C. S. Lewis discussion

Hi everyone, I am trying to create a list of books that Lewis read and/or liked. I know that he read an enormous amount of material, but I was thinking that it might be interesting to compile a list of books distilled from his writings or biographies. Anyone else interested?

The Everlasting Man - G.K. Chesterton
Theism & Humanism - Arthur James Balfour

Phantastes by George MacDonald is the book he said "baptized his imagination"

Top 10 List of books that influenced him by http://www.discovery.org/cslewis/arti...

1. Phantastes by George MacDonald.
2.The Everlasting Man by G. K. Chesterton.
3. The Aeneid by Virgil.
4. The Temple by George Herbert.
5. The Prelude by William Wordsworth.
6. The Idea of the Holy by Rudolf Otto.
7. The Consolation of Philosophy by Boethius.
8. Life of Samuel Johnson by James Boswell.
9. Descent into Hell by Charles Williams.
10. Theism and Humanism by Arthur James Balfour.

The Wind in the Willows. Lewis describes his experience reading the Wind in the Willows at a young age as the first time he felt the insatiable desire “nothing in this world could satisfy”. - See more at: http://scribblepreach.com/2013/04/09/...

The Faerie Queen. Perhaps the first “Christian fantasy” book ever written, The Faerie Queen was influential in George MacDonald’s work and had a subsequent effect on the work of Lewis. - See more at: http://scribblepreach.com/2013/04/09/...

Paradise Lost, Pilgrim's Progress...

I have to agree with what Jennifer has already added. He describes in Surprised by Joy how his mother passes away and his father is very distant, so his consolation is a house full of books. In other words, there is no way to capture all of the many books that essentially raised Lewis. But if we have to pick a few, I would agree with Jennifer's lists so far.

Quite a good start! Thanks for weighing in on the topic.

You're welcome =)

Another Jennifer checking in. There is also a book entitled Tales Before Narnia: The Roots of Modern Fantasy and Science Fiction [Paperback]
With Douglas A. Anderson (Editor) which explores 21 stories, poems and essays that influenced Lewis.

That reminds me, there is also a book called "From the Library of C.S. Lewis that I have had for several years, but I confess, I have not read yet! Maybe this will be the year. =) http://www.amazon.com/From-Library-Le...

Jennifer...are you a writer by any chance or a writer-wanna-be like me? I've just started a group here on Goodreads for C S Lewis enthusiasts who wish to write like he did. Would love to have you join if writing is on your radar...

I would say I'm more of a wanna-be at this point, but yes, I would love to join the group!

I'm just getting the hang of things here on Goodreads, but the group is called C S Lewis for Writers. I aim to keep it rather small. It's a closed group for now, meaning that you have to ask me to join. I'm hoping it will be a little like the Inklings. People with similar interests willing to share from what they're writing (eventually) and help/encourage one another on our way.

If you know of others who are either writers or wanna-be's like us and who are also Inkling/Lewis enthusiasts, please invite them to join.

Okay, will do!