Literature as Escapism

Throughout the novel, the heroine turns to novels and poetry for comfort, and in doing so, George; Lizzie presents literature as a world into which we can escape.

The author, Nancy Pearl, is a well-known librarian and literary critic. She brings her love of literature to this debut novel through the character of Lizzie. Since she was a young girl, Lizzie devoured books and thoroughly enjoyed the act of reading. In several instances of the book, Lizzie can be found reading in an attempt to bring ease to her mind. For example, the author depicts Lizzie reading I Capture the Castle while nervously awaiting her roommate (Marla) to arrive after settling into her dorm (17). She makes continuous references throughout the story to poets she adores, such as Edna St. Vincent Millay, A. E. Housman, Randall Jarrell, W. H. Auden, Philip Larkin, and Dorothy Parker...