I have mentioned before that two of my favorite authors are J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis -- in that order. As much as I love Lewis, which believe me, is quite a lot, Tolkien still holds the place of favorite author.

This has been the case since I was about nine-years-old. That was when I first read "Lord of the Rings." I also read the "Chronicles of Narnia" around the same time. I discovered, almost simultaneously, what would remain my two favorite book series and my two favorite authors. Both series are some of the most beautiful books I have ever read, and I don't know of comparable works.

I have never read anything quite like their stories. I've read multiple books of both Tolkien and Lewis and enjoyed them all thoroughly. But, while all their books are amazing, I've never enjoyed any book as much as "Lord of the Rings" or the "Chronicles of Narnia."

These books, for me at least, are unique. I have never experienced another book that drew me into the fictional world so deeply. As I'm an avid reader, I have come to love the characters from a great many books. Not only did "Lord of the Rings" and the "Chronicles of Narnia" accomplish that, they made me love the worlds themselves. Middle Earth and Narnia are like home for me. It's part of why these books hold such a special place in my heart.

Not only are J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis my favorite authors, but they were friends in real life. I've heard they even based characters on one another. Tolkien based Treebeard on Lewis, and Lewis based Professor Digory Kirk on Tolkien.

There's another similarity between both Narnia and Middle Earth that is particularly striking and unusual. Both fictional worlds have a detailed creation story, but that isn't what is so fascinating. Both worlds are sung into being. I find it remarkable that both of them chose this method. I've never heard of another author that did this.

The creation story of Middle Earth isn't within "Lord of the Rings," though. It's in the "Silmarillion." Another thing about the creation story of Middle Earth is that it seems to mirror elements of Genesis. It's a reminder of Tolkien's Catholic faith, which was a very important part of his writing. Likewise, Lewis's Christian beliefs were an important part of the "Chronicles of Narnia."

The "Chronicles of Narnia" and the "Lord of the Rings" are unlike any other book series I've ever read. My love for Narnia and Middle Earth is greater than words can describe. Those stories have been my favorite for over a decade and will likely remain so. I have found few writers of the caliber of both C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien.

That's all for now! If you haven't read the "Chronicles of Narnia" or "Lord of the Rings," then I highly recommend them both.