I love reading fantasy. I wish it was considered a "serious" catagory, because it raises all sorts of questions that pertain to being a person while removing it from reality.
I read fantasy almost exclusively. Real life is always there waiting with bad news, dishes, laundry etc. so getting out of reality in fantasy is relaxing
I adore fantasy - probably my favourite genre. I like the escapism of a fantasy setting and it allows the imagination to run wild. If it is a good fantasy I get totally immersed in the world.
I've also always loved fantasy, especially when I was younger I really hated to read anything else, although there wasn't nearly the selection there is now, so it was always hard to find something.
I agree with the sentiment that we already live in the real world, so reading about somewhere else is usually preferable. It does often make it easier to deal with concepts that can be too difficult or touchy in a more realistic setting. Series like Narnia by CS Lewis and His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman and great examples of people taking very complex, philosophical ideas and exploring them in a new setting. And they seem so much more real than what a lot of more realistic, religious fiction ever accomplishes...
Are we calling "fantasy" the same as "fiction"? Maybe I need clarification on it's definition. I just read whatever sounds appealing! But I do think if it makes you start to think outside the norm, then that enhances your brain - you know, using your imagination for creativity purposes? (I feel like that made no sense at all!)
To me, the term "fantasy fiction" implies that there is some fundamental part of the narrative that could not exist in the world as we know it - vampires, dragons, talking lions, magic, a whole different world. As opposed to fiction which could have happened in our world but didn't. The boundaries between science fiction and fantasy are a little harder to define and I like both so I don't bother to try and separate them LOL
I love fantasy and having a vivid imagination. While I love reading almost anything, any type of fantasy world is what I prefer because it's nice to escape reality once in a while.
Here in Brazil some people use the term "fantastic literature" for all the generes that needs suspension of disbelief: Fairy tales, high fantasy, other world stories, magic/fantastic creatures stories, steampunk, cyberpunk and sci-fi. It´s confuse, however, because the same term is used by traditional academy people to talk about a specific kind of Latin American literature (for example the writings from Gabriel Garcia Marques).
Well, I like to read to fantasy stories. Never stopped to read this kind of book. It was never my only choice, but in some moments is my first choice. I´ve been reading a lot of fantasy in the past years
I've always been a lover of fantasy, I read it almost exclusively now - not on purpose, but that's just what I tend to reach for.
Marisa, I like that you brought up the themes in Chronicles of Narnia and the His Dark Materials trilogy. I read both as a kid and while I remember Narnia being a super fun read it didn't have much of an effect on my faith at that age. A few years later I read Dark Materials and it actually strengthened my conviction of my faith. Not exactly what Phillip Pullman was going for. But I thought at the time - the church in that book is awful, I'm so glad to have mine!
Anyway, thanks for letting me go on that tangent. I haven't read a book with the purpose of analyzing it for a long time, I'm looking forward to it!
I read both as a kid and while I remember Narnia being a super fun read it didn't have much of an effect on my faith at that age. A few years later I read Dark Materials and it actually strengthened my conviction of my faith. Not exactly what Phillip Pullman was going for. smiley But I thought at the time - the church in that book is awful, I'm so glad to have mine!
There are lots of theorical authors that say exacly this - That reading good books that don´t match your faith isn´t dangerous to the faith; on the opposite, they reinforce them.
I read His Dark Materials as an adult and loved it. I liked almost everything in this series. But I could´t pass book 3 on Narnia... It was to boring for the moment I was. Maybe I´ll try again it some day in the future, maybe not.
Fantasy is my favourite genre. I do enjoy others too, but if I need an escape from reality, it's the best way to go! I've lways loved tales of adventure in far-off lands
Honestly it depends on the book and the writing. I read the Narnia series, and although I enjoyed the story, I didn't like the writing and almost didn't finish. Same with Lord of the Rings. I love the story, but the writing was a little difficult to get through. I must admit I skipped quite a few pages. It's a similar style to Narnia so that makes sense to me. Harry Potter on the other hand, I absolutely love the writing (and the story). So I guess for me, the answer would be it depends, lol.
I enjoy fantasy when it's not predictable. Some fantasy, like some of the old Harlequin romances can be very predictable. I love David Eddings, the old DragonLance series' Kevin Hearne, Michael Stackpole, R. A. Salvatore, Terry Pratchett, etc.
I love reading fantasy. I wish it was considered a "serious" catagory, because it raises all sorts of questions that pertain to being a person while removing it from reality.
I read fantasy almost exclusively. Real life is always there waiting with bad news, dishes, laundry etc. so getting out of reality in fantasy is relaxing
I adore fantasy - probably my favourite genre. I like the escapism of a fantasy setting and it allows the imagination to run wild. If it is a good fantasy I get totally immersed in the world.
I've also always loved fantasy, especially when I was younger I really hated to read anything else, although there wasn't nearly the selection there is now, so it was always hard to find something.
I agree with the sentiment that we already live in the real world, so reading about somewhere else is usually preferable. It does often make it easier to deal with concepts that can be too difficult or touchy in a more realistic setting. Series like Narnia by CS Lewis and His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman and great examples of people taking very complex, philosophical ideas and exploring them in a new setting. And they seem so much more real than what a lot of more realistic, religious fiction ever accomplishes...
Are we calling "fantasy" the same as "fiction"? Maybe I need clarification on it's definition.
I just read whatever sounds appealing! But I do think if it makes you start to think outside the norm, then that enhances your brain - you know, using your imagination for creativity purposes? (I feel like that made no sense at all!)
To me, the term "fantasy fiction" implies that there is some fundamental part of the narrative that could not exist in the world as we know it - vampires, dragons, talking lions, magic, a whole different world. As opposed to fiction which could have happened in our world but didn't. The boundaries between science fiction and fantasy are a little harder to define and I like both so I don't bother to try and separate them LOL
Haven't read much fantasy. Love science fiction though.
I love fantasy and having a vivid imagination. While I love reading almost anything, any type of fantasy world is what I prefer because it's nice to escape reality once in a while.
Here in Brazil some people use the term "fantastic literature" for all the generes that needs suspension of disbelief: Fairy tales, high fantasy, other world stories, magic/fantastic creatures stories, steampunk, cyberpunk and sci-fi. It´s confuse, however, because the same term is used by traditional academy people to talk about a specific kind of Latin American literature (for example the writings from Gabriel Garcia Marques).
Well, I like to read to fantasy stories. Never stopped to read this kind of book. It was never my only choice, but in some moments is my first choice. I´ve been reading a lot of fantasy in the past years
I've always been a lover of fantasy, I read it almost exclusively now - not on purpose, but that's just what I tend to reach for.
Marisa, I like that you brought up the themes in Chronicles of Narnia and the His Dark Materials trilogy. I read both as a kid and while I remember Narnia being a super fun read it didn't have much of an effect on my faith at that age. A few years later I read Dark Materials and it actually strengthened my conviction of my faith. Not exactly what Phillip Pullman was going for.
But I thought at the time - the church in that book is awful, I'm so glad to have mine!
Anyway, thanks for letting me go on that tangent. I haven't read a book with the purpose of analyzing it for a long time, I'm looking forward to it!
There are lots of theorical authors that say exacly this - That reading good books that don´t match your faith isn´t dangerous to the faith; on the opposite, they reinforce them.
I read His Dark Materials as an adult and loved it. I liked almost everything in this series. But I could´t pass book 3 on Narnia... It was to boring for the moment I was. Maybe I´ll try again it some day in the future, maybe not.
I love reading fantasy novels and epic, black and grungy ones are my favourite at the moment.
Fantasy is my favourite genre. I do enjoy others too, but if I need an escape from reality, it's the best way to go! I've lways loved tales of adventure in far-off lands
Honestly it depends on the book and the writing. I read the Narnia series, and although I enjoyed the story, I didn't like the writing and almost didn't finish. Same with Lord of the Rings. I love the story, but the writing was a little difficult to get through. I must admit I skipped quite a few pages. It's a similar style to Narnia so that makes sense to me. Harry Potter on the other hand, I absolutely love the writing (and the story). So I guess for me, the answer would be it depends, lol.
noooo, don't hate on Tolkien!!!
I enjoy fantasy when it's not predictable. Some fantasy, like some of the old Harlequin romances can be very predictable. I love David Eddings, the old DragonLance series' Kevin Hearne, Michael Stackpole, R. A. Salvatore, Terry Pratchett, etc.
I quite fancy my favorite books are those involving stories and elves and dystopian futures.
Tolkien is my favorite writer on this theme