"I take refuge in my books"

Julia Ward Howe’s statement, “I take refuge in my books,” captures a sense of solace and sanctuary found within the pages of literature. Books offer a space apart from the chaos and unpredictability of daily life, a realm in which worries and noisy distractions fall away, replaced by the steady comfort of stories, ideas, or knowledge. For many, this refuge is not an escape from reality so much as a respite, a place to restore the mind and spirit.

In the turning of each page, readers can explore worlds that differ from their own or immerse themselves in experiences that mirror their inner trials and hopes. The imagination, aroused by reading, creates a mental shelter, fostering curiosity while nurturing empathy and understanding. Books provide both adventure and refuge: excitement for the mind, and protection for the soul. When Howe speaks of taking refuge, it implies a conscious seeking of a safer, calmer place, much as one might seek shelter from a storm. The wisdom, humor, and insight held within lines of prose or poetry can soften loneliness, anxiety, or confusion.

This refuge is deeply personal. Within books, one encounters characters who name feelings and situations the reader may struggle to articulate alone, or finds authors whose words clarify tangled emotions. Books connect across centuries and continents, offering kinship and counsel through times of upheaval or solitude. In this sanctuary, the reader holds agency, choosing which stories, which authors, which worlds to inhabit. The act of reading thus becomes an act of care for the self, a way to step outside the immediate and seek order, meaning, or even simply company.

Julia Ward Howe, herself an activist and writer during turbulent times, surely understood the restorative power of literature. Her phrase resonates because it affirms the countless ways readers find comfort, strength, and peace, sheltered by the enduring refuge a good book provides.