I love this.

Huh. Potter is morally questionable? And Narnia isn't? I Would say Lewis is way more morally problematic. I would also say Lewis was by far the better writer. Yeah Rowling does more consistent world building. But Lewis has better prose. Although in summary it may not sound like it, encountered in the book his characters are much more convincing. And again though if you look at sparknote sumarries Rowlings world might seem more convincing, encountered in detail in actual books, Lewis's world building is damn convincing whereas I never was able to suspend disbelief for Potter. This sort of thing is very subjective, so maybe not a typical experience, but to me Rowling, though good, is not even in the same writing class as Lewis.

I'll take the moraltity and ethics she teaches though over Lewis, as long as one understands that it contains few to zero role models.

Potter is morally questionable? And Narnia isn't?

No, I believe this person found them both to be questionable. That's what I meant by "at a C.S. Lewis level."

Lewis's world building is damn convincing

I have one word for you: sewing machine. (Okay, two.) And why would a beaver require a sewing machine, anyway?

Because they don't make lederhosen in his size, duh!

And why would a beaver require a sewing machine, anyway?

Maybe he's an avid quilter. YOU DON"T KNOW!!

(OK, you'd know way more than me, since I last read the Narnia books around age 10. But STILL)

I never was able to suspend disbelief for Potter.

I have a question about this, because I'm apparently able to suspend my disbelief for damn near anything, with virtually no effort required on the creator.

Were you able to suspend your disbelief in the entire premise enough to pick up the books? But then the world-building wasn't good enough for you to keep suspending your disbelief?

(Like I said, I'm only asking because I pretty much suspend my disbelief for anything. I might not even have any disbelief to suspend.)

YA Dystopia Story Generator (inspired by some Kindle samples).

Reek: Lawnmowers have been banned and the government controls flirting.

Quiver: Entertainment has been banned and the government controls sofas.

Run: Patent leather shoes have been banned and the government controls patent leather shoes.

Ninja: Garlic has been banned and the government controls gravity.

Track: Midlife crises have been banned and the government controls scooters.

(Like I said, I'm only asking because I pretty much suspend my disbelief for anything. I might not even have any disbelief to suspend.)

Right there with you, Steph.

Were you able to suspend your disbelief in the entire premise enough to pick up the books? But then the world-building wasn't good enough for you to keep suspending your disbelief?

I don't have to suspend my disbelief to enjoy something, at least not completely. I guess the difference (and I think this is what I'm getting at in the difference with Narnia) is that I get get caught up in Narnia. I don't think about whether the world seem real or not. The thing about the beavers with sewing machines is that I'm caught up enough not to turn that part of my brain on. Rowling, I notice shit. And I still enjoy it enough to go on. But I notice it enough that there is a bit of distance through most of the books. And I don't think I will ever reread Harry Potter. Whereas I will reread The Magician's Nephew, TLTWATW, The Silver Chair , and the Voyage of the Dawn Treader on occasion.

Rowling produces Brechtian Alienation in me, and I don't think that is what she is going for. Lewis may make me angry, but only after I put the book down.