September 2023 Reading Wrap-Up | New & Old Favorites

[@ismene6546]

Personally I have always read and reread the Chronicles of Narnia in chronological order. The story flows so beautifully when you follow along the history of Narnia and the surrounding countries. C.S. Lewis himself stated that its up to the reader to choose the reading order but told fans the chronological order would make the most sense. He even admitted that the publication order is not entirely the order the books were originally written in.

[@BookishPrincess]

I've been sticking with chronological order so far and am enjoying it so much, Narnia is such a magical place!

[@savannahsanders1253]

Always enjoy your reading roundups and recommendations! I completely agree with your take on Christy. I read it after watching the '90s Christy TV series & was disappointed as, shockingly, the show is SO much better. In fact, the Christy show, The Little House series, and American Girl books were my favorite things growing up. Also loved hearing your review of Little Town on the Prairie. It really is one of the best of the series.

[@rebeccaspringstead3732]

I am team publication order for the Chronicles of Narnia! That is how I read them as a child, and reading The Magician’s Nephew after The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is a magical, rewarding experience. Enter Narnia through the Wardrobe!

[@BookishPrincess]

I am glad I started with The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe - it's such a classic beginning!

[@jessical6659]

Emma! You should do an updated bookshelf tour ❤️

[@BookishPrincess]

I'll have to get that at some point! I have some more books that I'd like to buy...I just don't have any more room for them on my shelves. 😂

[@CandlewickLibrary]

I agree with Elizabeth Goudge. I haven’t read a book by her that I haven’t liked, but I would always recommend starting with a city of bells or the little white horse (at least from what I’ve read so far). I was introduced to her through your videos a few years ago, and she had become one of my favorite authors. You read some great books in September!

[@BookishPrincess]

Thanks! Aww that's so good to hear, Goudge is so wonderful. 😍

[@angieandthegreatworld]

“She had the sense to reject him.” That made me laugh. I agree that Christy was too long. You had some really interesting views on the book and characters. Normally I don’t care for single book reviews, but it’d be fun to hear a more in-depth review of Christy.

[@BookishPrincess]

I'm totally team Rosaline. 😂 There were so many different interesting elements to Christy, definitely gave a lot to think about! Maybe the next time we're in Tennessee I'll have to try to film a longer review!

[@shawnahawkins718]

we just went to Tennessee a couple of weeks ago and went to Clingman's Dome~ it is so beautiful! The Smoky Mtn's cannot be beat!!! I tried to read Linnets & Valerians a couple of years ago and just could not get into it!! I love all of the other things I have read by her, but that one was hard for me to connect with and I don't think I even finished it....and I usually plow through to the end!

[@reznaellis6815]

I would love to see your Smoky Mountains footage. We went to Tennessee this summer and were so taken with the culture and beauty (we're from Canada). I also just happen to be reading Christy right now. Thanks for mentioning the Magnificat and the beautiful hymn to the archangels.

[@BookishPrincess]

I've only seen Tennessee in the fall/winter, but I bet summer was wonderful as well! I really need to get to editing my footage! Magnificat is so enriching, I'm always discovering new favorite hymns and prayers. ❤️

[@GinaBlythe]

I have found new favourites because of you. Years ago, you talked about THE AWAKENING OF MISS PRIM. While I can't remember what you thought of the book, I got it and it is one of my ABSOLUTE favourites and a new comfort read. Let's not forget Osa. And now? Watch this space! 😊

[@BookishPrincess]

Aww thank you so much Gina! I enjoyed The Awakening of Miss Prim so much - I need to go back and reread it sometime!

[@ChautonaHavig]

I'd love to know what you think of The White Witch. I really struggled with it. I pushed through, but I kind of wish I'd DNF'd. It bothered me deeply. I am totally TEAM PUBLICATION! LOL! I've read it both ways over the years, and I find it a richer read that way. Little Town on the Prairie was one of my all-time favorite Ingalls book. "I'll just let them think that's how my wife cuts my hair." I think I need to look into Beverly Nichols. That sounds right up my alley!

[@BookishPrincess]

I do remember being unsettled by The White Witch too - I think the fact that Linnets and Valerians is for children made the "sorcery" theme stand out a little more as concerning - Goudge didn't quite delve into it and examine it from different angles in the same way she might have in an adult work. It's been awhile since I last read The White Witch though, and I don't have strong recollections of it, it'd be interesting to see how it struck me on a reread. lol, that haircut scene is hilarious! 😂 And Beverley Nichols is a delight!

[@theredheadisreading2251]

I definitely think reading CoN in publication order makes the most sense. I enjoyed listening to this, Emma!

[@BookishPrincess]

Thanks!

[@Ms.SpookyNerd]

Great wrap up. 🍄📚🥧☕🎃🍎🍁🍂🧚

[@BookishPrincess]

Thanks! 😊

[@thatsort]

Love the quotes from Cats XYZ! I have Cats ABC but haven’t tracked down a copy of XYZ yet-I’ll have to take a look around the used books sites! 🐱📚

[@BookishPrincess]

I found my copy on Thriftbooks! I wish I could find a photo of one of the cat calendars he mentions producing in the ABC book - it would be fascinating to know what they looked like!

[@amyofhearthridge]

Oh no. I have a reread of Linnets & Valerians on my soon to reread pile. 😅 I’ve yet to read Nichols and really want to! “Who had the sense to reject him.” 🤣

[@BookishPrincess]

It's worth a reread, I just thought the first half was stronger than the second half, lol. You will have to try Nichols sometime - both his cat and gardening books are so much fun.

[@robinlynn539]

I wholeheartedly go with chronological order. A journey must have a “setting out” and “destination,” with deep things revealed over time and through choices made along the way. Creation song (Magicians Nephew) must come first and The Last Battle (entering Aslan’s country) last, forming the bookends of the Chronicles. My personal thought is that - once Lewis imagined where the larger story ultimately would take him, he went back to give us the proper beginning.

[@ismene6546]

I totally agree! After reading all the books it makes it clear that chronological order is the only way to fully grasp the entire story and meanings. I'm consistently rereading these books and it's the best way to read the series,

[@BookishPrincess]

It's so interesting to read the different perspectives on publication vs chronological - I love your reasoning. Now I'm really looking forward to making it through to The Last Battle! I just finished The Horse and His Boy. Narnia is so magical!

[@ismene6546]

@@BookishPrincess I'm so happy you are enjoying the series! The Last Battle is the most beautiful in my opinion!

[@spinstercatlady]

Team publication order! I read TLWW first and Magician's Nephew was very last iirc. Would love to see your Smoky Mountains vlogs, Emma, as I live very near them and visit often! It's always fun to see other travelers' experiences in your personal fav locales.

[@BookishPrincess]

The Smoky Mountains are so beautiful, I really need to sit down and sort through my vlog clips. We've stayed in a cabin near Sevierville - I still dream about the griddle cakes from Five Oaks Farm Kitchen.

[@spinstercatlady]

@BookishPrincess oh yes, I know 5 Oaks restaurant- delicious food! Another amazing eatery (and all around gorgeous place to explore and shop) is the Applewood Farmhouse and Cider Mill (The Apple Barn in Sevierville/Pigeon Forge). Instead of bread, they serve these lil fried apple fritters that look like hush puppies with apple butter and with your water you get glasses of cider pressed right there at the mill - I know exactly what you mean about food you dream about haha 😄

[@liab563]

My fourth grade teacher read the Chronicles of Narnia to us in chronological order, which I don't think affected my enjoyment of the series. However, I think that thematically, much like the Star Wars movies (of which there are only six), they should be consumed in order of publication.

[@BookishPrincess]

Series like Narnia and Star Wars that were not released in chronological order do present such an interesting quandary to new viewers! I'd totally agree that there are only 6 Star Wars movies and that 4 is the one to start with! 😂

[@dinessa99]

Have you read Jan Karon's Father Tim books or Laurie R. King's The Beekeeper's Apprentice series? I'll go back and watch if you have, as I discovered you through the Disney path and thus have a lot of catching up to do. But if you haven't, they're some of my favorite series.

[@BookishPrincess]

Ohh I haven't read either of those, will have to check them out! Thanks!

[@jackiesliterarycorner]

I read two read books in September, The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoevsky and The Way of Edan by Philip Chase. I think most of the characters in Anna Karenina are so selfish and Vronsky handled the whole thing with Anna horribly.

[@BookishPrincess]

Sounds like a fun reading month! Yeah, I haven't been too impressed by Vronsky or the others. 😆

[@jackiesliterarycorner]

@@BookishPrincess I don't think we're alone in liking Levin and his story more.