Fantasy and Your Family: Exploring the Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and Modern Magick by Richard Abanes

Fantasy and Your Family: Exploring the Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and Modern Magick Reviews

• 
  Jaymie Starr

  I decided to read this book because I had read the "Harry Potter" series and of course there was a lot of debate about that series in Christian circles ,specifically, for a long time. Two of my favorite authors are Tolkien & C.S. Lewis and Richard Abanes uses these as examples in this book as sort of a guidline for fantasy books. As our kids have gotten older, I really want to be making good choices regarding what we allow them to read.
  While I may not agree with all of Mr. Abanes thoughts on Fantasy books, I did agree with most and he really helped me to look at Fantasy/Magic type books from a new perspective and he was very insightful. Sometimes it just takes another person saying, "Hmmmm.. would this be the best read for myself or for my child or might there be something better out there?"
  It made me really think through the following things when choosing books:
  Does this book promote Godly character or glorify rebellion, disobedience to authority, lying or evil?
  How does this book treat women- what is the perspective of women/girls?
  (the "Goosebumps" series apparantly really glorifies the murder of young girls- something I did not know & have not read them, but most likely never will and certainly will not let our kids)
  How much focus is spent on darkness/evil vs. goodness/purity?
  How much time in a book is spent on infatuations/infatuous thoughts/kissing/dating/ etc.?
  I like how he compared Tolkien & C.S. Lewis with other authors of today. I think for me and many others, after reading those authors books, found so many comparisons with the Creator, Creation, Redemption, forgiveness, His Son, and so many other Biblical ideals and then reading J.K. Rowling and the like and not really finding the same thing, but just a very sensational story that pulls you back for more, and is very enjoyable, but really doesn't go very deep. They left me feeling a bit surfacy as far as books go. I don't know if I would totally write those sort of books off totally, but for our kids at this point, I am looking for something more.
  Tolkien and C.S. Lewis both have a way of just pulling you into this amazing world that has layers upon layers of depth, history, stories, songs, ballads, poems, other languages, scenery, creation, humor, unbelievable/yet believable creatures, etc, and it just goes on and on and on.
  I think there are some very fine authors of fantasy worlds that are out there today, I just haven't found them yet. Maybe my expectations are too high, but I really just haven't found that depth of imagination, innocence, purity of heart, moral compass or ability to pull oneself into another world.... yet!! (still hoping) :)
  
  
• 
  Bradley

  I could not finish this book. Yes well researched, but opinion is in the eye of the beholder. I love all flavors of fantasy, even Harry Potter. Occult or not, it tells a good story. People need to find something more concrete to complain about. =)
• 
  Matia

  I picked this book up at a second-hand book sale, thinking it would give me some suggestions for some great fantasy reads. This book is much more. Very well researched, the book taught me a lot about the origins and categories of fantasy lit and the morality issues in literature, but especially as it applies to fantasy.
  
  Now when I read, I am thinking, "How does this book make me feel? Does it make me want to be a better person?"
  
  I loved the background information on JRR Tolkien and the writing of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.
  
  The chapter on the rise of the occult in the past 50 or so years was all new information to me, but most likely true and something to be concerned about as a Judeo/Christian society.
  
  As a parent, a Christian, and a choosey-chooser of books I found a great deal of food for thought in these pages and I have a feeling I will come back to this book again and again.
• 
  Merenwen Inglorion

  RTC
• 
  Momma Aimee

  Not very well written, just the same ol stuff rehashed.
• 
  Liz

  A great book that takes apart the arguments for Harry Potter as a good series for children to read and then answers it with incontrovertible quotes from JKR and the books themselves. Props to Abanes for getting that one right.
  
  Yes, now that you mention it, Wicca was also discussed, which was interesting.
  
  Not to mention this book is packed with some great literary criticism on both JKR's and Tolkein's which also inspired me as a writer to explore whether or not themes are treated superficially in any of my own work (more like planning!). I'm keeping it for this factor alone.
  
  While I will continue to read the HP books, it definitely changed some of my views on them.
  
  Only four stars because that's as high as my non-fiction ratings go.
• 
  Megan

  I know this book is old but it's very informative. Reading it has helped to shape my view on fantasy. I absolutely love fantasy books but some less so than others. This book has helped me determine why. And it helps me to put into words why the Harry Potter series isn't as grand as people make it to be.
• 
  Brandy

  This was an interesting if a bit dry read. For those of us who love fantasy including magic, sorcery, witches, and wizards, this books help to navigate some of the pitfalls parents can find as they deal with fantasy and their children. It helps a parent know how to broach the subjects of fantasy and reality in everyday life and the literature we encounter.
• 
  Chloe

  I wanted to read this book cause I'm really into fantasy, and that'll probably rub off on Micah. I want to get some spiritual perspective on it.