Into the Wardrobe

I most certianly like to know as much as I can about an author before I read their book (Or read it then study the author and read it again). It adds a particular depth and richness to the reading. The same is true of listening to music (it's the approach generally taken in traditional music appreciation). In fact, the only time I enjoy a football game (unless it's one of those rip-your-soul-out sudden death playoff thingies) is if I have insight into the personal lives and psychology of the players. Well, whataya expect? I'm a psychologist.

As for the question presented in the forum, there are actually two questions - one presented at the heading and one in the poll - and the answers could be different. If I had to say, I would choose TWHF as the best - although it's not my favorite.

I would have voted for LWW, but Screwtape Letters really change the way I look at life, so I vote for Screwtape. LWW is a very close second though with VDT after that.

I went for 'Screwtape' as well, but on another day I might easily have voted differently. Other favourites among the 'grown up' books are 'Surprised by Joy' 'A Grief Observed' and 'The Great Divorce' (I seem to be drawn to the more personal ones.) Narnia-wise I love them all, but LWW has always been no.1.
Once I finally read 'Paradise Lost', then Lewis' 'Preface' that'll probably rank highly too.

Yay, another TWHF fan :D

I strongly agree that Till We Have Faces is the best. I believe Lewis himself even considered it his best. It's so strange and fascinating, with so much theology brilliantly and subtly woven through the whole the thing. It took me three readings to feel like I really understood it, but once I did, I was amazed.

I can't believe I voted this way - or rather, I should say that I wouldn't have believed I would vote this way after reading Til We Have Faces for the first time last year. But this is precisely why I chose it.

It has revealed itself to me over and over again since I first touched it that it never ceases to amaze me. What Lewis did here is unbelievable. The layers never seem to stop peeling away. It is a masterpiece.

It is very hard though, I must say, to compare his fiction works with his non-fiction works. They are entirely different. I suppose though, that I feel this fictional piece so finely wove his own beliefs into it, that it is the supreme choice. That is far more complicated than "laying it on the line" in a non-fiction work.

I think TWHF is the culmination of all that C.S. Lewis was to the literary and theological community.

Lion, Withch and Wardrobe. Just becuase I can relate to it.