Book Quotes: Map of the Heart

Map of the Heart

I'm not prone to read sophisticated literature known to be filled with quotes that end up in famous anthologies.  However I recently read Map of the Heart and wanted to share this quote with you:

No wonder real life seemed boring.  In the screen world, all a person had to do was watch.  Participation was optional--the screen created a shield or barrier.  You could observe things at a safe distance.  If your world inhabited a tiny screen, you didn't have to be scared or out of control .  You didn't have to deal with the real world around you. 

Question for the bookworms among us:  Do books allow the same thing?