Love this post! I read “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe aloud to every class I taught. When I moved grades I looked for other read aloud books, but the repeat students insisted I read it again. Such a classic and worth it regardless of how many times I’d shared it.
I've read Le Petit Prince many times and with each reading it seems to reveal something new, a new layer, a new meaning. Exciting to think that, with age and wisdom, our old literary friends grow and evolve along with us.
Such a beautiful book. Many memorable quotes, but perhaps this is best suited here: “All grown-ups were once children... but only few of them remember it.” 🥰
I majored in English. My professor of Middle English and Old English literature, Prof. Cabell Greet, was friends with J.R.R. Tolkien. Professor Greet told my Chaucer class that Tolkien was disappointed that he was much more famous as the author of the Lord of the Rings books than as a leading philologist.
What a wonderful connection. I have to admit I had to look philologist! And now, knowing its meaning, so much of the beauty of the language in the LOTR books makes sense.
Ellen and I had a professor at the University of Windsor who was a Chaucer scholar. I don’t recall her name (Ellen might remember), but what I do remember is how thrilling it was to hear her reading from the Canterbury Tales in perfect Middle English.
And I feel inspired to reread the fairy tales I read as a child, and then explore the ones I haven't read. You are so right about their moral and imaginative value!
What a wonderful post, Elizabeth! We read the whole Narnia series with our kids and they became lifelong fans. Did you know Lewis and Tolkien were friends? There is a great book called The Inklings that talks about their friendship and the literary discussion group at Oxford.
I haven't read that but I must! We were in Suffolk visiting friends two years ago and went to Oxford, where there are plaques that mark where Tolkien and Lewis hung out. Love them both 💕
Me too! Have you read Tolkien’s Father Christmas Letters? It is a catalogue of the illustrated letters he sent his children over the years. So special.
Did you know that the name Narnia was inspired by the Umbrian city of Narni? We have a beautiful Narnia coloring book, and have watched the movies several times. It’s probably time I read the books with my daughter.
I had to chuckle, while at university I also compared The Lion, the Witch & The Wardrobe to Star Wars in an essay! Around arguments for and against a chronological narrative.
There is definitely something about returning to fairytales as adults. I have often found them alarming. My poor daughter received a feminist critique when she tried to watch Disney's Cinderella. 😂
Alarming, yes, and a window into how we perceive things as children. The original Grimms are—grim! Especially Cinderella, where the cut off part of their feet to try and fit into the slipper, and are blinded at the end—yikes 🙃
Love this post! I read “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe aloud to every class I taught. When I moved grades I looked for other read aloud books, but the repeat students insisted I read it again. Such a classic and worth it regardless of how many times I’d shared it.
Thank you Linda! It truly is a universal read, no matter how old you are 💕
I've read Le Petit Prince many times and with each reading it seems to reveal something new, a new layer, a new meaning. Exciting to think that, with age and wisdom, our old literary friends grow and evolve along with us.
Such a beautiful book. Many memorable quotes, but perhaps this is best suited here: “All grown-ups were once children... but only few of them remember it.” 🥰
I love celery soup. That recipe looks wonderful.
I majored in English. My professor of Middle English and Old English literature, Prof. Cabell Greet, was friends with J.R.R. Tolkien. Professor Greet told my Chaucer class that Tolkien was disappointed that he was much more famous as the author of the Lord of the Rings books than as a leading philologist.
What a wonderful connection. I have to admit I had to look philologist! And now, knowing its meaning, so much of the beauty of the language in the LOTR books makes sense.
Ellen and I had a professor at the University of Windsor who was a Chaucer scholar. I don’t recall her name (Ellen might remember), but what I do remember is how thrilling it was to hear her reading from the Canterbury Tales in perfect Middle English.
How wonderful! I'll ask Ellen. Professor Greet read Chaucer to us in Middle English, too.
And I feel inspired to reread the fairy tales I read as a child, and then explore the ones I haven't read. You are so right about their moral and imaginative value!
Me too--especially the original dark and decidely unDisneyfied Grimms! 😊
Okay, so possibly my favorite childhood books! A recipe for Fairy Bread seems appropriate here
Ha! It was you, Amie, who pointed out I should have had a recipe for cherry pie when I wrote about David Lynch. You are always on point 💕
That is just a luscious bowl of soup...as warm as Mom reading me Hans Christian Anderson before bed
🥰 TY Ellen!
I’ve always read fairy tales and still do, especially the ones I liked as a child.
It's a very special pastime, isn't it?
It is, indeed.
What a lovely surprise this post has been Elizabeth. I came in for the celery soup, and stayed for your wonderful story.
Thank you Lisa! That’s the Delicious Bits ethos—my musings far and wide, plus always a recipe. I’m so glad to have you as a reader 💕
Thank you Elizabeth for the warm welcome.
What a wonderful post, Elizabeth! We read the whole Narnia series with our kids and they became lifelong fans. Did you know Lewis and Tolkien were friends? There is a great book called The Inklings that talks about their friendship and the literary discussion group at Oxford.
I haven't read that but I must! We were in Suffolk visiting friends two years ago and went to Oxford, where there are plaques that mark where Tolkien and Lewis hung out. Love them both 💕
Me too! Have you read Tolkien’s Father Christmas Letters? It is a catalogue of the illustrated letters he sent his children over the years. So special.
Did you know that the name Narnia was inspired by the Umbrian city of Narni? We have a beautiful Narnia coloring book, and have watched the movies several times. It’s probably time I read the books with my daughter.
I did not! I love Umbria. Writing this post has made me want to reread these books all over again.
A lovely post once again Elizabeth.
I had to chuckle, while at university I also compared The Lion, the Witch & The Wardrobe to Star Wars in an essay! Around arguments for and against a chronological narrative.
There is definitely something about returning to fairytales as adults. I have often found them alarming. My poor daughter received a feminist critique when she tried to watch Disney's Cinderella. 😂
Thank you Shell!
Alarming, yes, and a window into how we perceive things as children. The original Grimms are—grim! Especially Cinderella, where the cut off part of their feet to try and fit into the slipper, and are blinded at the end—yikes 🙃
The Grimm brothers were super macabre weren't they?! Thank goodness Disney went with the Charles Perrault version!