Leaving the real world

I've started reading again!
Ok, that sounds kinda daft. I mean, hard to study without reading. I've always read a lot. But for the last few years it's just been schoolwork, no fiction. I haven't read fiction since ... oh, I guess, since the world changed. My world.
Since I
No, I'm not quite ready for that level of honesty.
But anyway, the thing is, I've started reading again. I don't really know why, except that Mike pushed this book onto me - which is weird in itself, cos Mike isn't a reader ... I guess he knew I was ready for it, or needed it, or something. My brother knows me a damn sight better than I do. Which is also weird, I guess, and so's the fact that it doesn't bother me.
Anyway, these past ten days or so, I've spent the last part of the evening immersed in another world. I'd forgotten how comforting fantasy can be. I mean real in-a-completely-made-up-world-where-magic-lives type fantasy. I am sorta surprised I still like that, though. I thought ... well, I guess, I still have a lot of troubles with the real world.
But I know why my brother gave this book to me, though how he knew of it, I don't know. It's the tale of a man who's bonded to a wolf, who, after terrible events in his life, has chosen to live apart from the world for a long time, until, of course, he's brought back to the world to do more valiant deeds. Brought back by the people who love him, because he is loved, although his upbringing makes it hard ... almost impossible ... for him to trust them. To see him so consistently misunderstand them, remove himself from them ... I don't know the words ... but he refuses their comfort even while he yearns for it, even though he loves them, and knows they love him.
Anyway, it's a great book. Written by someone called Robin Hobb, and I guess I'll be reading the rest in the series. Although, you know, Mike, I really don't have time.