Sunday, January 08, 2006

The Magician's Nephew

I don’t always know how much Nicholas is paying attention. He’s always preferred books that had pictures in them, whether they were comic books or just chapter-type books that had pictures every few pages, like The B.F.G., which I read to him a couple of months ago.

Nicholas and I were part of the way through The Magician’s Nephew, the first of the Narnia books. (First in author-preference and chronological order, sixth or seventh in publishing date) I couldn’t guarantee that he was paying attention to what I was reading but I was enjoying reading it anyway. He floored me this evening, however, when I was reading a scene at the end where it described a wondrous smell and how it smelled like greenery and life, Nicholas said, “That must be the garden.” Now, I knew there was a garden but I can’t say that I expected him to remember, if he’d known at the beginning. I guess his excitement over the Narnia books is more than just passing the time.

I wonder how much he really is picking up. It’s exciting.

The story is pretty much exactly the way I remember it. I read it once when I was a kid and once two years ago. I hope Nicholas got a lot out of this one because if he did, I have a feeling he’s really going to enjoy the next one… and the one after that, and the one after that, and the one after that…

47 to go!

25 comments:

KimLiving said...

I've always classified Nicholas as the type of kid who won't/can't sit still for anything.

Granted, he's slowed down a bit in the past year or so, but let's remember that this is the kid who watches his TV shows while hanging off the couch in every possible position.

I think his frequent squirming during "Narnia-time" speaks volumes about his personality but very little about his interest in the story.

Sean Woods said...

You're a blogging machine!


On a more serious note, it is nice that you and Nic can spend time together reading.

Liam J. said...

Nick's name has a "k" at the end of it.

And I hope that I can drill a love of books into his young mind.

And yes, I am a machine created for the purpose of posting entries to a specific blog -- just to entertain the masses.

GENERAL BLOG ERROR 4329083402938-D

Sean Woods said...

If his full name is Nicholas, I feel 100% justified in calling him "Nic."

WOO!

; )

Secret word: "bzbmjjk." I believe "bzbmjjk" is the noice GENERAL BLOG ERROR 4329083402938-D makes.

Liam J. said...

Yes, but given that the one that gave him his name spells it "Nick", justified though you may feel, you are still incorrect.

Sean Woods said...

Sean rules!

Anonymous said...

I dunno, Liam...I feel a consortium rising upm against you on this matter...

Anyway, good for you for getting him involved in that there literacy. Hopefully he becomes as hopelessly addicted as we have.

Liam J. said...

You're really going to side with Sean over calling someone Nic? Wow, I used to think that the Consortium stood for something but man... that's just pathetic.

As far as addiction to literature: So far, so good.

Anonymous said...

Lewis never stated a preferred order for his books. From reading them, there is an obvious order, but the author expressed no desire to "suggest" an order in which to read them. He was very laid back about the whole thing, actually. Recent compilations and several self-righteous (what? a self-righteous Christian academic?) Lewisophiles have said "He wanted them read this way," but most of those have been discounted by people who knew the man personally.

Sean Woods said...

Interesting.

Thanks for that little bit of information!

Liam J. said...

I think it was Amazon.com where I got that "preferred" reading order.

Maybe I'll find out once I've read Lewis's biography (although that's as much hearsay as anything else)

Anonymous said...

I'll have you know the consrtium is involved in many great works! Rebuilding our public school system, feeding poor children, and fluffing the pillows of those less fortunate. It can't all be charitable greatness!

Liam J. said...

Yeah, but Nic?
That just makes me think of Nicholas Cage (which makes me angry)

Anonymous said...

Wow...I hadn't even thought of that. I understand your insistence now, Liam, and fully support you.

Let not the boy be compared to 'Mr. Con Air' any longer!

Liam J. said...

Thank you.

Oh, and read C.S. Lewis. You'll like it.

Anonymous said...

Name him Nic-El

Liam J. said...

The shiny son of Trub-el, who has come to fight for truth, justice and the almighty dollar!

Anonymous said...

And bacon. That's the fourth leg of the holy...quadrangle.

Liam J. said...

Truth, Justice, the Almighty Dollar and Bacon.

I like it.

Anonymous said...

It would make for an interesting crest, that's for sure.

Liam J. said...

Would it be a sizzling strip of bacon or a pig?

Anonymous said...

Well, if you just put a pig on there, it sows confusion. I mean, how is an observer to know that bacon is the intended meaning? for all they know, it's ham, or football, or Rush Limbaugh. So I would go for the sizzling bacon.

Liam J. said...

However, if it were "Truth, Justice, The Almighty Dollar and Confusion" then it would be a pig.

Liam J. said...

Oh, I meant "Truth, Justice, The Almighty Dollar, Bacon and Confusion" but perhaps I am done fomenting confusion.

Anonymous said...

I like the idea of confusion on a crest. Or maybe that could just be the simple motto.

"What does it all mean?" some passing stranger would ask as they passed the wind-whipped crest flag.

"Confusion." you would reply, maybe in a shouty manner so as to appear mentally unhinged.