fantasy – is♡bella w♡lfe

In the first part of this series, I talked about my history with escapism and the positive effects of one series in particular that I’m certain you’ve heard of.

Escapism can be defined as the act of seeking relief and distraction from unpleasant realities, often by way of entertainment and fantasy. Escapism has been critiqued by many. They deem it irresponsible and describe it as a way to avoid real life responsibility. Googling the term shows up countless results with similar implications – that escapism is avoidance; that one should snap back to reality; that one should leave their fantasy world; that there are nasty consequences. But I believe escapism can be a healthy coping mechanism for children and adults alike, to a reasonable degree.

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Few things leave a deeper mark on a reader than the first book that finds its way into his heart. Those first images, the echo of words we think we have left behind accompany us throughout our lives and sculpt a palace in our memory to which sooner or later no matter how many books we read, how many worlds we discover or how much we learn or forget – we will return.

Carlos Ruiz Zafón, The Shadow of the Wind

It’s the year 2000, and I’ve just turned seven years old. I’m in Los Angeles with my very pregnant mother and her American boyfriend. We are meeting his family for the first time. I find their accents funny, but they give me lots of gifts, so I smile and nod and accept their countless hugs. Little did I know that one gift in particular from one Uncle Jerry would change my life forever.

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