We can argue that every fictional book provides some form of escapism. It takes you away from your world and lets you go inside another’s (made-up people, made-up circumstances). Looking at the works of fiction that I name my all-time favorites – Nicole Krauss’ The History of Love and Pat Conroy’s The Prince of Tides) – will highlight the fact that I tend to respond to stories of emotional journeys; it also helps a lot that these two authors both write in a style that is very lyrical. Some may find that tedious, but it’s always what makes me reread anything.

I realized that I stopped reading, or at least craving to find new books, when I started blogging two years ago. Time, or the lack of it, became an issue and I guess it’s OK because I didn’t feel then that I’m missing anything. Writing almost everyday, however, sort of depleted my reserves and lately I’ve been feeling that I wanted to get some fresh ideas, so my thirst for books returned. This time, I decided that I’ll go beyond my usual genre for a change.

I’m starting with science fiction and fantasy and, maybe later or in between, graphic novels and comics. There’s an interesting visual about escapist fiction here, and these are some titles on my to-read list (click the picture for description):

I already have most of these books, waiting to be devoured. Now all I need is my dream furniture that will make my reading experience infinitely better. It looks like this:

(where do I buy that, Dr. Horrible?)

Buffy the Vampire Slayer alum Amber Benson has a new book, her first solo novel (it’s actually a 3-book series). She is the co-author of the Ghosts of Albion series, novels based on the BBC Cult animation created, written, and directed by Amber herself (written together with critically acclaimed fantasy writer Christopher Golden).

Reviews have been coming out and it sounds like something I’d totally check out. Ok, that’s also because I’m a total Buffy nut and I think Amber is uber cool, erudite, and talented and all that. I mean, just read her blog. 

Death’s Daughter is an urban fantasy about a sassy heroine who wants to live a normal life but woke up to realization that she is the Grim Reaper’s daughter and that she must save her family (and perhaps the world) by completing three nearly impossible tasks in the realm of the afterlife.

I wonder, if you find out that you are Death’s daughter, wouldn’t you want to take a paternity test just to be sure?  Sorry, that’s so lame [the suggestion, not the book].

Update: There’s an awesome video of Amber’s Writers on Writing panel (taken on February 8 at the New York Comic Con) up at Buffyfest where she talked about the different media of writing and how blogging is changing the world of publishing. It’s pretty neat.

At the Buffy reunion during the 2008 Paley Festival this year (I saw the DVD), Marti Noxon, producer and writer from TV shows such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Grey’s Anatomy, and Private Practice, said that if Joss Whedon will call her one day to say that he’s building a rocket, she wouldn’t doubt him for a minute. Some people are just so talented they come up with unexpected things just by setting their minds onto it. Well, I believe such people only set their minds on things they know they can do; it just surprises others to finally see how much they really can.   

Another person in that panel who has been working a lot is Amber Benson. Her credits include actor, writer, director, producer, singer, and humanitarian. She’s only 31.

From left to right: Amber Benson, Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Emma Caulfield (March 2008, PaleyFest)
 

I’ve been lurking around Buffy forums to read episode discussions and fans seem to love this girl even if she isn’t as well known as her costars, mostly because besides creating an endearing character on TV, she seems to be a genuinely nice person in real life. What impressed me is seeing the range of her work. The acting part seems to be the bread and butter (she’s been in some obscure movies I don’t think I’ll ever watch), but she’s also co-written comic books and books; wrote, directed, produced, and starred in two of her own independent films; cowrote and directed a cult animation called Ghosts of Albion for the British network BBC; written and presented her own stage play; composed and recorded two songs for her fans; and is about to release her first solo book series to be published by Penguin Books.

I would do anything to be able to have half of that. Well, anything that I can do, I mean, without having to pack a Zero Halliburton and travel the world to learn things. Anyway, I haven’t finished watching her first attempt at writing/directing – a movie called Chance (2002) – but I kinda like the opening monologue (voiceover):

All right, you live your life in a totally normal, full-on reality check kind of way. That’s good and cool. Things don’t get messed up. People you love hang around until you can’t stand them anymore. Things never change. But shit like that doesn’t happen in real life. Real life is just a movie with someone’s finger jammed on fast forward. The numbers change faster than you can count. When you’re a little kid, you never think you’re gonna die. I mean death is just some kind of esoteric thing you see on TV or read about it in a book. Then one day you realize what it really is, and nothing is ever the same again. From that day on, you’re f&*%ed.