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happylilkt's review against another edition
4.0
Yes, I'm one of those people who just loves C. S. Lewis, and, no, I'm not going to apologize for it.
This was totally charming—particularly because Lewis takes children seriously, which all adults should, and it's beautiful to see through his written correspondence.
Also, I probably need to read more of his fiction. I've only read two of the Narnia series and none of the other stories (unless you count the Screwtape Letters and The Great Divorce, which I suppose you could, but they seem different from his others as they are more satire/allegory than anything else he's written). I did like The Four Loves and Mere Christianity as well.
This was totally charming—particularly because Lewis takes children seriously, which all adults should, and it's beautiful to see through his written correspondence.
Also, I probably need to read more of his fiction. I've only read two of the Narnia series and none of the other stories (unless you count the Screwtape Letters and The Great Divorce, which I suppose you could, but they seem different from his others as they are more satire/allegory than anything else he's written). I did like The Four Loves and Mere Christianity as well.
graceevalyn's review against another edition
fast-paced
4.5
So much fun to read how thoughtfully Lewis interacted with children - and some surprisingly deep moments as well. Really enjoyed the glimpses into his everyday life and personality. Sometimes in this collection it is hard to follow who he's talking to because there are regular correspondents but the letters are grouped chronologically, not by correspondent.
natmgardner's review against another edition
5.0
"If you continue to love Jesus, nothing much can go wrong with you, and I hope you may always do so. I'm so thankful that you realized the "hidden story" in the Narnian books. It is odd, children nearly always do, grown-ups hardly ever."
damascus922's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
4.0
emilyhybart's review against another edition
5.0
What an absolute delight. I thoroughly enjoyed the way Lewis wrote to children: sincere, kind, critical when necessary, but never condescending.
tlindhorst's review against another edition
4.0
I very much had a sense of Lewis the person in the course of these letters. I loved the way he told children to write their own Narnia stories.
mollyxmiller's review against another edition
5.0
Reading C.S. Lewis's letters to many of his young readers made me feel like I got to know "Jack" a little bit more as a person, rather than just as an apologist/literary critic/author. I especially love that when many of his young fans begged for more Narnia books after he published The Last Battle, Lewis encouraged them to write their own sequels. He also read and critiqued some of his young fan's stories, poems, and illustrations they sent him. I find this to be incredible.
joshuanovalis's review against another edition
Great, short read you can crank out in an evening. It's quite relaxing to hear Lewis' thoughts in such a laid back, informal way. By no means does that make it uninteresting, though; Lewis intelligently responds to some insightful questions from children, shedding light on Lewis' intent behind his fiction, such as The Chronicles of Narnia. He also leaves a few great tips on writing in general, akin to the advice left behind by Flannery O'Connor in many of her essays. All in all, an intriguing read and certainly worth your time, especially if you're a fan of Lewis.
davehershey's review against another edition
3.0
I am always on the lookout for CS Lewis books I have not yet read, so I was delighted to pick this one up at a used bookstore. I had heard of it, but never considered reading it. It is a fun little book as you get a window into the daily life of Lewis. He kept up correspondence with many children, which is quite amazing considering how prolific a writer he was. There are a few thoughtful points, such as Lewis' preferred order of the Narnia series and his thoughts on allegory or the education system. At times it was a bit confusing to only read one side of the conversation. Overall, a good read for any Lewis fan.