When You Just Need to Escape

During my childhood years, my bedroom was in the attic. I had to climb a steep set of handmade stairs, and then lift a heavy trap door. Once inside, I would unpack the treasure of books that I had brought home from the library, carefully choosing which story I would allow myself to get lost in. In my attic, the outside world became distant to me, and from the safety of a book, I would escape the everyday and enter the wonderful world of my imagination.

The pages of the books came to life and through them I would journey to far off places, battle fierce mystical creatures, and develop camaraderie with the heroic characters I met along the way. I only returned to reality when forced to by one of my siblings relaying mom’s message that I had chores to do, or dinner was ready. Reluctantly, I would close my book and whisper to those now trapped inside the pages that I would return to them as soon as possible.

As an adult, I no longer have my attic space, but I do still have the wonder of fantasy books to escape to when the world feels heavy, or I need a break from the everyday tasks that need doing. Reading still holds the power to transport me to other worlds. For me, escapism through books is a powerful tool that allows me to unwind and completely immerse myself into someone else’s story. Just like my childhood self, I still imagine the settings, hear the characters’ voices, and experience their journeys like I am right alongside of them. This is the magic of escapism through books. The only difference now, is no one can tell me when it is time to close the pages.

Check out this book list to start escaping into a great read!

When You Just Need To Escape | SDG Library | BiblioCommons