Re-reading childhood novels

[sawyl]

Today's serving of newspaper related goodness? Lucy Mangan's article on why she still loves and reads the books she first read as a child. I particularly enjoyed her take on the Narnia novels:

I bit my tongue all through the film controversy, so let me just say this: no child ever has or will be converted to Christianity through reading about Cair Paravel, Aslan, naiads, dryads, fauns and all the rest. They are relatively literal creatures. At most, they will spend a few days tapping the backs of wardrobes hopefully, but they are unlikely to go up to the nearest vicar and say: "I'm looking for a saviour analogous to a fierce but benevolent lion who died on a stone table to free his people from tyranny - do you have anyone who might do?"

Well, she's persuaded me. I'm off to read some Enid Blyton novels!