“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies, said Jojen. The man who never reads lives only one.” – George R.R. Martin, A Dance with Dragons.

Last month was Inktober, a challenge where participants complete an ink drawing everyday in October. I followed the official Inktober prompt list from Jake Parker, but within those prompts I often found myself turning to literature and books for inspiration. So when I was given “escape” as a prompt, I thought almost immediately of reading.

Since I became a reader, I’ve found a lot of things in books. As a kid, I embraced adventure and found refuge in stories where children could do anything. Increasingly, I’ve turned to books to learn more about the world and the people in it, including myself. And of course, books have always been a lovely way to escape the boredom and stress of whatever might be going on in my life.

Through books I have traveled, learned, explored, and grown. There are stories that have made me question my beliefs, sparked my excitement, ignited passions, and brought me peace. And I believe I’m not alone in this, which is another reason I like reading. Books build bonds.