A Tale of Two Cities – Charles Dickens

Rating: 5/5

Lost References:

This book shares a title with a Jack episode. The title, according to a podcast by Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse, refers to the two main Island settlements – of the Losties and the Others. Also, Desmond’s read it.

Thoughts:

Unrequited, sacrificial love and mindless, bloody hatred. This novel touches on some pretty big themes and does so with dignity and style.

The Chronicles of Narnia – C.S. Lewis

Rating: 5/5

Lost References:

Charlotte Staples Lewis takes her name from Clive Staples Lewis, the author. There is a DHARMA station where Eloise works called The Lamp Post, which is an important marker in the first book, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Narnia is a hidden world that only certain people can enter, much like the Island. In the Narnia books, Aslan usually brings in the visitors, and on the Island, it’s Jacob. Actually, on the LA X audio commentary, Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse have fun comparing Aslan and Jacob. (They decide Aslan would win in a fight.)

Damon Lindelof: You know what Aslan needs? Daddy issues.

Thoughts:

This series has long been one that holds great nostalgia for me, largely because of the old BBC movies, I have to admit. Whenever my dad would go away on business trips, my sister and I would camp downstairs on the hide-a-bed and pop one of the tapes in. True, the special effects were less than special, but I forgive them. Walden Media has, apparently, not forgiven them, for the effects are the main strength of the new movies. The first was a really spectacular remake; I absolutely loved it. The cast was variable. I loved their new Lucy – she had naivety in place of whininess. The new Tumnus was actually likeable. The White Witch, unfortunately, was personality-less. Just like Prince Caspian in the new Prince Caspian movie, which had far more angst and inter-king conflict than was necessary.

But enough about the movies. The books are also wonderful – there are seven of them, all unique fantasy adventures. C.S. Lewis evidently didn’t run out of ideas. If they were longer (and in poetry form), I’d probably call them epics, based on how much time they cover in the world of Narnia (which passes much more quickly than time in our world). They also deal with mythic themes and battles. But as it is, they’re children’s stories which partially serve as Christian allegories on different subjects, in the different books.