Why I'm Still Reading Fantasy
Last week, I was sitting in Starbucks with my sister and we began talking about the kind of books we love to read. Although we generally have quite different reading lists, we both share a guilty pleasure for Harry Potter and fantasy fiction in general.
I’ve definitely noticed lately that I’m drawn more and more towards fantasy reads, which got me thinking about the reasons behind this. I think probably the main reason both adults and children enjoy reading fantasy books is that the stories generally deal with some subtle fantasy elements, or fantastical things in a cutting-edge world, without being so realistic that they’re viewed as commonplace or boring. Deep down, don’t we all love to fantasize about a different, better world to get lost in?
Last week, I was sitting in Starbucks with my sister and we began talking about the kind of books we love to read. Although we generally have quite different reading lists, we both share a guilty pleasure for Harry Potter and fantasy fiction in general.
I’ve definitely noticed lately that I’m drawn more and more towards fantasy reads, which got me thinking about the reasons behind this. I think probably the main reason both adults and children enjoy reading fantasy books is that the stories generally deal with some subtle fantasy elements, or fantastical things in a cutting-edge world, without being so realistic that they’re viewed as commonplace or boring. Deep down, don’t we all love to fantasize about a different, better world to get lost in?
Recently, I went along to the hospital for a standard annual check-up, and found myself bored stiff sitting in a crowded (and very beige) waiting room. Without hesitation, I pulled out my book – a fantasy of course – and was instantly transported to an exciting magical setting, where I could let my imagination fly without being weighed down by realism. For that short time, the book in my hands was able to provide me with the perfect escape into a world free of reality. I found this to be very empowering, and reading was a source of hope on a day when I simply wanted to be somewhere else.
But my hospital visit is just one example. Surely wouldn’t we all at times prefer to do something as exciting as perhaps… swimming as a mermaid would on a beautiful summer’s day at the beach, riding a dragon to work to avoid the rush hour traffic? Or maybe you’d freeze time for a moment in order to make it on to that last train home. You might even be tempted to wear a cloak of invisibility and sneak into a concert?
Perhaps you’d do a little mind reading to help with your Christmas shopping choices, or find a way to bring someone back to life? The possibilities are endless. Surely everyone wants that. At some point, everyone wants a little magic to ease the struggles or stresses of our normal day-to-day lives.
Fantasy worlds can be addictive, and you will notice many popular fantasies often come as a series of books. For example, think about The Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones books: All that action and incredible world building really couldn’t be squeezed into just one book. Some readers relate fantasy with hobbits and magic wardrobes. Others instantly think of images of mermaids in the deep sea or a young man discovering he is a wizard. And that is the beauty of this genre. The variety of stories is infinite, with only our imaginations to limit us.
It is imagination that lets the protagonists of fantasy fiction save the world, and maybe this kind of reading is exactly what we need to open our own minds and be more creative with the choices we make everyday.
But my hospital visit is just one example. Surely wouldn’t we all at times prefer to do something as exciting as perhaps… swimming as a mermaid would on a beautiful summer’s day at the beach, riding a dragon to work to avoid the rush hour traffic? Or maybe you’d freeze time for a moment in order to make it on to that last train home. You might even be tempted to wear a cloak of invisibility and sneak into a concert?
Perhaps you’d do a little mind reading to help with your Christmas shopping choices, or find a way to bring someone back to life? The possibilities are endless. Surely everyone wants that. At some point, everyone wants a little magic to ease the struggles or stresses of our normal day-to-day lives.
Fantasy worlds can be addictive, and you will notice many popular fantasies often come as a series of books. For example, think about The Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones books: All that action and incredible world building really couldn’t be squeezed into just one book. Some readers relate fantasy with hobbits and magic wardrobes. Others instantly think of images of mermaids in the deep sea or a young man discovering he is a wizard. And that is the beauty of this genre. The variety of stories is infinite, with only our imaginations to limit us.
It is imagination that lets the protagonists of fantasy fiction save the world, and maybe this kind of reading is exactly what we need to open our own minds and be more creative with the choices we make everyday.