Thinking about quitting reading fantasy and sticking to an intellectual reading diet. Thoughts?
Thinking about quitting reading fantasy and sticking to an intellectual reading diet. Thoughts?
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This question is totally a personal interest, so it’s up to you.
Perhaps an every other book method would work.
I used to always have 3 books going at a time, one fantasy, one philosophy, and one to teach me a new skill or how to do something. I feel like it was a healthy habit.
Why?
Not sure why fantasy and intellectual are mutually exclusive but OK.
I like to read different genres all the time. Sometimes we need a break from the usual.
I feel rather offended by your accusation that fantasy cannot be intelligent. ?
Read whatever you like; I read a mixture of genres.
Depends on the type of fantasy you read. There is more intellectual category fantasy available, but switch to science fiction if you want more regular doses of cerebral engagement. Or take a break from genre literature altogether, or alternate between mainstream and genre as others have suggested.
Try these – some are in the fantastic vein, some are category fantasy:
THE MASTER AND MARGARITA (Bulgakov)
TILL WE HAVE FACES (Lewis)
MYTHAGO WOOD (Holdstock)
THE CLOVEN VISCOUNT (Calvino)
THE WORM OURBOROS (Eddison)
Titus novels (Peake)
DRACULA (Stoker)
THE ONCE AND FUTURE KING (White)
THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY (Wilde)
JURGEN (Cabell)
The short stories of Edgar Allan Poe
THE GREAT GOD PAN (Machen)
METAMORPHOSIS and THE TRIAL (Kafka)
Boorrringgg
Sure it’s up to you in the end, but I feel like all reading (including fantasy) is intellectual reading.. They all apply to your intellect in one way, be it learning ned knowledge or using the knowledge you allready have through imagination and understanding. Understanding plots/plot twists, subtle changes in the story, seeing details, understanding the mindset of different characters is something I at least is expanding my knowledges and intellect in ways that just learning new stuff doesnt do. I mean, sure you can learn a lot about the universe by reading Carl Sagan, and you can learn a lot about philosophy by reading Immanuel Kant, but by adding that knowledge to a book of fiction, I think that is what makes you acctually learn these skills…
I read a mix between fiction and fact. I enjou fantasy immensely, and I think if you enjou it, then why not do it? I also like books about philosophy or just yeah, books that shows the facts, or explores possible facts (I very much enjoyed Sapiens by Noah Yuval Harrari), and every oncr in a while I throw in a biography. I dont exclusively read fantasy 🙂
Good luck with your desicion!
A solid scientific theory. I’d dodge philosophy. Homer – The Iliad.
No concern of ours what you do
Why when you can escape the real world into the amazing world of fantasy
Why are they mutually exclusive?
Why can’t fantasy reading stimulate intellectual thought?
The way I look at it is that life is very short. I am going to read what makes me happy. So I’d say if fantasy makes you happy than why question it. But if you’re honestly looking for a change then read whatever you feel will bring you the most happiness.
Its a personal choice as to what you read. I spent a few years away from the genre as I got bored with it
Your motivation is…? I mean, are you asking for book recommendations? Lamenting…something? How can I help?
Fantasy can’t be intellectual ?