Narnia Books - Really badly written?

I sort of see that as mediocre writing, not necessarily 'bad'. I see bad as mistakes, words/passages that don't add anything, overly descriptive/lack of description, if it reads like a thesaurus was used for every word (not because I don't understand big words, but sometimes it seems unnecessary or forced)...
I think when writing for children, it's difficult not to get into a he said, she said pattern, and it is sometimes necessary to add description to how something was said because a child might not understand the context even from the reaction to what was said, especially in a fast-paced children's book when attitudes and emotions change quickly. If, as in the article's example, Harry goes from furious to glum in less than a page, then a child might miss that.
I don't think that makes the books bad, but I guess if I read a book in that writing style when I wasn't aware that it was supposed to be a children's book, I'd see it as poorly written. I find chick-lit a bit like that sometimes.
Basically, I can't imagine great writing in a child's novel. I haven't read any Roald Dahl as an adult. Hmmm... I've got The Hobbit upstairs, so hopefully that'll be good.

The article may be a bit vitriolic, but I agree with the basis of the arguments. There's a saying that Children's books are just stories that are too badly written to sell to an adult audience, which I think is pretty true in Harry Potter's case.

The article may be a bit vitriolic, but I agree with the basis of the arguments. There's a saying that Children's books are just stories that are too badly written to sell to an adult audience, which I think is pretty true in Harry Potter's case.

They were amazing at the time

Apart from Dickens... can't read his works no matter how much I try...

The next movie is Voyage of The Dawn Treader? Fukken love that book! Why can't Hollywood make the films in the right order though?

Maybe it's just that some of the content is a little dated. It was written with very innocent children in mind; today's children are much more knowledgable.

Personally I think they are brilliant. I encouraged an 8 year old to read them the other day and they loved them. On the Prince Caspian DVD one of the commentators sums it up quite well. They said that the description was very minimal in the books, which allows the reader to create their own personal image of Narnia. It makes your imagination run wild. Perhaps you need to have a certain amount of willingness to use your imagination before you can find the books really enjoyable. [...]

well my 13 year old cousin who taks out her ass half the time has taken to saying "those books are SO badly written" in her faux posh accent (this part of the family likes to think they're a cut above the rest) whenever we see the advert for the new voyage of the dawntreader movie advert... she's obviously heard her parents or teachers saying it.. or is this a general agreement that they're badly written? when i was young, i loved them.. and now I'm 16 i still do! my DAD still likes them and he's old.

ps, her favourite book is twilight and she's read it about 100 times, which i comment on when she says this. i mean, they;re way better than twilight at least?

if you've read, what do you think of the books?

There are three reading orders: publication (VDT is third); chronological (VDT is fifth); and indiscriminate (pretty much no one but Lewis himself thought they could read the books in any order, though Walter Hooper suggested that as long as you read The Last Battle last you can read the others in whatever order). In summary, the notion of a 'right' order is problematic.

With regards to the films, there is the issue of the children ageing which has to be contended with. My guess, if they are going to make more, is that they will make The Silver Chair next and then The Last Battle. Given the current climate I cannot see them making The Horse and His Boy (it would be best to do it after SC though as it gives the other actors time to age), and I do not think they will bother making The Magician's Nephew as it could not be slipped into the franchise in a harmonious fashion without confusing morons.

There are three reading orders: publication (VDT is third); chronological (VDT is fifth); and indiscriminate (pretty much no one but Lewis himself thought they could read the books in any order, though Walter Hooper suggested that as long as you read The Last Battle last you can read the others in whatever order). In summary, the notion of a 'right' order is problematic.

With regards to the films, there is the issue of the children ageing which has to be contended with. My guess, if they are going to make more, is that they will make The Silver Chair next and then The Last Battle. Given the current climate I cannot see them making The Horse and His Boy (it would be best to do it after SC though as it gives the other actors time to age), and I do not think they will bother making The Magician's Nephew as it could not be slipped into the franchise in a harmonious fashion without confusing morons.

In view of the millions of Harry Potter books that have been sold to adults then I think that demolishes your argument.

Not really. Millions of adults bought Dan Brown's books, but they're still considered terribly written. Sales figures don't really reflect quality of writing.

I find the Narnia books tiresome for the heavy-handed religious imagery, and don't think they're particularly well-written. Still, to condemn "children's" literature to the dustheap is to do away with Alice in Wonderland, The Wind in the Willows, Winnie the Pooh, and a huge range of other books which are beautifully-written and moving.