Escaping into books
I’ve been reading a lot this past week, trying to find a way to enjoy myself without simply sitting in front of a TV. To that end, I’ve been surrounding myself with good ‘escapism’ books, and figured I’d share.
Good Omens was the first thing I read this past week, It’s a hilarious book about the appocalypse, co-written by Neil Gaiman (of Sandman fame) and Terry Pratchett (of Discworld fame). It really successfully combines Gaiman’s skill at exploring and probing mythic tales with Pratchett’s irreverent humor.
I’m now reading the first book of The Mysterious Benedict Society series. It’s a fun young adult novel about a group of orphans who are recruited by the mysterious Mr. Benedict to help save the world from Ledroptha Curtain. Again, a fun book to read, and one where I know that everything will turn out alright regardless of the characters’ current predicament.
When I’m finish with Benedict, I think I’m going to reread some Heinlein, starting with Time Enough For Love. I fully admit Heinlein swings back and forth between being an advocate of gender equality and a shameless misogynist, but I still really enjoy his books; they take me back to being a teenager, but in a satisfying way somehow.
After that? I’m not sure. I may reread the Clan of the Cave Bear series. Without a doubt, a ridiculous and highly romanticized series, but another set of books I think I’ll enjoy without having to think too much.
How about y’all? What books must I read? What are some of your favorite books, escapist or otherwise?
Themocracy
OMG! It amazes me when I find out I am not the only one who does things like this. I think my adolescence and early 20′s were spent with my nose in a book just to try and escape reality. Maybe it was an attempt try and transport myself to another place where I could imagine being someone else.
I am very much a fantasy girl myself, but I roam around other genres when the mode or interest strikes.
Some of my favorites have included:
Melanie Rawn’s Dragon Prince series
Terry Goodkind’s Sword of Truth series
Raymond E. Fiest’s Riftwar Saga (the first book is still my favorite)
I also dabbled with Stephen King and Micheal Crichton
I’ve also read a lot of Weis & Hickman’s works, loved Harry Potter.
There are many, many others but those always stand out in my mind.
Thanks for the list, Kelli. I’m more of a sci-fi fan than fantasy, so I haven’t read most of the books you’re suggesting, but I’ll definitely check ‘em out. Thanks!
I like Rawn’s and Goodkind’s series because of the strong female characters in them. But then I’ll read anything with a good story.
My go-to “everything is going to be OK” book is The Telling by Ursula K. LeGuin. Which is funny, because it’s a little bit of a sad book, but it’s extremely cathartic for me. It’s also a book where queerness is treated with honesty, but is by no means the focus of the story, which is so rare.
As for sheer escapist fun, I love Dorothy Sayer’s Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries. Whose Body? is the first, and The Nine Tailor, Murder Must Advertise, and Strong Poison are exceptionally good.
I’m also a fan of anything Prachett as escapism, as well as some of my childhood classics, A Wrinkle in Time and The Dark is Rising, in particular.
I need to reread A Wrinkle in Time, and will definitely look at The Dark is Rising. Thanks for the other suggestions, too.
Sticking with happy fiction:
How about Megan Whalen Turner’s Thief series? I am eagerly awaiting the fourth book, but you could start on the first three.
I’m also a big fan of the Enchanted Forest series by Patricia Wrede.
And Christopher Moore’s books are all funny.
On Wednesday I picked up Jane Bites Back, which is about what if Jane Austen was a vampire, and I liked that.
I love the young wizards series by Diane Duane. It’s more fantasy, but with a sci-fi component. Soooo good.
I’ll have to check ‘em out. Thanks!
The last escapist book I read was The Guernsey Literary and Potato-Peel Pie Society.
I usually go with Joanne Harris when I want escapism–clean, well-plotted potboilers with magic.
Good suggestions, piny!
Well, actually–I’m looking at my short list and realizing that some of these books are pretty dark. I mean, Torchwood is my escapism, so.
The first one is about the Nazi occupation of Guernsey Island. So it’s this cute epistolary English-country romance interspersed with stories about famine rations and death-camp corvees. I read it in one sitting, but you might prefer something more cheerful.
I’m reading Stegner right now–he’s sort of like a warm bath without a good book. Did you ever read either of Lynn Flewelling’s series, either the one about the gay spy couple or the one about the gendershifting heir to a contested throne? Slashy as fuck, with a wide streak of hurt/comfort, but good.
Oh, and Peter Carey. Aussie magical realism.
I should get back to my workout. I could recommend books for hours on end.
I hope your self-care’s going well.
Thanks for the clarification. Those all do sound good, but I may wait on some of them until I’m on a bit more solid ground.
[...] in the title of this post, you may as well skip ’till tomorrow. Or, add some titles to this list of books you like to read and reread as a fun escape: now that I’m done with Heinlein (for the time [...]