The other day someone asked me whether I enjoyed books that took place in a fictional fairy tale type place, or a real place. My initial reaction was to say that I much preferred books that have realistic settings, but then I realized that Harry Potter takes place in a fictional (as far as we know) place and everyone knows how much I love Harry Potter. It got me to thinking; what is it about certain books like Harry Potter, The Lord of The Rings, and The Chronicles of Narnia that make people like me enjoy them despite their fantasy aspects?
This is what I think:
It’s different and refreshing! I think sometimes it’s nice to be submerged in a world that is unlike our own in some ways. We have a lot of stressors and issues in our lives so I think the ability to step out of that and go on a journey to Hogwarts or Narnia for a few hours is relieving.
It exercises our imaginations. It’s so much fun to imagine what the customs and lifestyles in these fake places are. It makes the reader think outside of the box and imagine new things.
No matter where the story takes place, the same emotions are always involved. We are able to connect with the story and characters no matter where the story is taking place because we can relate to human emotion.
With all of that being said, I hope that anyone who hasn’t given a fantasy world a chance will try it out! It definitely couldn’t hurt, and it could open your mind to new things! Happy reading!
