What is a book?

To me a book, a good novel that I choose to read, is an escape. When there's a lot on my mind and I'm really stressed out the only way to forget about all of my worries is to read. When you read you have no choice but to focus on the words and the characters and the plot. Your mind has no way to focus on everyday stresses and reality. You can get lost in the worlds of Tom Robbins, Tracy Chevalier, and Anchee Min, completely different times and places. A book is a portal that leads you out of reality and into anywhere.