Favorite C.S. Lewis book that isn't about Narnia

[rocklobster]

What's your favorite non-Narnia book by C.S. Lewis? Mine would have to be The Screwtape Letters.

[Htom Sirveaux]

That one comes in a close second for me, but my favorite C.S. Lewis book ever is The Great Divorce.

[AlyssHeart]

I was gonna say The Great Divorce!!!!! XD

[sharien chan]

I've only read the Great Divorce, A Grief Observed and The Screwtape Letters. I tried to read Miracles but it was way too complicated XD

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

Mere Christianity but The Great Divorce and The Screwtape Letters are also very good.

[Cognitive Gear]

The Great Divorce. The Problem of Pain is also quite important to me, though.

[MBlight]

I'm busy reading "Till we have Faces" and it's one of my favourites thus far, but in close second is Screwtape Letters and then Mere Christianity...

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

I can't fathom why people love 'Till We Had Faces', personally I didn't like it at all, but it's good to see Lewis didn't write it in vain (lol).

[Mr. SmartyPants]

What if Narnia was never our favorite to begin with? XD

*Does not care for much fantasy*

[MBlight]

I can't fathom why people love 'Till We Had Faces', personally I didn't like it at all, but it's good to see Lewis didn't write it in vain (lol).

Well, I can't quite put my finger on it just yet... it just appeals to me for some reason...

[Sheenar]

Well, it's a tie between Mere Christianity and The Great Divorce --though I plan to read his space trilogy and The Problem of Pain and that may or may not change things. I also want to read Surprised by Joy.

The Screwtape Letters was good --the only problem I had when I read it was that it was written in language that was hard to understand in places (of course it's been about 4 years since I read it, so that may be different now).

[USSRGirl]

Honestly, I wasn't very impressed with Screwtape. It was just so-so for me - probably my least favorite. Till we Have Faces seemed to be his best writing style and characters in my opinion, but the themes weren't as explicitly Christian or defined as some of his others (not to say that there wasn't some good stuff in their to think about).

Favorite non-fiction Lewis book: Abolition of Man

Favorite fiction Lewis book(s): That Hideous Strength and Pilgrim's Regress

[mysngoeshere56]

The only Lewis book I've read that wasn't Narnia was The Screwtape Letters. I found that one very creative... but I'd have to read others before I decide whether or not that's my favorite non-Narnia book.

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

Screwtape Letters isn't the easiest read at times Sheenar, but Suprised by Joy is a much harder read (and not all that good).

[ClosetOtaku]

For allegory, The Great Divorce is terrific, although I thought The Screwtape Letters was much more penetrating.

From an apologetics standpoint, yes, I thought Mere Christianity was good, especially for non-Christians, but his The Problem of Pain was better and more relevant to the thinking Christian.

I think The Abolition of Man probably sails over most people's heads; it is really one of his better moments.

Most approachable was The Four Loves, which I'm surprised no one has mentioned yet.

Hard to pick out a 'favorite', it depends on what I'm particularly focusing on at that moment...

[bigsleepj]

I also love Till We Have Faces. It think it is his best work, mostly because it deeply involves the reader on an emotional level, which is always good.

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

Yes, I've heard The Problem with Pain is very good. Will have to see if I can get my hands on it.
I've heard of The Four Loves also but haven't read it - yet.

[kryptech]

I'd have a tough time picking a favourite... Perhaps The Screwtape Letters and, in terms of novels, Out of the Silent Planet.

[termyt]

Screwtape Letters isn't the easiest read at times Sheenar, but Suprised by Joy is a much harder read (and not all that good).

lol. I'm beginning to think you are not a fan of Lewis.

I'm reading Surprised by Joy right now. The first four chapters were hard for me as well. They talk a lot about Lewis's early childhood, which is not of great interest to me (I've never been much a fan of biographies, to be honest). But starting in chapter 5 or 6, he begins speaking in terms of his fall from and return to Christianity, which I find very interesting.

Mere Christianity was a very important book to me back when I read it the first time in, was it hgigh school or college? Wow, am I so old that I can't distinguish the two anymore? Anyways, I've drifted away from apologetics as I feel it is more important to meet people's needs than convince them of truth, but it remains a very good book in that regard as well.

[sharien chan]

Some of his books are hard to understand. The way he wrote was interesting. When I was reading The Great Divorce it took me forever to get into the style and actually figure out what he was saying. Once I did though it was really easy to understand.

[Sheenar]

I just checked The Problem of Pain and Out of the Silent Planet out at the library. I shall let you guys know if my list of favorites changes after reading them.

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

No Termyt, there are aspects of Suprised by Joy that were enjoyable but much of it was too heavy and went over my head - lots of references to music and literature I'd never heard of.
And I am a fan of Lewis's works, just not all of them.

[Scarecrow]

Well I've only completely read the Narnia series. I read half of Screwtape Letters and really liked it I just don't pick books up very often. So I never finished. I have the space trilogy but the first book was boring as ever. So I never bothered with the other two.

The only book of his I REALLY wanna read is Till We Have Faces.

I looove the Narnia books though ^_^ The movie(s) not so much (only saw the first one so far).

[MBlight]

Well, the second movie is far better than the first... my opinion of course...

[the_wolfs_howl]

Probably I'd go along with the flow and say The Screwtape Letters or Till We Have Faces. Screwtape is funny in a weird, twisted sort of way, while sort of teaching things backwards (if that makes any sense ). And I like Till We Have Faces the same way I like the movie The Fountain - I can understand it in an abstract, insubstantial way, but I would never be able to explain to you what the point of the book was. All the same, it helped inspire a story, so it'll always have a special place in my heart.

[sharien chan]

I still need to actually read the Narnia books >_> XD

Probably I'd go along with the flow and say The Screwtape Letters or Till We Have Faces. Screwtape is funny in a weird, twisted sort of way, while sort of teaching things backwards (if that makes any sense ).

And I got so confused with the Screwtape Letters when they'd say things like the Enemy. I kept forgetting they were talking about God and I was like "that doesn't sound like Satan...that sound more like God...oh wait...to them the enemy is God..." ^_^;;;

[Fish and Chips]

Mere Christianity needs no introduction.

[EricTheFred]

Even including Narnia, my favorites are The Screwtape Letters and That Hideous Strength (followed closely by the rest of the Space Trilogy.)

I've been planning to read Surprised by Joy for ages, based upon all the wonderful quotes I've stumbled across from it. I'll get to it eventually.

[ich1990]

Out of the Lewis books that I have read, I liked "The Great Divorce" the best. I have not yet read "Till We Have Faces" or "The Problem of Pain", so I may change my mind.

People say:
"What kind of loving God would send people to Hell?"

Come back inspired by the Great Divorce:
"What kind of loving God would send people to Heaven against their will?"

[Aletheia]

I haven't read much C.S. Lewis - just part of Narnia and part of The Space Trilogy, neither of which really held my attention, but I'm just now getting started on his nonfiction. I got The Problem of Pain and The Joyful Christian from the library today. I was looking for Mere Christianity, but they didn't have it. I see The Problem of Pain is on this list, but what did everyone think of The Joyful Christian? I guess it's more of a compilation of writings than a cohesive book, but it looks pretty interesting. Anyway, I'm really looking forward to reading these. A friend and I decided to read them together, as part of our devotions, so we can discuss them when we see each other. That should be interesting, and a good way to keep myself from putting it off.