LOTR or Narnia

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I prefer Narnia. Just bought the DvD box set

 

I just re-read the series, and am surprised at the racist content some of the books have.

 

It is really unfair to compare these 2 books in this way as has been already pointed Narnia is a child's book, it would have been better to compare it with The Hobbit. The other problem is that Narnia is a product of its time and looking back with our current viewpoints we can see elements of racism, anti-muslim and anti-semitism; but it is still a good story and should be taken as such.

The Lord of the Rings on the other hand is a vast volume of work based on even more volumes Tolkien himself was more interested in (the first two Ages of Middle-Earth). Although there are some Christian overtones/references to the books people often forget the other influences the Qaballah, the Kalevala, Celtic, Arabic etc. He had histories for many different races (Elves, Dwarves, Men, Halflings, Dragons, Ents), he had descriptions of the fauna and flora of Middle-Earth, different languages, alphabets, customs. This is what sets the books apart from most books in that Tolkien built a world from scratch for us to enjoy and debate about.

 

I remember as a child I was quite sad when the Lion sacrificed himself for the children. I think I even cried a bit (seriously). I remember also feeling quite confounded; I have not read the books since I was like eight or so, but even then, it seemed forced. Either I was just constitutionally incapable of understanding such a willful self-sacrifice or it was introduced unnecessarily. As an adult looking back, I am leaning toward the latter.

 

C. S. Lewis was a convert to the Anglo-Catholic church. Here

I have read quite a few of his books. All those I read where religious whether fiction or non-fiction. I have never read any explanation as to why he was Anglo rather than Roman. He was very Catholic in his view point. It doesn't suprise me at all that 'The Narnia Chronicles' were religious in nature.

 

Maybe I'm the only one, but I thought this was quite offensive...

 

Sorry Tal, didn't glance at the date... my bad.

 

well, let me first say that i really love both of them. but in the end i'd have to go with LOTR, because it is obviously very well written and has many themes that i can emphasize with (not that narnia doesn't, but LOTR does more so).

About The Lord of The Rings and religion: Tolkein clearly states in the introduction to the fellowship of the ring that it is NOT meant to an alligory in any way and does did not directly relate with modern events. Tolkein himselve did not like allagories. On the DVD of Fellowship of the Ring there is a short film about the life and writings of j.r.r. tolkein. In it, many tolkein experts (people who had written biographical works about him) all agreed that the lord of the rings was not meant to have any religous allegories/interpretations, it was meant to be read "as is".

 

Both

 

LOTR!!! I'd write why, but I gotta go now. I'll post my reasons another time.

 

The Lord of the Rings - it's one of the most important books written in the 20th century, IMO.

 

haven't read narnia yet..

if the movie is any good, I'll pick it up. That's what got me reading LOTR

 

Watched movie yesterday. No match for LoTR.

 

tried reading it without seeing the movie anyway.

i don't know... it seems a bit too kiddy for me now, so I couldn't really get into it. Finished Magician's Nephew and got 3/4 through Lion, Witch and Wardrobe but stopped there...

afai'm concerned, the best passage among those I've read was when the sentient animals decided to christen uncle Andrew as "Brandy" because he kept on saying the word over and over, LMAO

 

Hmmm...as I just mentioned, I reciently got the CoN, so after I read it, I'll let you all know.

The LotR books were boring at times, but the story is solid, and will be hard to beat, but you never know.

 

LotR is a life time work. The extend of detail alone (leave the story out) in every aspect makes it maybe among the 5 most important books of all time.
Narnia on the other hand is a very beautifull, well structured and elegantly (but not so fully) build fairy tale.
LotR is a world of its own, you don't get any closets to hide.
I think LotR is the winner IMHO, but Chronicles of Narnia do place in the top 5 of my favorites but not in the most important books of all time.

 

I loved Narnia as a child and it would likely have too much children content for my liking if I were to read it right now. However, as I recall the language and some of the style, as well as the constructs and alegories, I wonder if it actually wasn't intended to give something to the parents who are reading the books to children as well as the children themselves, more than children alone. At any rate, I'm not going to read Narnia anymore unless for children, while I may be tempted to read LotR again. Not like I'm often tempted to re-read books (or watch movies or play roleplaying games more than once). Wonder if I've ever actually done that. Well, I think I may have, but just a couple of times if at all. But I have watched the LotR movies more than once so maybe I'll re-read the book, too.