I recently told someone I was reading A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR, for those familiar), and the reaction was… interesting. Expected, but interesting. Apparently, the book you’re reading can say a lot about how intellectually impressive people think you are.
Tell someone you’re reading a book about history, psychology, or personal development, and suddenly you’re having an intellectual conversation. Tell them you’re reading fantasy, and the reaction can be a little less enthusiastic. Apparently, not all books carry the same level of prestige.
I’m exaggerating. A little.
But there’s definitely an unspoken hierarchy when it comes to books. Some sound impressive when you mention them in conversation, while others seem to require a disclaimer. Apparently, reading Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace, a 1,000-plus-page literary brick with footnotes that practically deserve their own book, earns you a certain level of intellectual credibility. And maybe it does take serious dedication to get through it. But I’m not convinced that reading something difficult automatically makes it more worthwhile.
Personally, I love fantasy because it gives me a chance to leave reality for a while. And let’s be honest, sometimes reality could use a little competition. Instead of thinking about work, laundry, grocery lists, and everything else waiting for me tomorrow, I get to spend a few hours in an entirely different world. One with magic, mythical creatures, complicated kingdoms, and characters whose lives are somehow even more dramatic than our own. And Rhysand… well, if you know, you know. What’s not to love?
But it’s not just about escaping. I genuinely find fantasy fascinating. Think about the worlds authors create: the details, the histories, the relationships, the politics, and the completely different rules governing these imaginary places. Some authors build entire universes from scratch, and I think there’s something pretty incredible about that.
I also don’t think every book needs to come with a lesson or a list of takeaways. Sometimes I don’t want to improve myself. I don’t want to learn a new skill or become more productive. I just want to read a really good story, get attached to fictional characters, and be mildly, often extremely, devastated when it ends.
Be proud of your fantasy books. Don’t feel the need to downplay what you’re reading or make it sound more sophisticated than it is. Reading is reading, whether it’s a historical biography, a self-help book, or a story about a mortal girl falling in love with a faerie prince.
And honestly, if you ask me, sometimes the faerie prince makes for a much more interesting evening.
Casey Linares – Research and Consulting Coordinator
