Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Modernly over-rated?

This is a dangerous thing to say... but here goes... I find Clive Staples Lewis over-rated.

Sure, you may know him as simply C.S. but I'm no fan, so it's purely formalities between myself and Mr Lewis.

I've just finished reading The Screwtape Letters again and i must say that I'm underwhelmed. A similar thing happened when i re-read Mere Christianity a while back.
I know, i should hand in my Christian membership card.

I fond the books distractingly dated (but that can't be helped since they were written over a generation ago) and they just don't seem to have the "classic" feel to them that everyone bemoans that they posses within their pages.

Sure, they are alright, but not more. I even gave them a second chance after five years and have not changed my opinion.

I wonder if modern day classics will be belittled by future generations as "just average."

I'm soon going to re-read Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. If all goes to plan, my opinion on that book will have a similar transformation. When i read the book at college i was unimpressed. Now i may see the illuminated genius that everyone else sees...

1 comment:

Claire said...

Hey.
I don't actually read C.S Lewis' stuff on Christianity. I find it too hard to follow and whatever. But maybe you would enjoy his non-fiction stuff? I love the Chronicles of Narnia. They're better than the movies too. Maybe you should give them a go?
As for Bonhoeffer. He's a pretty awesome guy but the book really just didn't impact me whatsoever. Good luck with the re-read.