Lewis used to shop. Carpenter is the most amazing biographer I've ever read. Makes SO many details seem SO interesting. Paints clear, accurate, and extremely nuanced pictures of people. Here he takes on three at once - Lewis, Tolkien, and Charles Williams. He also did a biography about only Tolkien, and that was well worth my time too.
Tales before Narnia. A collection of stories that either directly inspired Lewis, such as The Aunt and Amabel, with its "bigwardrobeinspareroom," or by authors Lewis admired, like George MacDonald, or authors whose stories he may have read. I read this at 16 and made tiny notes on the Contents page about which stories were "fun" or "sad" or "exciting." Includes the sad and beautiful "Undine," which became a favorite of mine and earns the book it's right to be on my highly selective "favorites" shelf.
A Year with Aslan. This devotional presents a passage from Narnia for every day of the year. Incredibly insightful questions, often taking the passage in a new way I hadn't thought of yet. I didn't read it like a devotional - I just read it because I was wanting a little more Lewis and made up my mind not to read the next Narnia passage before I'd answered the question. :)
If you read Lewis-related books, tell me your favorite in the comments!