The Narnia books - oh my goodness

[BellaBear]

I've just read the whole set of them and I am shocked at how racist they are - and also I never realised what a blatant christian analogy they are.

Anyone have any thoughts?

Is it acceptable as they are of their time?

The language is also hilarious (eg a Calormene (pretty obvioulsy meant to be Turkish) using the expression 'He's a brick' in praise of someone made me laugh out loud)

Yup, PG's right - if the parents were around, nothing would happen. It would be 'got up, was made to brush my teeth, watched CBBC, went out on my bike, lunch, tea, bath, bed'.

The Harry Potter series is truly shallow though. It doesn't explore any of the issues that the protagonists have, apart from endless drivel about whether Ron would be upset if Harry dates his sister etc. This from a kid who has survived (apparently) unscathed from significant emotional neglect bordering on abuse.
I don't think that the racism about the Calormenes is about calling them "darkies" that's fairly superficial it is about the depiction as cruel and mysterious. It's the subtle stuff you have to watch out for.

Yes we'd all be yelling things like "No you are NOT entering the TriWizard tournament you are UNDERAGE" and spoiling the fun, wouldn't we?

Some posters have hinted at what I feel is an important point, namely that modern books also push a world view, but that we don't necessarily notice it so much (which presumably means it has a greater chance of influencing our subconscious). Certainly a large proportion of the books that dd brought home from the school library were based on a number of assumptions that I do not necessarily subscribe to:

that boys and girls are so unlike each other that a non-sexual friendship is almost impossible (nobody knew that in my day)

that being a girl is about being pretty, wearing the right things and associating with other girls

that the things you own define you as a person

that shopping is an essential part of everybody's life (and no, I don't mean shopping for basic groceries)

that glamour is as important, if not more, than hard work

IMO the way girly girls are portrayed in many modern books is just as sexist as the Narnia series, just less centered around housewife image and more around the glamour puss idea. Which I do not find any more attractive.

So I think a mix of books from different periods is probably the best way to go. But whatever you are doing- you do have to get those parents out of the way; as PG says, it's an essential plot device.

I agree. I'd much rather my daughter got her view of girls from Aravis and Lucy and Jill in the Narnia books than from Jacq. Wilson.

At least they do interesting things.

I agree Cory that some are awful - but there are plenty which may be from an adult viewpoint tedious & repetitive, but are reasonably sound. Eg the Animal Ark books - two main characters are girl and her boy best friend. Ditto My Secret Unicorn, again girl main character with boy introduced as secondary friend character.
OK, better that they read CS Lewis - but there are plenty of 'easy reads' that aren't that bad.

have just started reading cs lewis books at bedtime for 8 yr old ds who absolutely loves thm -admittedly is very into sword fighting etc / Was surprised he liked them so much given old fashioned language etc but am looking at it as prob widening his vocab if nothing else! Having said that, loved them as child myself but never ever got christian message until I re read them as adult!