One-Sixteenth

You ain't just whistlin' dixie.

I LOVED these books--they were my postpartum reading w/Rhys. I don't think Quinn's quite ready for them, but I can't wait til he is...

I posted a funny link re: stupid things ppl say to hs'ers on my blog today. Check it out...

Actually - I'm Catholic. Don't remember how I found your Blog, but I read it because you have "style" of homeschooling that I'd like to achieve, or at least modify to fit my particular brand of anal-retentiveness.

I've seen those emails (MANY times over!) and I appreciated one of them because it provided links that told me about the author and gave a good synopsis of the books that helped me decide that while my daughter might read the books when she is older, they aren't for my family right now. I guess I saw them not so much as attempts as censorship (at least the one with the links) as much as an attempt to let Christians know that this guy is pretty strongly opposed to all we (are supposed to) believe.

Then again, I can see that if you aren't a Christian, getting (MANY) of these emails from concerned homeschooling moms who forget that not all homeschoolers are Christian might be a tad annoying.

I wish I'd known how controversial those books were going to be back when I read them. Now I can't remember them that well. I just remember that the 1st two were great, and the 3rd book I was bored stiff by and never finished.

Oh, wait! That means I can read them again! I love reading books that upset people. Maybe I'll make it all the way through #3 this time, if enough people gasp when they see me reading it.

JP,

I have gotten emails that I think crossed the line into calling for censorship.

I have also been in discussions on lists about these books, and about the emails, where I have seen people state that books like those shouldn't be "allowed" to be published. One woman told me that it wasn't fair, because no one publishes books that malign other religions - just Christianity. I still haven't pulled myself together enough to answer her civilly.

But even with out that, yes, it's annoying to have these things come into my inbox, with the bald assumption that I will *of course* be outraged and want to do something about it.

Besides, doesn't the outcry do just what these folks don't want? They're giving the author publicity. Lots of it.

I've never read the books, but I think I've learned more about the books and author from the "protest" emails than the promotional material. I can't really say I care one way or the other. The movies have supposedly been "dumbed down" to avoid the controversy.

Though I seem to remember hearing several months ago - before the controversy really kicked in - that the only reason these books don't move from good fantasy to great fantasy was the author's heavy-handedness about religion. He likened it to Tolkien vs. Lewis. Tolkien didn't try to do anything overtly religious, Lewis did. Being so overt spoiled the story somewhat.

I figure the movie will do well, though, just because of all the free publicity. The author has got to be laughing all the way to the bank.

Mark, that's part of the evilness: The movies are watered down, which will seduce the kids to read the book and get the full evil version. (And I'm very curious to see how they're going to manage to make a good movie of this if they downplay the religion.)

And I agree with the comparison to Lewis vs. Tolkien: Pullman does allow his agenda to govern his story, making the 3rd book not nearly as good as the other two. It's a shame.

Heh. The funny thing about that is that I distinctly remember The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe promoting my pagan tendencies. I have been posting on the Pullman "crisis" as well. The forwards have been driving me crazy.

Well, knowing that you love Narnia, I personally would be shocked if you sent out that email. ;)

I haven't seen any emails about this, just a link provided (for Christians) on Drew's blog. Since I'd been considering it as a read aloud, I was kind of surprised. I read reviews and then went to the author's website. More because of what the author himself had to say than anything else, I decided that we probably won't be reading them anytime soon. Or I might read them, then decide. But I definitely won't read them aloud without a pre-read.

Having said that, my world view is different than yours, so it would be rather stupid of me to "warn" you. :) In fact, before I found the author's site, I was considering emailing you to ask your opinion on whether the books were overtly anti-Christian; I know damned well that some of the Christians screaming about this haven't actually read them, just like with HP. And if I was for censorship of books that might be "dangerous" for Christian children (and I'm certainly NOT; that's why they have parents), I'd start with many of the books written by Christians currently on the market.

J.K. Rowling recently said in an interview, "I don't take any responsibility for the lunatic fringes of my own religion." And I have to say, "Precisely."

Stephanie - Ah - see, I stopped reading the emails after the first couple, especially the one the provided the links, so I didn't actually see any that crossed the line. I just thought they were all the "argh, this is a horrible horrible movie, even if I've never seen it" emails and hit the delete button.

I have an aunt who is in the camp that sends those emails. I saw her this summer and got an earful on how anti-Christian sci-fi is. I had to hold my tongue and remind my husband that she is family, and we don't antagonize family, even if she did it first.

Stephanie,

A Christian friend gave my kids the “His Dark Materials” (“The Golden Compass,” etc.) trilogy recently for their birthday: when I checked with her about age-appropriateness, etc., she assured me that she had read all the way through the trilogy and that it was fine.

I guess I’ll have to tell her that she is really an agent of Satan.

Seriously, we went with a couple of other atheist families to see “Lion, the Witch, and The Wardrobe” when it was in the theaters: everyone liked it. It’s a good story – good stories stand on their own. If it’s not a good story but merely propaganda, what kid is going to pay attention?

And Madeleine L’Engle was a Christian: as the NYT obit said, “For more than three decades, starting in 1966, Ms. L’Engle served as librarian and writer in residence at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine.” Again, it doesn’t matter – “A Wrinkle in Time” is a great story (and it gave me my first introduction to four-dimensional geometry, which is actually useful for a physicist). Incidentally, she just passed away two months ago.

Are Christians really turning against “A Wrinkle in Time” now? Can’t they even recognize their own people? Of course, some Christians have denounced C. S. Lewis!

It reminds me of those fools who tried to censor “Huck Finn” because of the N-word, not realizing that the book is one of the most passionately anti-racist books in American literature.

All the best,

Dave